Small Business Saturday thriving in Apopka

Move over Thanksgiving shopping and Black Friday - it’s time for Small Business Saturday.

Today is Small Business Saturday, and Apopka is embracing the event. It’s designed as a time to celebrate and support small businesses and their contributions to their communities.

American Express launched Small Business Saturday in 2010 as a way to bolster community businesses in the middle of an economic recession. It has since become an annual shopping tradition on the Saturday following Thanksgiving.

“What began nine years ago as an effort to support local stores during the holiday shopping season has become the Shop Small movement, bringing together millions of shoppers, small businesses of all kinds, civic leaders and organizations in thousands of towns and cities across the country,” said Elizabeth Rutledge, Chief Marketing Officer at American Express. “Shopping small has a significant and positive effect on local communities, and we hope Small Business Saturday will help to amplify that effect during the crucial holiday shopping season. When we spend local, small businesses thrive. And when small businesses thrive, we all thrive.”

In 2011, the U.S. Senate unanimously passed a resolution supporting the day and officials in all 50 states signed on with their backing for the promotion.

By 2017, more than 7,200 businesses and organizations signed on to support Small Business Saturday. Since the event started, U.S. customers have reported spending an estimated $85 billion at independent retailers and restaurants, including over $85 billion over eight days alone.

You can go here to see which small businesses in Apopka are participating.