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Shop Small & Help Local Economy on ‘Small Business Saturday’ This Weekend

Shoppers who are planning to hit the malls the weekend after Thanksgiving should also remember to visit local merchants for their holiday shopping, the National Federation of Independent Business (NFIB) today.

“Small business represents 99.7 percent of all U.S. employers, and they provide jobs for 58 million Americans,” said Gregg Thompson, state director of NFIB, the nation’s and North Carolina’s leading small-business association. “For many local retail businesses, the holiday shopping season is a make-or-break time, and Americans who want to support their communities and the economy should remember to shop small.”

images-1NFIB is a partner again this year with American Express in a national campaign to promote Small Business Saturday, the day after Black Friday and the traditional start of the holiday shopping season. For many small businesses, the four weeks between Thanksgiving and Christmas are a crucial period that could determine whether they are profitable for the year.

NFIB and American Express have collaborated on Small Business Saturday since 2010. Last year, according to the post-holiday survey released by NFIB and American Express, 95 million Americans reported shopping at small businesses on Small Business Saturday, and they spent more than $16 billion, an increase of 14 percent from the previous year.

“Small Business Saturday has grown every year, and we are very proud to sponsor the promotion,” said Juanita Duggan, NFIB President and CEO. “Small Business Saturday is a very important day to recognize small business owners. We hope that more Americans participate on Saturday and they keep small businesses in mind throughout the year.”

For more information about NFIB, please visit www.NFIB.com.

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NFIB is the nation’s leading small business association, with offices in Washington, D.C. and all 50 state capitals. Founded in 1943 as a nonprofit, nonpartisan organization, NFIB gives small and independent business owners a voice in shaping the public policy issues that affect their business. NFIB’s powerful network of grassroots activists sends their views directly to state and federal lawmakers through our unique member-only ballot, thus playing a critical role in supporting America’s free enterprise system. NFIB’s mission is to promote and protect the right of our members to own, operate and grow their businesses. More information is available online at www.NFIB.com/newsroom