Small Business Saturday 2020: Help Gloucester Twp.'s Stay Afloat

GLOUCESTER TOWNSHIP, NJ — 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 Gloucester Township.

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

The list of Small Business Saturday participants continues to grow, despite the pandemic. Here're some businesses that have signed up so far:

• Wine Warehouse, 1460 Blackwood-Clementon Road;
• Meadows Diner, 101 South Black Horse Pike;
• Autosheen Carwash, 1012 South Black Horse Pike;
• Natural Health, 2001 College Drive;
• Engine Distributors, 400 University Court;
• Saladworks, 1484 Blackwood-Clementon Road;
• Blackwood Liquors, 125 South Black Horse Pike;
• Antonio’s Pizza, 1034 Little Gloucester Road;
• Lumpy’s BBQ, 1261 Blackwood-Clementon Road;
• Cacia’s Bakery, 1010 South Black Horse Pike;
• Tire Corral, Black Horse Pike and Central Avenue;
• Produce Shack, 700 South Black Horse Pike;
• Santini’s Pizza, 408 East Church Street;
• Taormina’s Pizza, 1117 South Black Horse Pike;
• Balloon Celebrations, 806 Warsaw Avenue;
• Favorites, 1300 Blackwood-Clementon Road;
• East Lake Chinese Restaurant, 1121 South Black Horse Pike;
• QoS Communications, 530 North Black Horse Pike;
• Suburban Transport, 34 Garfield Avenue;
• JK Car Wash, 1331 Little Gloucester Road;
• Bill’s Tire Sales, 617 Black Horse Pike;
• Majestic Carpet Cleaning, 836 Camden Avenue;
• Lbj Fashions, 4302 Aberdeen Lane;
• Food Mart, 1401 Little Gloucester Road;
• A&E Grooming, 303 South Black Horse Pike;
• ER Holding Sign and Design, 2 North Black Horse Pike;
• Ahava Hair Boutique, 408 East Church Street;
• Lamp Post Diner, 1378 Little Gloucester Road;
• Today’s M&W Haircut, 1301 Little Gloucester Road;
• African and American Braiding, 1301 Little Gloucester Road;
• South Jersey Appliance Inc., 152 West Central Avenue;
• C&R Advanced Repair, 173 South Black Horse Pike;
• Mario’s Pizzeria, 308 South Black Horse Pike;
• Mystic Ginger, 102 South Black Horse Pike;
• El Jacalito Mexican Restaurant, 309 South Black Horse Pike;
• Niagara Pools and Spa, 318 South Black Horse Pike;
• Fancy’s Nails and Spa, 408 East Church Street;
• Aversa’s Italian Bakery, 801 Route 168;
• Custom Tailored Labels, 90 Coles Road;
• Salon Terranova, 771 Route 168, Suite C;
• Privitos To Go, 2001 College Drive;
• Philly Pretzel Factory, 2001 College Drive; and

Read more here: Local Business Guide: What’s Open/Closed In Gloucester Township?

Did we miss anyone in Gloucester Township? Tell us in the comments or send an email to anthony.bellano@patch.com and we’ll add it to the list.

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.