11/28/13 - Whether itâs Black Friday, Small Business Saturday, Cyber Monday or all of the above, community members are encouraged to shop small and shop local as we enter another hectic holiday season. The Greater Brighton Area Chamber of Commerce says the importance of shopping local cannot be underestimated as it helps both the local economy and community thrive. Chamber President & CEO Pam McConeghy says typically on Black Friday people race to the malls and big box stores. Then on Cyber Monday, some small businesses may participate and benefit, but as a whole, it doesnât drive a local economy. Small Business Saturday has been growing in popularity after being launched in 2010 as a counterpart to the others that feature big box retailers and e-commerce stores. McConeghy says Small Business Saturday is a different story as it encourages holiday shoppers to patronize small and local businesses that do make a big difference because they have a vested interest in their communities. She says Small Business Saturday has become a part of the shopping culture in downtown Brighton and the number of participating retailers has increased, resulting in an uptick in local sales since the campaign was first introduced. McConeghy says a survey of downtown businesses indicated that those most interested in Small Business Saturday were planning specials and other things to entice customers into their stores. (JM)
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