ENID, OK - Black Friday, the day after Thanksgiving, marks the unofficial start of the holiday shopping season. For most local retailers, this is the most critical day of the year. It marks the start of their peak earning season, a period of weeks that could make or break a business. Small businesses in Enid, run by folks you probably know, are counting on strong holiday sales to turn a profit this year or perhaps to survive another year.
With that in mind, Enid Buzz is asking shoppers to enjoy a local experience by dropping in on a local business they've never shopped at before as part of Small Business Saturday, November 26, 2022. Browse our Business Directory for local products and services.
Small Business Saturday is about local companies and family run businesses. It's about supporting the business owners who support Enid and Enid Buzz. They're the 5K sponsors and the ball team backers. They're the civic leaders, charitable donors, local board members and volunteers who make life in Enid better. According to an NFIB survey, 74 percent of small business owners say they have volunteered for local charities, civic organizations, church groups and youth sports organizations. Seventy percent say they've given in-kind contributions to community groups, schools, civic organizations and charitable events.
Supporting local small businesses isn't the only reason to shop on Small Business Saturday. You'll also be boosting our own local economy and helping to create more jobs. And in addition to the items on everyone's shopping list, you're likely to find hand-crafted, locally made or rare gifts that you can't find in the big box stores. Have you shopped Lora Leigh's Boutique at Evans Drug, Enid Floral & Gifts, Granny B’s Floral Department at Jumbo West or Park Avenue Thrift? You'll find great gift ideas at all of these locations.
Small Enid businesses offer local expertise, individual attention and friendly service that you can only get from a neighbor. Small business owners and their employees know their merchandise and they understand their customers. Stop in and there's a good chance you'll be dealing directly with the owner who wants to make you happy because he wants you to come back and tell your friends.
See our list below as to why small businesses are so important to Enid and the entire USA.
- There are 28 million U.S. small businesses - far outnumbering corporations
- 70% of small businesses are owned and operated by a single person
- Small businesses employ 57% of the country's private workforce
- Small businesses pay 44% of U.S. payroll
- Small businesses create 13x more patents per employee than large companies
- Only 2% of small businesses are franchises -- most (54%) are home-based
- 60 to 80% of all new jobs come from small businesses
So please try to shop local as much as you can this holiday season. The more sales that local stores can get the more products and offers they can provide further down the road.
