Small Business Saturday In Summit: Help Them Stay Afloat

SUMMIT, 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 Summit.

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 Summit have signed up.

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

• Natale's Bakery, 185 Broad St.
• La Focaccia, 523 Morris Ave.
• Batavia Cafe, 356 Springfield Ave.
• Marigolds, 426 Springfield Ave.
• Village Trattoria, 103 Summit Ave. #105
• Taka Sushi, 95 Summit Ave.

ALSO ON PATCH: The Summit Business Guide.

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

Downtown Summit events and promotions

Downtown Summit Inc. noted in a release this week, "Small Business Saturday offers a meaningful alternative to shopping at the mall or on Route 22 for Black Friday. Never more important than now, start your holiday shopping and support local businesses while enjoying live music throughout downtown and free Horse and Carriage rides from 1-4 p.m. at Lyric Park (corner of Beechwood Road and Bank Street). The HillTop Elf Scavenger Hunt will begin on Small Business Saturday too! Many downtown businesses will also feature special promotions and sales for the day."

Find out more about other downtown events and music this holiday season here and 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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