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It would be a dream come true if Gaile McLemore could come to her East Third Street business and find a line of people camped out and waiting to get in to shop.
"I would probably faint, but I would have a big smile on my face," said McLemore, owner of Cachet G! International Boutique and Gallery, 133 East Third St. "There is no way that a small business could generate that type of frenzy where people would be camped out at a small business."
Like many other small businesses across the country, Cachet G! is overlooked when it comes to the Holiday shopping season. Black Friday was when large retailers opened early to offer deals to shoppers.
As an effort to help small businesses get more attention during the holidays, American Express came up with Small Business Saturday, a shopping event occurring today that focuses on small businesses.
Small Business Saturday highlights the effort to encourage Ohio shoppers to patronize small businesses. These businesses employ 2.4 million Ohio residents and add about $26 billion to Ohio's economy annually, according to Chris Ferruso, Ohio's legislative director for the National Federation of Independent Business.
"Small businesses are adding one to two new jobs at a time," Ferruso said. He said there are just under 25,000 small businesses who are NFIB Ohio members. "You are not only supporting the small business itself, but you are supporting your friends, neighbors, and family members, many of whom work for a small business."
"The overall economic impact for buying locally is greater than just supporting the operations of that one store," said Chris Kershner, vice president of Public Policy and Economic Development for the Dayton Area Chamber of Commerce. "For every $100 spent at a locally-owned business, $45 is reinvested into the local community."
If every household would spend $100 at a locally-owned business, the local economic impact would be almost $15.5 million, he said.
Small Business Saturday started in 2010, according to Scott Krugman, American Express spokesman.
“We asked small businesses what was their biggest need. They said, more customers,” Krugman said. “Large retailers have Black Friday. Online merchants have Cyber Monday. Let’s give small businesses their own day during this critical holiday shopping season.”
It is unclear how many small businesses across the country have used Small Business Saturday to promote their operations. However, American Express took a poll of approximately 500 small business retail restaurants between Sept. 25 and Oct. 12 that indicated that 35 percent of these businesses were aware of the event. The poll also indicated that 46 percent of those aware of the event had planned to incorporate the event into their holiday promotions, according to Krugman.
Mike Yegerlehner said he used the shopping event to promote his business Bruning's Wine and Clock, 2476 Commons Boulevard in Beavercreek. Yegerlehner's family has owned the nearly 40-year-old wine and clock retail business for 22 years.
He said small businesses are the backbone of America because of the jobs they provide and the personal touch they add to the communities they serve. “We’re dealing with sometimes second and third generation clock holders. It speaks (of us being trustworthy) and (of) our customer service, as well as our dedication to being here for the next generation.”
Stanford Nelson, owner of Hattie J's, a small business restaurant at 846 E. Main Street in Trotwood, said one advantage that a small business offers is the opportunity for customers to interact with the owners one-on-one. "If we don't take our customers into consideration, small businesses will go out of business because people want to be treated right," said Nelson.
It is also unclear how much revenue small businesses will receive as a result of the event, but consumer research done by American Express and the National Federation of Independent Businesses suggests that consumers plan to spend an average of $100 this shopping season, according to Krugman.
“It’s important because of the contributions that small businesses make to our local communities and national economy,” Krugman said. “When small businesses thrive we all win.”
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