Carol Johnson, Southern Indiana Business Report
We’re all familiar with Black Friday, the after-Thanksgiving shopping extravaganza, but not to be overlooked is Small Business Saturday, the day designated for shoppers to support the local retailers and restaurants in their communities while checking off their gift list.
This year, Small Business Saturday is Nov. 30. Downtown merchants and small business associations throughout the Radius Indiana region will have special promotions and shopping events. From food trucks and cookie walks to visits with Santa and drawings for giveaways, our small businesses and downtowns are making it worth your while to shop local.
Founded by American Express in 2010 and officially co-sponsored by the Small Business Administration since 2011, Small Business Saturday has become an important part of small businesses’ busiest shopping season. According to the 2023 Small Business Saturday Consumer Insights Survey, spending among U.S. consumers who shopped at independent retailers and restaurants on Small Business Saturday reached an estimated $17 billion.
To highlight the small businesses in the Radius Indiana region, the Southern Indiana Business Report is highlighting some of the area’s locally owned stores. SIBR kicked off the series Monday with Salem Apothecary, a longtime pharmacy on the Salem square where customers can get medications or sit down for a tasty lunch or ice cream from the soda fountain. Later this week, SIBR profiles Alyssa Wagler, owner of Top Notch Boutique in Washington.
Spend local, stay local
Besides supporting small businesses, dollars spent locally stay in the community.
The 2022 Small Business Economic Impact Study found that 68 cents of every dollar spent at a small business in the U.S. stays in the local community and that every dollar spent at a small business creates an additional 48 cents in local business activity as a result of employees and local businesses purchasing local goods and services.
The retail trade in Indiana remains strong. In 2022, the state reported 40,059 people employed in small business retail. About 10,000 people worked in retail businesses with less than 20 employees.
In Indiana, 1.2 million people were employed by small businesses in 2022, according to the 2022 Small Business Profile from the US SBA Office of Advocacy.
Shop small in southern Indiana
Here are a few Small Business Saturday events happening on Nov. 30 in the Radius region. To find others, search your favorite hometown businesses or merchant associations on their social media pages.
- Market on Main in Mitchell at 515 W. Main St. Vendors will be set up from 8:30 a.m. to 2 p.m.
- Orleans Small Business Saturday: Sixteen Orleans shops and eateries will be open with specials, deals, surprises, giveaways, holiday décor, refreshments, and so much more. Pick up your Shop Small Passport from any participating merchant. Get it stamped as you shop, and you’ll be entered into a drawing for a gift basket, packed with goodies, merchandise, and gift cards from our local businesses.
- Downtown Shoals: A 5K run/walk at 8 a.m. kicks off the fun in Shoals. The Historic Shoals River District will also have a vendor market with live music at White River Marine & Motorsports from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Place a bid on silent auction items from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Main Street and visit the beer and wine garden from 11-4.
- South Crawford Elementary School in Leavenworth will have a vendor market from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.
- Downtown Washington: Shop local in Historic Downtown Washington and check some items off your Christmas shopping list. For every $10 spent at participating stores, you will earn a raffle ticket for great giveaways and gifts. The first 50 people to turn in a ticket will receive a free Discover Downtown Washington, sponsored by Shake Broadcasting and Sherwin Williams.
- Salem square: More than a dozen retail vendors are participating in the fourth annual Cookie Walk in Salem/ Sponsored by the Washington County Chamber of Commerce, stroll the square, savor a free cookie while supporting local businesses. The day also includes a visit from Santa. Get a head start on your holiday shopping by browsing the diverse selection of stores around the square.