The City of Austin Economic Development Department encourages everyone to invest in the Austin economy by spending local on Small Business Saturday, November 27. This annual event promotes Austin’s small businesses by encouraging residents and visitors to spend their holiday shopping dollars with local boutiques, artisans, restaurants, and independent stores.
“Small Business Saturday is an opportunity for Austinites to celebrate our local businesses,” explains Sylnovia Holt-Rabb, Acting Director for the Economic Development Department. “We encourage shoppers to visit Austin Business Districts throughout the year to make a big impact. By spending your dollars locally, you are investing back into your community.”
According to the Small Business Administration, more than half of Americans either own or work for a small business, and small businesses create about two-thirds of new jobs in the U.S. each year. The positive benefits of shopping and dining locally extend far beyond individual transactions. Recent results from the 2020 Small Business Saturday Consumer Insights Survey noted more than half (56%) of small businesses surveyed agree that this year’s Small Business Saturday is more critical than ever for their business and 78% say holiday sales will impact their ability to keep their doors open in 2022.
Positioned after Black Friday, Small Business Saturday serves as a critical launch into the holiday spending season for many local, small businesses still in rebound from the impacts of the pandemic.
