Small businesses hope for holiday boost

As you hit the stores after Thanksgiving, don’t forget about the local small businesses.

“Small Business Saturday” is a national movement to support local businesses that shop owners hope will give them a boost.

According to the US Small Business Administration, small businesses create jobs, boost the economy and preserve neighborhoods around the country. In fact, the administration says, small businesses generated two out of every three net new jobs over the past 15 years and employ over half of all private-sector employees.

By shopping in small businesses you’re supporting you local community, said Connie Kincaid, executive director of Hickory Downtown Development Association.

The money spent in small businesses stays in the community and isn’t shipped out to corporate offices somewhere else, she said.

And the sales tax generated from local stores stays in the community, said Danny Hearn, president and CEO of Catawba County Chamber of Commerce. That money is re-invested in the community. Shopping online doesn’t generate sales tax that can be used to help the local communities out, he said.

If a business is successful, it will hire more people and give back to the community through charitable donations.

“It’s just an expansion of wealth in the community to keep it here,” Hearn said.

When you shop in the larger cities, you’re transferring wealth, he said. Everyone in the community should take ownership for helping to improve the local economy, Hearn said. And that can be done by investing money locally.

According to the U.S. Small Business Administration, there are approximately 28 million small businesses in the United States, which have created 65 percent of new jobs over the past two decades. According to the 3/50 Project, a small business advocacy group, “for every $100 spent in locally-owned, independent stores, $68 returns to the community through taxes, payroll and other expenditures.”

And some local businesses are planning something special for Saturday. According to information from Kincaid, some downtown Hickory shops offering advantages for the day include:

• The Sally Company, 246-D Union Square, will offer free Christmas enclosure cards with artwork by Sally with a $10 purchase. For purchases of more than $25, a complimentary recyclable holiday bag, which is environmentally friendly and great for transporting multiple gifts, will be provided, said Sally Fox of The Sally Company. Purchases of more than $50 will receive a large recyclable holiday bag. Holiday gift wrap also is available in specially-designed shop local bags.
• Fan Fair, 246-B Union Square, will offer a 25 percent discount Friday and Saturday.
• Thad and Louise/Madison Tate, 252 Union Square, will participate and put on promotions.

Shops in downtown Newton offering bargains for Small Business Saturday are:

• The Studio Tattoo and Gallery, 106 E B Street Newton, from now until Christmas Eve if you spend $100 or more on a tattoo you get a $40 gift certificate to give as a Christmas gift.
• Dana’s Fine Jewelry, 108 N Main Ave., Newton, will hold drawings for jewery giveaways. One ticket for every item you purchase enters you to win multiple times. Every 10th customer that makes a purchase, when the bell rings they get $10 gift certificate. At 1 p.m., 30 percent off diamond engagement rings not listed in sales flyers; at 3 p.m., an extra 10 percent off flyer prices (starcraft) flyer; at 5 p.m., 30 percent off gold and gemstone rings;  at 4 p.m., extra 25 percent off Drusy and Mystic Topaz silver case. There also will be other specials on watches, earrings, engraving and gift certificates.

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Is your small business taking part in Small Business Saturday? Email the HDR with details at news@hickoryrecord.com