Liverpool — With Thanksgiving, Black Friday and Cyber Monday behind us, the Greater Liverpool Chamber of Commerce isn’t letting go of Small Business Saturday. American Express dubbed Nov. 28 its sixth Small Business Saturday to celebrate the little guy, and the Liverpool chamber is carrying that celebration throughout the holiday shopping season.
Lucretia Hudzinski, executive director for the GLCC, said the chamber promoted its members’ Black Friday and Small Business Saturday special offers leading up to last weekend.
“We’ll be doing that throughout the holidays for anyone who’s doing something special,” she said. “We’re not just promoting shops or restaurants, we’re promoting financial institutions [and other businesses].”
Not only does the chamber encourage local residents to support small businesses, Hudzinski said, but “we’re asking our members to support each other.”
“What would we do without these small businesses? It’s actually the small businesses that keep the economy going,” Hudzinski said.
According to the Small Business Administration, the 23 million small businesses in America have generated 8 million jobs in the last 25 years. Of course, the SBA includes businesses that have up to 500 employees or generate $7.5 million annually — likely a lot more than the mom-and-pop outfits that dot Central New York.
While shopping at a big box store is often a convenient choice, supporting small businesses strengthens a community in many ways. For every $100 spent at a locally owned business, $68 recirculates within the local economy. That’s 58 percent more than the $43 that sticks around when $100 is spent at a chain or big box.
The GLCC membership includes larger businesses, such as Wegmans, Walmart and Stewart’s Shops, as well as smaller shops.
“We still want people to support those stores, but on the other hand, sometimes smaller is better,” Hudzinski said.
Small businesses share their wealth with the community at a much higher rate than larger corporations; the Seattle Good Business Network found that small businesses give 2.5 times as much to nonprofits and other organizations within their communities.
continued — “Whether [it’s] sponsoring things or maybe it’s a nonprofit — they’re always giving back,” Hudzinski said of the chamber members.
Shopping locally contributes to the character of the area, too. Some small businesses have become local institutions.
“Nichols has been here over 50 years — they’re not going anywhere,” Hudzinski said.
For businesses new and old, the chamber continues to provide networking, member-to-member promotions and education services all year long, not just during the holiday rush.
“They’re here. We know them. They’re our neighbors, our friends, so we want to support them. And also they have wonderful products,” Hudzinski said. “We want those neighborhood stores to continue.”
The chamber is also continuing its Show Your Love: #ShopSmall contest. Customers can submit pictures or receipts from a chamber member with whom they’ve done business between Nov. 28 and Dec. 8 for a chance to win a gas card. Each picture or receipt earns one entry. For more information, visit liverpoolchamber.com or facebook.com/GreaterLiverpoolChamber.
