Today is the official start of the Christmas and winter holidays’ shopping season. Many of us begin with a grand plan of everything we will accomplish, people we will visit with, decorations we will deck the halls in, and gifts we will buy for loved ones. However. by the time the big day rolls around, most of us realize we have over-committed our time and our money…and sometimes, our sanity. Somewhere along the way we have to set priorities, trim the to-do list, balance the budget, and regain control.
Originally pinned from The Speckled Goose
My Pinterest time this week was spent looking at slogans, signs and notes about Shopping Local, Small Business Saturday and Shopping Small. There are some fantastically creative ones in Pinterest-land.
Originally pinned from DANDYLOVER.COM
Many were direct and to the point,
Pinned from Follow Eric
Some were filled with facts about why YOU should shop local.
Original Pinterest pin came from UPLOADER.
I am sharing pins of some of my favorite ones this week instead of pins of paint related projects. My reason for sharing these is very transparent; when you are making your list, trimming your list and setting your priorities, I would like for you to consider shopping local, small businesses as much as possible. Interspersed with these pins are some of the reasons that Shopping Local is so important.
What exactly is Small Business Saturday? I turned to Grasshopper.com for the answer. It was started by American Express in 20011, celebrating America’s Small Businesses.
Found on Pinterest via Saving Toward a Better Life.
It is the Saturday after Thanksgiving, immediately following Black Friday. November 29th in 2014. American Express rewards its customers who use their Amex card that day! Since its inception, Small Business Saturday sales have increased. In 2013, there was a 3.6% increase ($5.7Billion spent) over SBS spending in 2012. American Express is expecting that number to 3.9% over 2012 with more than 500,000 businesses participating. The last 2 years have each seen a year over year increase of $2 million dollars.
Originally pinned from CODE IT PRETTY blog.
Think that a near 3.9% increase, resulting in $5.9 Billion dollars won’t make much of an impact in the long run? According to the Civic Economics Study in Grand Rapids, Michigan, if you spend $100 at a local business, roughly $68 stays in your local economy. If you spend the same at a large business, only $43 stays in the local economy. That equates to $14.75 MILLION ADDITIONAL dollars staying in local communities. However, it doesn’t just stop at local economies picking up $14.75 million dollars. According to Independent We Stand , a residential neighborhood that has a successful, independent business district gained, on average, 50% more in home values than their citywide housing market gained. The wear and tear on your community is smaller, less government-supplied maintenance is required, and less need for additional infrastructure is demanded because many independent locally owned businesses are found in established business districts. You generate a smaller carbon footprint when you shop at locally owned and operated small business. Many of their products don’t travel as far and require less packaging. Shopping local works for all occasions, not just Christmas.
Itty Bitty Impact recognizes how important shopping local is to all communities.
Are you looking for great pins to show your support of shopping small and local? I have pinned more on my Friday Favorites. Take a look and see which one is your favorite.
I hope you will join me this holiday and shop in a local, small business whenever possible.
Great graphic found on sisterthreadsfarm.com
Peace,
CeCe