November 14, 2011
- Southport, NC - Nestled between Black Friday and
Cyber Monday is the 2nd Annual Small Business
Saturday, a day dedicated to supporting small
businesses on one of the busiest shopping weekends
of the year. On Saturday, November 26th the
Southport-Oak Island Area Chamber of Commerce is
joining American Express and others across the
nation to ask residents to shop their favorite
local small business to help fuel the local
economy.
American Express
Chairman and Chief Executive Officer Kenneth I.
Chenault launched the nationwide program in 2010.
"Small business is the engine of job creation in the
US economy," said Mr. Chenault, chairman and chief
executive officer, American Express. "It is also
among the sectors hardest hit by the recession. By
spreading the word about Small Business Saturday, we
can help raise awareness about the critical role
small businesses play in cities and towns across the
country at a time when they need support the most."
Small businesses
are critical to the nation's overall economy.
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 created 65 percent of net new jobs. Their
importance to local communities extends even
further. For every $100 spent in locally-owned,
independent stores, $68 returns to the community
through taxes, payroll and other expenditures,
according to the small business advocacy group The
3/50 Project.
Pledge to Shop
Small on Saturday, November 26th!