Shop Local! Small Business Saturday is on November 27

Shop small (and locally) this Saturday!

Held on the Saturday after Thanksgiving, Small Business Saturday is a holiday shopping tradition and nationwide movement with the goal of supporting the small businesses that make our community strong.   Last year, shoppers showed up to help small business owners generate an estimated $19.6 billion on Small Business Saturday!

Not surprisingly, online shopping at small businesses was up significantly, with 56% of shoppers making a purchase online, up from 43% in 2019. More than 50% of Americans who reported shopping small on Small Business Saturday in 2020 said they supported a small business through social media by endorsing local shops or shopping at a small business because of a recommendation on social media — (SBA.gov)

In California, small businesses are essential to the economic prosperity of any community, considering there are 3.8 million small businesses, which constitutes 99.8% of all California businesses. 2014 data from the Office of Advocacy’s Small Business Profiles reports that an impressive 49.2% of all California employees work for a small business.

Small Business Saturday is an ideal opportunity to take advantage of the Keeping it Local San Leandro gift card program, which was launched last week. Take advantage of free gifts as you purchase gift cards redeemable at local businesses for your loved ones, teachers, coworkers, or yourself! Read last week’s post to learn more about this program!

So consider taking your spending needs to a few of the many small businesses in San Leandro this Saturday, November 27, whether it be a furniture store, bakery, bicycle shop, auto repair shop, cafe, or restaurant. San Leandro is also home to a great many home-based retail and small scale food businesses.