PRESS COVERAGE: Atlanta City Council Declares Nov. 26 as Small Business Saturday in Atlanta

Monday, November 21 2011

Atlanta City Councilmember Yolanda Adrean was joined by her colleagues Monday in declaring November 26 as Small Business Saturday in Atlanta – a day to support the local Atlanta businesses that create jobs, boost the local economy and preserve the unique character of our neighborhoods.

First there was Black Friday, then Cyber Monday. Now comes Small Business Saturday, Nov. 26. Celebrating its second year, Small Business Saturday is a national movement to drive shoppers to local merchants – minus the hustle and bustle and long lines of overcrowded, big box chain stores.

“Small Business Saturday is a great reminder of the wonderful businesses established right here in the City of Atlanta,” Councilmember Adrean said. “There are many creative, stress-free gifts you can purchase from local merchants. Examples include gift certificates to neighborhood restaurants, specialty shops and theatre venues, as well as crafts and jewelry made by local artisans. So when you make your list this year, first think of our local small businesses. Behind each of those storefronts are our friends and neighbors. Small business owners have not only made tremendous investments in our communities, but they also provide a fabulous array of gifts and services during the holidays and throughout the year.”

Small business plays an important role in the local and national economies and is a strong driver of job growth and innovation. According to the U.S. Small Business Administration, there were nearly 28 million small businesses in the United States last year. Over the past two decades, they have generated 65 percent of net new jobs. If independents regained their 1990 market shares, entrepreneurs could create 200,000 new small businesses generate nearly $300 billion in revenues in the retail and restaurant sectors and employ more than 1.6 million American workers, according to Civic Economics.

“We must continue to support our small businesses during this economic downturn, the worst since the Great Depression,” said Mayor Kasim Reed. “They are vital to the local economy and play an essential role in the recovery of our nation’s fiscal health. Small Business Saturday is an opportunity for our community to show support for our local business owners on one of the busiest shopping weekends of the year. I encourage Atlanta residents to patronize small businesses not just on this occasion, but every single day.”

Women Impacting Public Policy (WIPP) is leading the Small Business Saturday Coalition, a nationwide effort to engage small business owners and consumers in participating on November 26th. “Small Business Saturday is a great way to spread the Shop Small message, said Barbara Kasoff, President of WIPP. "On November 26 our attention is turned toward the small businesses that are the backbone of our communities. They are important not only because they offer unique products and excellent service, but because they make our communities stronger and better places to live."

Elisabeth Marchant, CEO of Womenetics, an entrepreneurial media company started in Atlanta, said equal attention needs to be give to women-owned small business. The 8.1 million women-owned businesses would leave a huge hole in the U.S. economy if they disappeared tomorrow. Women-owned businesses account for more than $1.2 trillion in revenues annually. They employ more people than the entire population of Switzerland—7.7 million people, according to the online media site, Small Business Trends.

“Small Business Saturday is a great reminder that our country is built on the ideas and hard work of many kinds of entrepreneurs,” said Marchant. “Womenetics is particularly focused on helping women succeed in business so that everyone can contribute to our economy. We are proud to participate with the City of Atlanta, WIPP and American Express to encourage consumers to support independently owned businesses.”

American consumers will spend, on average, 17 percent more money than last year. Americans will spend an average of $831 on gifts this holiday season, $121 more than last year, according to the latest American Express Spending & Saving Tracker report.

If you have an American Express card and use it to spend $25 or more at a small business on that Saturday, the credit card company will credit your account with $25 later. The offer is good for the first 200,000 cards registered. Registration started Nov. 1.

This year, FedEx Corp. is also injecting $1 million into the small businesses with its support of Small Business Saturday 2011. The commitment will send tens of thousands of additional consumers into Main Street merchants on November 26 by giving away 30,000 Shop-Small American Express gift cards, each worth $25, to consumers through a Facebook promotion.

Ten thousand additional cards will be distributed directly to FedEx customers. The contribution means more money in the cash registers of locally-owned independent businesses.

For more information on Small Business Saturday in Atlanta contact Ellen Adair Wyche at (404) 376-1694.