Karen Mills: Shop Small on Saturday, November 24th, 2012

In between the Black Friday sales and the Cyber Monday deals is Small Business Saturday (November 24th) -- a day set aside to support the small businesses that play a vital role in creating jobs and economic opportunities all across the country.

Small businesses are the back bone of our communities. And when we shop small, we not only get great products and services, but we support our neighbors and strengthen our local economies.

Over the last two decades, small and new businesses have been responsible for creating two out of every three net new jobs in the U.S., and today over half of all working Americans own or work for a small business.

Last year, Small Business Saturday gave a boost to many of these Main Street businesses, with more than 100 million Americans shopping at independently owned small businesses. And this year we can do even better!

So what can you do to participate?

• If you are a business owner, register your business at www.shopsmall.com so your customers know where to find you and you can receive free Small Business Saturday promotional materials. You can also make sure you're prepared for the holiday season by checking out SBA's advice at www.sba.gov/saturday.
• If you are a customer, learn which businesses in your community are participating in Small Business Saturday at www.shopsmall.com. The website provides information on businesses currently registered and how you can rally your community to support the initiative.

By shopping small, we can help America's small businesses do what they do best: grow their businesses, create good jobs and ensure that our communities are vibrant.

I encourage you to join small business owners and the more than one hundred million people who were part of Small Business Saturday last year.

Shop small this holiday season. I know I will.

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Source: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/karen-mills/small-business-saturday-2012_b_2144142.html

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