Small Business Saturday 2020: Support Them In Plum, Oakmont

PLUM AND OAKMONT, PA — The coronavirus outbreak has taken an enormous toll on small businesses, making small Business Saturday more important than ever this year. The all-local shopping event occurs Saturday.

From independently owned restaurants, gift shops, hardware stores and boutiques, small businesses have been forced to confront significant challenges this year because of coronavirus-related restrictions and shutdowns. Those challenges have included mandatory closures, capacity limits, decreased product demand and delays because of supply-chain issues.

But the "Shop Small" movement continues as the crisis continues. The list of Small Business Saturday participants is expanding despite the pandemic. Among the Plum and Oakmont businesses that will be participating:

• Oakmont Bakery
• Chelsea Grill
• Axe & Sledge Supplements
• Zen Restaurant & Sushi
• Michael A's Restaurant
• Carabella
• Salute Distributing
• Eighty Acres
• Oakmont Tavern
• Oakmont Deli & Specialty Steaks
• Bealls Greenhouse Nursery
• Oakmont-Cheswick Floral
• Dibs Work Boots
• John Anthony's Restaurant and Lounge
• Jakay's Salon and Day Spa

"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.

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.

Contributing: Kathleen Sturgeon/Patch.