Chamber President Calls Small Business Saturday Important To Community

Small Business Saturday gives you the chance to start your holiday shopping, while supporting the locally-owned businesses of the Upper Cumberland.

White County Chamber of Commerce President Jenny Dale said shopping locally is key to building community. Dale said Small Business Saturday is a great chance to remind people that supporting local businesses helps grow the local economy.

“Our local businesses, they sacrifice a lot,” Dale said. “It’s their dream, and when we shop small, we spend our money locally. It stays here. It gives encouragement to those business owners.”

Dale said Small Business Saturday will go hand-in-hand with the Chamber’s “Jingle Bell Shop” program where citizens receive punch cards that can be used at small businesses. Dale said from Black Friday through December 18, people can have their card punched by spending $10 at a local business and win prizes like a new kayak.

“Thriving businesses, they tend to build positive relationships throughout the community,” Dale said. “It provides value, they can anticipate customers needs, it brings people together, and I think it provides a way for people to just be themselves when they come in.”

Dale said shopping small creates comradery as well. Dale said customer service is heightened when people walk into the shop and the owners know their names. Dale said Small Business Saturday puts a spotlight on mom-and-pop shops in small towns and in turn, creates job opportunities and tourism.

“It also promotes out town,” Dale said. “We have visitors that want to come in because we have an interesting business or we want to host events or we want to bring other small businesses into town. It all works together.”