DeAnna Allen opened her business Brown sugar collaboration in October 2020, just a few weeks before Thanksgiving.

She says last year’s Small Business Saturday was incredibly important to her South End store. Over the weekend, she says she was able to earn enough money to pay the rent for the store for a month.

“If people aren’t coming to shop, it’s harder for us to meet our sales targets for the month,” Allen said. “But with Small Business Saturday, we’re able to hit those sales targets, usually within a weekend. ”

Brown Sugar Collab sells items such as candles and skin care products handcrafted by local women of color. Allen says supporting small businesses not only boosts the local economy, but also personally helps entrepreneurs.

“Some of these women support their families through what they sell to me and other stores,” Allen said.

She says many of her salespeople lost their jobs during COVID-19 and turned selling their products into their full-time job.

American Express launched Small Business Saturday in 2010 to support local businesses during the Great Recession.

Last year, in the midst of the pandemic, the Small Business Administration reported that buyers spent nearly $ 20 billion nationwide during Small Business Saturday.

North Carolina SBA District Manager Michael Arriola says he’s confident customers will support local businesses again this year.

“Consumers have a lot more disposable income,” Arriola said. “So people are going to spend and they are going to spend with even greater revenge this time around. ”

According to a loan tree investigation, nearly half of Americans said they would do their small business shopping on Saturdays. And 63% said the pandemic had boosted their loyalty to small businesses.

“Every time you shop at a small business, more of your dollar is kept in the local community,” Arriola said. “So when it comes to patronizing our local small businesses, it’s really important to understand the impact of your own dollar on the community in which you reside. ”

Abbigail Glen owns Bookstore shelves, an online and pop-up bookstore. She says she’s grateful for Small Business Saturday, but thinks customers should support local stores year-round.

“I encourage people to always be very intentional about leveraging their income with small businesses,” said Glen. “All I’m asking is that you try to determine if any of the things you buy regularly, if there is a small business in your community, or even if there is a small business outside of your community. community that could benefit from your money. ”

The Shelves Bookstore has sales throughout the holiday weekend, but Glen says shoppers shouldn’t expect small businesses to get the same discounts as large retail stores.

“Don’t take it personally if a small business can’t offer you a sale,” G len said, “that’s not the point and supporting small businesses.”

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