ALTON — Small Business Saturday is a big day, and there are lots of local businesses waiting for Riverbend residents to stop by and shop.
“Many mom-and-pop stores rely on the weeks between Thanksgiving and Christmas as their biggest month of sales for the entire year,” said Alton Main Street’s Sara McGibany, executive director, “which sustains them through the slower winter months and allows them to thrive into the coming year.
“Shopping small allows customers to avoid the hassle of ‘Black Friday’ and the impersonal customer service of ‘Cyber Monday.'”
Alton Main Street, a nonprofit economic development organization, suggests shopping local to make this season’s gift giving a fun adventure “by shopping with friendly independent businesses and local artisans in your hometown historic district,” McGibany said.
RiverBend Growth Association (RBGA) President John Keller applied research to the benefit of Small Business Saturday.
“It is a way to counteract the big boys, but for every $100 spent locally, $73 stays in the community,” said Keller, a retired banker from Carrollton Bank.
“In patronizing local restaurants, 79% of money stays local versus 30% for chains. Local nonprofits benefit from donations from local businesses rather than national chains.
Across Edwardsville, small business owners support each other and the community, and customers…
