CLARKSBURG, W.Va. — For the eighth year, businesses across the United States will be participating in Small Business Saturday, an effort to encourage consumers to shop at local businesses.
The effort, which was started by American Express Co., has spurned actions across the country, including West Virginia, to encourage shopping at locally-owned businesses. The Charleston City Council approved an ordinance at its meeting Monday declaring Nov. 25 as Small Business Saturday.
Nikki Bowmar, the public affairs specialist for the West Virginia District Office of the U.S. Small Business Administration, said there are more than 115,000 small businesses in the state.
“About 99 percent of businesses in West Virginia are considered small,” she said.
Bowmar added Americans spent $15.4 billion at “independent retailers and restaurants” on Small Business Saturday in 2016, which provides consumers with unique goods that may not be found at national big-box stores as well as community benefits
“You’re able to provide your family with something that looks like you put a little more thought into,” she said.
“Those small businesses are turning around and putting the dollar back into your community, because they’re the ones that sponsor your little league team or provide gifts for raffles and, above all, they are providing that paycheck.”
According to American Express, 112 million Americans participated in Small Business Saturday last year.