a chance to strengthen your community by shopping local

SEATTLE- As the hustle and bustle of Black Friday dies down, the Better Business Bureau (BBB) ​​is urging shoppers to save some energy and money for Small Business Saturday.

This lesser-known but significant event encourages consumers to explore and support small, local and independent businesses.

The BBB’s Cameron Nakashima explained, “Created by American Express in 2010, Small Business Saturday encourages us to celebrate local businesses at a time when many of us are more focused on national chains. So far, it has had a major economic impact for small businesses and their communities.”

According to American Express, for every dollar a small business in the U.S. spends, about 68 cents are reinvested back into the local economy. The BBB is passionate about promoting this initiative because many of the businesses they work with and accredit are small, local businesses that deserve recognition and support.

To make the most of Small Business Saturday, the BBB recommends searching for events and deals in your area via the Small Business Saturday website or visiting your local chamber of commerce or trade association.

“Invite your friends and family. Unlike Black Friday, this is not a lightning strike – so take your time in stores, make it a whole and invite a friend or family member to join in,” Nakashima said.

Additionally, the BBB encourages guests to not only shop small, but also “eat small” by visiting independently owned restaurants, bakeries and cafes. When out and about, buyers should look for the BBB seal in the shop windows as a sign of trust.

For those who prefer to shop online, the BBB offers tips on how to digitally support local businesses. Buyers can use location filters on search engines like Google or Bing by typing “(business type) near me” to find nearby results. On platforms like Facebook Marketplace and Etsy, filters can narrow results to a specific radius of your home.

Nakashima also recommended using BBB.org to search local businesses and check their reputation.