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Small & Local is a Perfect Holiday Theme for Ramsey County

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22 November 2021


Saturday, November 27 is Small Business Saturday in communities across the nation just like Ramsey County! The event was organized more than a decade ago to highlight the importance of small businesses to local economies. It continues to be the perfect opportunity for holiday shoppers to visit small businesses, familiarizing themselves with the people who bring their products and services to benefit customers all year long.

Small business; large impact!

Not only is the date a perfect time for customers to patronize local shops and kick off the holiday shopping season, but it is an excellent opportunity to develop a year-round recognition of their importance. The National Federation of Independent Business reported that from 2010 to 2018, $103 billion in sales has been generated for small businesses on Small Business Saturday. In 2018 alone, it reported 104 million shoppers spent $17.8 billion!

The U.S. Small Business Administration Office of Advocacy reported there are 32.5 million small businesses in the country employing 46.8% of the private workforce and creating 43.5% of gross domestic product. For Minnesota, the number is 533,344 small businesses and 1.3 million employees, or 46.2% of the state's total.

Small businesses fill a critical role as a primary player in a community’s employment base. The Office of Advocacy reports small businesses have accounted for 62% of net new job creation since 1995. Most small businesses hire employees who live close to their operations, so that job creation is an incredible boost to local economies.

The COVID-19 pandemic has had an indelible impact on small businesses. The U.S. has seen a surge in business starts, with applications for new ventures increasing 24% in 2020 over 2019, according to data from the Census Bureau. As entrepreneurs begin their journey, they face a critical juncture. The Office of Advocacy reports that from 1994 to 2019, approximately two-thirds of new employer establishments survived at least two years, with the five-year survival rate approximately one of every two businesses.

Shop Local

With so many new businesses cropping up, it is more important than ever to support them during their critical startup phase. Small Business Saturday is an excellent time to begin! Ramsey County is proud to help the small businesses and consumers in all our wonderful cities and towns! The following local organizations are just a few of those in Ramsey County that help consumers direct their shopping to local, small businesses.

Visit Roseville

Plenty of small business shopping exists in Roseville, whether in and surrounding Rosedale Mall or throughout other popular city locations. For example, local artists offer their creations at the Holiday Craft Fair at the Roseville City Hall in early December. 

Visit St. Paul

Search through the “Locally Made” section for places to shop at local artisans and creators.

Twin Cities Metro Independent Business Alliance

This organization's Buy Local Guide is an excellent resource to find that special gift this holiday season.

Blaine Area Small Businesses

This Facebook public group outlines small businesses in the Blaine area for customers.

Other ways customers can help small businesses throughout the year include:

  • Engage on Social Media - Retweet and Like; Post to your neighborhood Facebook page.
  • Purchase a gift; then buy a gift card to use later in the year.
  • Dedicate your time - Yes, purchasing from the small business goes directly to their bottom line, but visiting these establishments regularly is just as critical. Small businesses often have only a few employees who work long hours without a chance to get out to other parts of the community. Stop in and chat for 15 minutes will go a long way to letting these entrepreneurs know that their services are valued. Everyone knows COVID-19 has not disappeared completely. So if you do not feel comfortable stopping into the shop, send an email or drop them a call to express the similar sentiments. Most businesses will be happy to deliver any purchases you would like to make.


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