Holiday shoppers encouraged to think and spend locally this Small Business Saturday

Amid the hustle and bustle of holiday shopping that will begin on Thanksgiving Day for some retailers, then escalate to a crescendo of spending on Black Friday, locally owned businesses throughout the Columbus area are hoping shoppers will save a bit of their energy and cash for those not connected to a corporate chain.

After all, Small Business Saturday is this week, a nationwide event that encourages consumers to focus on small, independent retailers at a time when larger companies traditionally are soaking up holiday cash either with their brick-and-mortar stores or via online transactions.

“All of our profits go back to buying things from other people in the community versus being sent off to CEOs halfway across the world,” said Chris Largent, co-owner of Outside World Columbus, which does business downtown on Broadway.

Largent knows of which he speaks, having worked several years for Dick’s Sporting Goods in Columbus before purchasing Outside World with partner Howard Johnson a few years ago. He said a major reason people should seek out locally owned businesses is their product knowledge and the likelihood of having an overall better personal experience.

“We sell what we use and we use what we sell,” Largent said. “We live this. It’s not necessarily something we just do. We’re all backpackers and kayakers and that kind of stuff.”

A small business impact study from American Express, which founded Small Business Saturday in 2010, says roughly 67 cents of every dollar spent at a small business remains in the local community. It also found that for every dollar spent with local establishments another 50 cents is generated in small business sales locally. That includes employees shelling out hard-earned cash at independent retailers, as well as those independent businesses buying local goods and services.

The survey released Nov. 13 also touted the statistic that nine out of 10 shoppers feel it is important to support small businesses during the holidays, with 83 percent expecting to do some of their shopping at an independently owned retail store or restaurant in the upcoming season.

“Small businesses are run by and employ our friends and neighbors, and they keep our communities strong by creating jobs and giving to local charities,” said Nathan Humphrey, Georgia’s state director of the National Federation of Independent Business. “We can return the favor by supporting local businesses on the Saturday after Thanksgiving.”

Bitsy Dedwylder, coordinator of the Midtown Business Association, which is part of MidTown Inc., said the organization needs everyone to think of locally owned businesses when they are shopping for goods and services or grabbing a bite to eat not only during the holidays, but all year long.

“The smaller, locally owned businesses contribute more income to Columbus’ tax base than the national chains, and they typically provide more attentive service to their customers,” said Dedwylder, ticking off Midtown-area businesses that include Bloomers, David Benefield at Highland Hall, Two Sisters Gallery, Leigh & Paige, Frank Romeo’s Clothing, Hinson Galleries, John Paul Jewelers and Baker Music.

“We also encourage people to think out of the box when it comes to gift giving,” she said. “Many of our restaurants and service-oriented businesses sell gift certificates, too.”

Uptown Columbus, the organization that supports and promotes the downtown business district, is asking residents of the Columbus area to think of its area this week during Small Business Saturday. Aside from permanent businesses, it also points out the weekly Market Days that takes place Saturdays on Broadway, with a variety of vendors selling gift items, food and other wares.

A short video on the Small Business Saturday page of Uptown Columbus perhaps illustrates best what can happen when people take the time to shop locally and spread their money throughout the community to other independent retailers and restaurateurs.

The clip begins with a server from The Loft restaurant taking a break, counting the dollars she has accumulated, then heading next door to Ride on Bikes to make a bicycle purchase. The store’s co-owner, Jason McKenzie, then walks across the street to Outside World, finds the kayak he likes, pays for it and carries it out the door.

The outdoor retailer’s sales person then hops in her car and drives nearby to PTAP (Perfect Touch Automotive Playground), where she pays owner Jason Gamache for a new set of wheels. Later, back at The Loft, Gamache is seen finishing a drink and paying his bill.

The video ends with a simple message: “Give a little, get a little. Shop Local.”

This story was originally published November 23, 2018 at 12:00 AM with the headline "Holiday shoppers encouraged to think and spend locally this Small Business Saturday."