Wednesday, November 24, 2010
"Small Business Saturday" In Kentucky
KENTUCKY...
In an effort to encourage holiday shoppers to shop locally, Governor Steve Beshear has declared Saturday, Nov. 27, 2010 as “Small Business Saturday” in Kentucky. “Small Business Saturday” is a national movement to drive shoppers to local merchants across the United States to support the local businesses that create jobs, boost the economy and preserve neighborhoods around the country.
“Most people are familiar with Black Friday and Cyber Monday, but many shoppers forget about the large number of small businesses right in their hometowns that provide a multitude of great gift ideas,” said Gov. Beshear, “More than 90 percent of the employers in Kentucky have 50 or fewer employees. These small businesses are responsible for thousands of jobs that form the backbone of our economy.”
Kentucky joins many other states and cities across the country in supporting the campaign, which is an initiative of American Express and the National Trust for Historic Preservation.
Small businesses are critical to the nation’s overall economy. According to the U.S. Small Business Administration, there were nearly 28 million small businesses in the United States last year. Over the past two decades, they created 65 percent of net new jobs. Their importance to local communities extends even further. For every $100 spent in locally owned, independent stores, $68 returns to the community through taxes, payroll and other expenditures, according to the small business advocacy group The 3/50 Project, which encourages consumers to pick three locally owned, independent brick and mortar businesses they can’t live without, and commit to spending $50 per month across the three businesses, in addition to all of the other spending they do.
Social media will play a central role in helping to raise awareness of the importance of supporting small business and recognizing Small Business Saturday. American Express is launching campaigns on Facebook and Twitter to drive consumers and business owners to http://www.facebook.com/SmallBusinessSaturday?v=app_165267296827487 where they can participate in many ways, including:
In an effort to encourage holiday shoppers to shop locally, Governor Steve Beshear has declared Saturday, Nov. 27, 2010 as “Small Business Saturday” in Kentucky. “Small Business Saturday” is a national movement to drive shoppers to local merchants across the United States to support the local businesses that create jobs, boost the economy and preserve neighborhoods around the country.
“Most people are familiar with Black Friday and Cyber Monday, but many shoppers forget about the large number of small businesses right in their hometowns that provide a multitude of great gift ideas,” said Gov. Beshear, “More than 90 percent of the employers in Kentucky have 50 or fewer employees. These small businesses are responsible for thousands of jobs that form the backbone of our economy.”
Kentucky joins many other states and cities across the country in supporting the campaign, which is an initiative of American Express and the National Trust for Historic Preservation.
Small businesses are critical to the nation’s overall economy. According to the U.S. Small Business Administration, there were nearly 28 million small businesses in the United States last year. Over the past two decades, they created 65 percent of net new jobs. Their importance to local communities extends even further. For every $100 spent in locally owned, independent stores, $68 returns to the community through taxes, payroll and other expenditures, according to the small business advocacy group The 3/50 Project, which encourages consumers to pick three locally owned, independent brick and mortar businesses they can’t live without, and commit to spending $50 per month across the three businesses, in addition to all of the other spending they do.
Social media will play a central role in helping to raise awareness of the importance of supporting small business and recognizing Small Business Saturday. American Express is launching campaigns on Facebook and Twitter to drive consumers and business owners to http://www.facebook.com/SmallBusinessSaturday?v=app_165267296827487 where they can participate in many ways, including:
- The first 10,000 business owners to sign up receive $100 of free Facebook advertising to help build online buzz and drive customers to shop at their businesses on Small Business Saturday. By entering a few pieces of information and clicking a button, these business owners can create a personalized, geo-targeted ad that will run on Facebook leading up to November 27th. Facebook has donated $500,000 in Facebook credits for these small business owners to use in the future.
- American Express is also giving a $25 statement credit to 100,000 cardmembers who register their card and use it to shop on Small Business Saturday at any locally-owned, independent small businesses that accepts American Express.
- Small business owners can download online promotional materials and use a number of social media tools to promote their businesses on Small Business Saturday.
- Everyone can spread the word about the day and their favorite businesses by giving a shout-out to their favorite local shops and restaurants via Facebook and Twitter.
- For every person who 'likes' Small Business Saturday on Facebook, American Express is donating $1 up to $500,000 to Girls Inc. to empower young women to be entrepreneurs of tomorrow.
# posted by Homer Owens @ 10:49 PM 
