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The holiday shopping season is officially under way.
The day after Thanksgiving is recognized as "Black Friday," because of the amount of shopping done, bringing positive activity to businesses across the nation (and around the world).
These days, with the increase in online activity, the following Monday has been dubbed "Cyber Monday," and various internet-based businesses have begun to offer discounts and other deals for those wanting to do their shopping for the comfortability of their homes.
All that is well and good, but let's not forget about Small Business Saturday.
Small Business Saturday is the Saturday following Thanksgiving. It is a day when residents are encouraged to think more locally when choosing the locations of their commerce. I understand the desire of many to look online when searching out that special gift for others or yourself. I also understand the thought to go to the larger national chains, also.
They all have their role, of course, but whenever possible, whether it's Small Business Saturday of just a regular weekend, it's good to think locally.
According to a study performed by American Express, out of every dollar spent at a local business, approximately 67 cents stays locally. That goes to the pay and benefits of the owner and employees. Then, think about the potential of those funds then being used at other local businesses. The cycle continues.
Of course, when people go shopping, they're not just spending $1, so think on a larger scale. If a single resident spends $200 at local businesses on Small Business Saturday, that's roughly $134 earned by local businesses by only one person shopping locally on a single day. Weirton's population, as of the 2020 Census was somewhere around 19,000. So, imagine if every single resident were to do the same.
Whether you visit a restaurant in town, go to one of our local bakeries or pastry shops or ice cream parlors, make a purchase at a clothing boutique or home decor store, florist shop, beauty salon, gym, newspaper, photo studio or other business, your are contributing to the livelihoods of your friends, family and neighbors.
We continue to see a transformation in our local economy. We know of some of the larger businesses coming to our community, but we've also seen smaller operations opening their doors, from national and regional chains to locally owned stores.
Primanti Bros., spurred a great deal of excitement earlier this month, and Chipotle is reportedly set to launch its Weirton location in the coming weeks. Look elsewhere in the area over the past year, and you'll see the opening of Roman House of Beauty and the Rhododendron Room in Weirton, Mindset2Wellness Spa and Oh Brien's Tavern in Follansbee, Spyridon Studios in Steubenville. There has been growth in the idea of food trucks, with Clear Creek Coffee setting up in Wintersville and Caffeinated Cow in Wellsburg. We've even seen growth, with EZFresh Meals opening its own standalone shop in Wintersville after operating out of other locations in Weirton for its first couple of years.
Those are only a few examples, and none of it would have been possible without the support of area residents shopping locally.
If there is something you absolutely cannot find at a local business, then feel free to go online, but, whether it is Small Business Saturday or just a regular Saturday, I would encourage us all to do as much as we can to do our shopping locally.
It helps out our neighbors by creating an ongoing cycle of investment in our community, which then serves as a signal to other businesses or residents who might be looking at our area to open up shop. We want to see our local business community grow, this is one of the ways to have it happen.
(Howell, a resident of Colliers, is managing editor of The Weirton Daily Times, and can be contacted at chowell@weirtondailytimes.com or followed on Twitter @CHowellWDT)