Anime News

American Express Open Launches 'Small Business Saturday' Movement
Date: 11/16/2010
American Express Open said that November 27th marks Small Business Saturday, a day to support the local businesses that create jobs, boost the economy and preserve neighborhoods around the country.

American Express said that Small Business Saturday is a national movement to drive shoppers to local merchants across the U.S.

In a release, the company noted:

Joining American Express Open, the company's small business unit, in declaring the Saturday after Thanksgiving as Small Business Saturday, are an initial group of more than a dozen advocacy, public and private organizations, including: The 3/50 Project Business Matchmaking Chicago Convention & Tourism Bureau Count Me In for Women's Economic Independence Destination DC eWomenNetwork Facebook Girls Inc. Greater Boston Convention and Visitors Bureau LA INC. The Los Angeles Convention and Visitors Bureau National Trust for Historic Preservation's Main Street Center National Association of Women Business Owners New York City Department of Small Business Services NYC & Company San Francisco Convention & Visitors Bureau SCORE: Counselors to Americas Small Businesses Women's Leadership Exchange Women Impacting Public Policy Women President's Organization Yelp!

Small businesses are critical to the nation's overall economy. According to the U.S. Small Business Administration, there were nearly 28 million small businesses in the United States last year. Over the past two decades, they created 65 percent of net new jobs. Their importance to local communities extends even further. For every $100 spent in locally-owned, independent stores, $68 returns to the community through taxes, payroll and other expenditures, according to the small business advocacy group The 3/50 Project.

"Small business is the engine of job creation in the US economy," said Chenault, chairman and chief executive officer, American Express. "It is also among the sectors hardest hit by the recession. By spreading the word about Small Business Saturday, we can help raise awareness about the critical role small businesses play in cities and towns across the country at a time when they need support the most."

"Small businesses are the backbone of our economy and the glue that holds communities together, and we've always sought new ways to support them -- something that became even more important when the national economic downturn began," said Mayor Bloomberg. "When Ken Chenault told me about his idea for Small Business Saturday, I jumped at the opportunity to participate. We've all heard about Black Friday and Cyber Monday. This year, if you have the opportunity to shop on the Saturday after Thanksgiving, make it a point to visit local small businesses. It really can make an enormous difference for merchants trying to succeed."
Source: Trading Markets.com