Small Business Saturday 2020: Help Them Stay Afloat In Hoboken

HOBOKEN, NJ — Small businesses have been hard 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 Hoboken.

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

The list of Small Business Saturday participants continues to grow, despite the pandemic. More than a dozen businesses in Hoboken have signed up.

Via American Express, here are just some of the local businesses that have signed up so far:

• Revival Vintage Boutique, 47B Harrison St.
• Aspen Marketplace, 226 Washington St.
• Madison Bar & Grill, 1316 Washington St.
• Orale Mexican Kitchen, 1426 Willow Ave.
• Texas Arizona Restaurant, 76 River St.
• City Bistro, 56 14th St.
• Sparrow Wines & Liquors, 1224 Shipyard Lane and 126 Washington St.

ALSO ON PATCH: The Hoboken Business Guide.

Did we miss anyone in Hoboken? Tell us in the comments or send an email to caren.lissner@patch.com and we’ll add it to the list.

In addition, The Hoboken Business Alliance has set up a map/directory of local businesses in advance of Small Business Saturday.

HBA President Greg Dell'Aquila said, “As we head into the holiday season, we need to continue to show up and support the local businesses we love. The launch of this new, interactive tool comes at the perfect time ahead of Small Business Saturday to make it even easier for business owners to connect with customers, and for everyone to discover the many hidden gems of Hoboken."

The HBA directory is here.

How 'Shop Small' helps

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.

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