Colorado Merchants Hope For Big Turnout On 'Small Business Saturday'
BOULDER, Colo. (CBS4) - Colorado has nearly 160,000 small businesses, and if history is a guide, those companies will lead the way as the job market recovers.
Colorado's small businesses there hope to see more customers this weekend. Everybody's heard of Black Friday and there's also Cyber Monday. But now local merchants have their own holiday -- Small Business Saturday.
Small Business Saturday is a big deal in towns like Boulder. Eighty percent of the shops in businesses in Boulder are locally owned and employ a lot of people. Nationwide, small businesses employ half of the private sector workforce.
"I think it's going to be a smash," Boulder Furniture Art owner Lee Nemerowicz said.
Nemerowicz said strong holiday sales are critical for small businesses like his as they head into the slow winter season. He said shopping at his store doesn't just support him, but dozens of local artists and the local community.
"People are realizing that the best way to impact the economy is locally," Nemerowicz said.
Studies show that for every dollar spent locally, 68 cents goes back into the community.
Harriet Gibson said boutiques like hers in Cherry Creek offer a personal touch not found in chain stores.
"I have U.S. made clothes, a lot of local Denver made clothes, plus we employ people in the region," Gibson said.
Shoppers like Lynn Merritt said that makes a difference.
"I think it's a great idea, you should support your local merchants," Merritt said.
Merchants know their customers by name.
"I don't only see my customers here in the store, I see my customers at the supermarket, I see my customers when I'm out to dinner," Nemerowicz said.
Nemerowicz hopes to see a lot of them this Saturday.
Small Business Saturday is a national campaign conceived by American Express. It's only the second year and in Boulder they are marking the day with their winter sidewalk sales.
