Shop Local On Small Business Saturday 2020: Bolingbrook Chamber

BOLINGBROOK, IL — Small businesses have been the hardest hit by the coronavirus pandemic, making Small Business Saturday in 2020 more vital than ever. This year, the all-local shopping event falls on Nov. 28 including in Bolingbrook.

Independently owned boutiques, gift shops, mom-and-pop hardware stores, restaurants and the like in Bolingbrook are facing unprecedented challenges due to coronavirus-related restrictions and shutdowns.

"Small Business Saturday seeks to bring attention to the small independent businesses in the town. This year we’ve actually bringing attention to small business since we first shut down in March," said Executive Director of the Bolingbrook Area Chamber of Commerce Kevin O'Keeffe. "During this pandemic, small businesses face numerous challenges — shutdown, supply chain issues, customer issues. If they weren’t setback by a shutdown, the supply chain was greatly affected. Then of course their customer base whether consumer or commercial were also struggling with their own challenges."

The list of Small Business Saturday participants continues to grow, despite the pandemic. Find a full list of participating businesses in Bolingbrook here.

Temporary closures, capacity restrictions, decreased demand for products and services and delays due to supply-chain issues have led to unprecedented challenges for small-business owners.

But the “Shop Small” movement continues amid these hardships.

"This holiday season looks a little different, but we can still share joy," American Express, which established Small Business Saturday in 2010, said in a statement. "Shop small and support your favorite small businesses — both in store and online — all holiday season long."

Sixty-two percent of small businesses in the United States need to see sales income return to the same rate it was pre-pandemic before the end of the year to stay in business, according to American Express.

These businesses, many family-owned, were already fighting for survival against malls, big box stores and online retailers before the pandemic.

"Small businesses have an immeasurable effect on the quality of life in neighborhoods by providing necessary resources and supporting a local ecosystem that includes charitable organizations, schools and churches," said Caroline Connors, executive director of the Morgan Park Beverly Hills Business Association, an organization that supports small businesses on the South Side of Chicago.

Since 2010, local business supporters have spent more than $100 billion on Small Business Saturday, according to American Express.

A Shop Small Consumer Impact survey from American Express before the pandemic found that 73 percent of people think empty storefronts are a national issue, and 84 percent agree the increase in empty storefronts and the closing of small, independently owned businesses negatively affect their local communities.

The survey showed that when consumers are aware of the impact of spending their dollars locally, 75 percent said they would be more likely to purchase a product or service from small, independently owned businesses.

For every dollar spent at a U.S. small business, approximately 67 cents stays in the local community, according to American Express. This helps independent shops and restaurants keep their doors open and meet pay for their workers — your neighbors.

That amounts to about $67 billion that has stayed in local communities since Small Business Saturday began, according to American Express.

"With so many small businesses hit hard in 2020, it’s more important than ever to shop locally this holiday season to ensure they are able to continue operating in 2021," Connors said.

O'Keeffe said every town needs a mix of large, medium and small businesses in their community to sustain a healthy business environment.

"The definition of small business varies but the BACC cites a business with less than 50 full-time employees. By that definition, the majority of businesses in this town no matter their income or assets is a small business," he said.

The chamber has encouraged businesses right from the beginning to not give up because "we're in this together," O'Keeffe said. With that in mind, he is asking residents to shop local on Saturday.

"Supporting local business directly supports your community. Every time you shop Bolingbrook, 68 cents of every dollar you spend is reinvested somewhere in the community," he said. "Most local businesses employ Bolingbrook residents, by supporting the business you directly support your neighbor, your youth community."