Business & Tech

Shop Locally in Leesburg on Small Business Saturday

Start your holiday shopping at locally owned stores on Nov. 24.

Small Business Saturday is on Nov. 24 this year, two days after Thanksgiving. It is a day for everyone to support the small businesses that their community thrives on.

American Express founded the day in 2010 to help small businesses get exposure during the holiday season, when they might be otherwise overlooked. With retailers buzzing around the holidays, it is important to support local small businesses that rely on their neighbors in order to continue prospering and building the local economy in Leesburg.

Loudoun Chamber of Commerce president Tony Howard said it pays to consider how your spending impacts your community.

Interested in local real estate?Subscribe to Patch's new newsletter to be the first to know about open houses, new listings and more.

“When you buy something from a local merchant how much of that local dollar supports your community, your schools, your police?” he offered as the question consumers may want to ask themselves.

For example, online purchases primarily benefit only the retailer. Both large and small retailers benefit the community through taxes and the spending their employees do elsewhere. However, small businesses are more likely to be locally owned, which keeps more of the benefit in the community. Shoppers also help their neighbors by shopping at their stores.

Interested in local real estate?Subscribe to Patch's new newsletter to be the first to know about open houses, new listings and more.

“You can’t knock somebody for getting the very best deal they can,” Howard said, admitting he sometimes shops online. “Just consider the full set of facts. Shopping with that local merchant creates additional value in the community.”

Last year, 100 million people nationwide participated in Small Business Saturday by shopping at locally owned stores to help boost the economy and their communities.

Leesburg has lots of local businesses, from L. Gifts & Home Furnishings and on the retail side to Lightfoot Restaurant and Palio Ristorante Italiano on the restaurant side (think gift certificates). For a full list of Leesburg’s small merchants, go to https://www.americanexpress.com/us/small-business/Shop-Small/.

You can also “like” Small Business Saturday on Facebook by visiting www.facebook.com/shopsmall.

Everyone has locally owned businesses in their community, and shopping on Small Business Saturday is the perfect way to give back to the businesses you know and love in your community.

TELL US: What small businesses do you patronize in your town and what makes them great? Share in the comments below.


Get more local news delivered straight to your inbox. Sign up for free Patch newsletters and alerts.

We’ve removed the ability to reply as we work to make improvements. Learn more here