Press Release

November 16, 2012
Cardin Encourages Shoppers To Buy Local On “Small Business Saturday”
Senator again cosponsors successful Senate resolution to promote post-Thanksgiving Small Business Saturday

WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Ben Cardin (D-MD), a member of the Senate Small Business and Entrepreneurship Committee, again is urging consumers to shop at local, independently owned businesses on the nation’s third annual “Small Business Saturday,” which falls between Black Friday and Cyber Monday during the heaviest shopping weekend of the year.  Senator Cardin recently cosponsored a resolution (S. Res. 589) that designated November 24, 2012 as Small Business Saturday.     

“Small, locally owned businesses are the driving force behind job creation in America, but they need our support. Buying local is one of the best things we can all do to help foster our economic recovery,” said Senator Cardin.  “Small Business Saturday is a great chance for all of us to support small, independently owned businesses during that help sustain local communities in Maryland and all across America.  This November 24 – and every day of the year – we can all play a part in growing America’s economy by giving small businesses on Main Street a helping hand.”

Maryland is home to almost 517,000 small businesses. Employing 1.1 million workers, they represent 97.6 percent of all employers and 52.1 percent of the entire private-sector workforce. Nationwide, for every $100 spent with locally owned, independent stores, $68 returns to the community through local taxes, payroll, and other expenditures.

According to the National Retail Federation, an estimated 226 million shoppers spent $52.4 billion on consumer purchases during Thanksgiving weekend last year.  By designating November 24, 2012 as Small Business Saturday, Congress is again encouraging shoppers to make a greater percentage of their purchases from local businesses, increasing the benefit to our local communities.

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