According to the Small Business Administration a small business is generally one with less than 500 employees doing less that $2.5 in annual sales. And that description defines the majority within Laguna Niguel or for that matter, the rest of the state and country since over 97 percent of all businesses are considered small businesses. The numbers can vary depending upon whether it is a retail, service or manufacturing company, but we’ll keep it simple.

American Express in 2010 deciding to create day specifically for consumers to support and spend money in all those local stores and it takes place the day after Black Friday, Nov. 26. Small Business Saturday is a brilliant move and they have created a viral campaign that is “liked” by 2.1 million Facebook followers and I am a huge supporter of the movement.

AmEx has created signs and e-mail campaigns and offers lots or marketing material to help all small businesses share the word. Even though the intention may appear a bit self-serving, the reality is, the program has generated much publicity for small businesses and for the challenges they face.

Doing Your Part

On Saturday, (assuming you still have money left over from Black Friday), try shopping locally for a change. That means:

• Avoid the large chain stores, i.e., no COSTCO, Walmart, Kmart or any other mart out there.
• Stay away from the malls, UNLESS the business is locally-owned.
• Franchises are OK as long as they are individually owned and not part of the corporate ownership.
• Buy gifts at some of the local boutiques, clothing stores, privately owned hardware stores or similar, food stores, bakeries, pet stores, wine merchants, and the list goes on and on. Here’s a video that gives you a 1 minute intro: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wBJJUWt47rk

At a minimum at least go out to eat at somewhere that is NOT part of a big chain and do your part to keep entrepreneurship and small business alive and thriving.