Byline: Anika Myers Palm
Small Business Saturday is more than just an afterthought to Black Friday. It’s a time for people who like to shop in the days after Thanksgiving to make sure they spend some of their money to support businesses in their own communities.
For entrepreneurs of color, support at this time of year can make a major difference. Eight in 10 small businesses say their annual profits are largely dependent on holiday spending, according to the Small Business Index.
“Small Business Saturday has become America’s call to action to support the backbone of our economy and heart of our communities – our small businesses,” said Administrator Isabel Casillas Guzman, head of the US Small Business Administration.
This year’s theme is “Gift big, shop local.”
About 1.2 million, or about 21% of U.S. businesses are owned by people of color, according to the Annual Business Survey of the U.S. Census Bureau. Of those, about 643,000 are Asian-owned, 406,000 are Hispanic-owned, 161,000 are Black-owned, 49,000 are Native-owned and about 8,000 are Pacific Islander-owned.
So, where do you spend if you want to consider some of these businesses?
URL Media partners have shared plenty of suggestions in recent weeks:
– There are several options in and around New York City (Epicenter NYC)
– Another holiday gift guide will help anyone shopping in the Baltimore area (Baltimore Beat)
– Shopping for book lovers or sneakerheads? (Luz Media)
– Speaking of books, what if you could shop for your favorite readers and help a struggling business at the same time? (Kansas City Defender)
– What about beauty products? (Parle)
Happy shopping!
