HOLLAND (WHTC-AM/FM) — Today is Small Business Saturday, and effort underway since 2010 to get consumers to think heading to small, local, independent shops.
American Express led the effort to make Small Business Saturday as big a shopping day as Black Friday. A recent American Express survey of business owners indicates 67 percent of every dollar spent locally stays in the community.
Pure Michigan’s Dave Lorenz says that’s not the only great reason to shop locally.
“Small businesses keep our communities going,” he said. “I like to say, ‘If you don’t shop downtown, get ready to say ‘bye. Buy downtown, or bye-bye, downtown.”
In addition to the shops in the downtowns found in Holland, Zeeland, Saugatuck, Douglas and Fennville, a host of independent and seasonal businesses are at the Civic Center Place today from 9 a.m. until 5 p.m. today for Holland’s annual Kerstmarkt Holiday Market.
Many shops in each of West Michigan community caters to fans of vintage gifts, from the Goodwill shops on Holland’s north and south sides; Bibles for Mexico; and Antiques, Etc., a in Midtown to the Wooden Shoe Antique Mall and Harvest Antiques and Collectibles, among many others.
