Consumers turned out in force last weekend to support local retailers and restaurants for another successful Small Business Saturday.
Shoppers and diners turned out in force last weekend all across Illinois for another successful Small Business Saturday.
Created in 2010 to draw attention to local business, Small Business Saturday is the local answer to Black Friday and Cyber Monday. Held on the Saturday after Thanksgiving, it has become one of the biggest shopping days of the year. In 2018, more than 100 million shoppers spent over $17.8 billion at independent retailers and restaurants.
“Shopping small also makes our communities strong,” said NFIB’s Illinois State Director Mark Grant. “When we shop small, 67 cents of every dollar remains in the community, according to a study by American Express. What’s more, every dollar spent at a small business creates another 50 cents in local business activity because of employee spending and purchases to keep the business up and running.”
It is estimated that Small Business Saturday has generated nearly $103 billion in sales for small businesses since its founding.
Small companies make up more than 98 percent of all businesses in Illinois, and businesses with less than 50 employees are responsible for over 75 percent of all job growth in the state.