Small Biz Saturday sets record nationwide

More shoppers visited independently-owned shops and stores on Small Business Saturday than ever before, according to survey results released Monday.

More than 95 million consumers shopped at small businesses on the Saturday after Thanksgiving, an 8-percent increase from 2014, according to the survey released by the National Federation of Independent Businesses and American Express.

U.S. consumers aware of Small Business Saturday collectively spent $16.2 billion, up 14 percent from 2014, the survey found.

This year also saw record levels of support from communities and local organizations.  More than 4,100 small businesses, business associations, chambers of commerce and other community organizers – collectively referred to as Neighborhood Champions – created official events in their communities, nearly twice as many as last year. Another 425 local, state and national associations also joined the Small Business Saturday Coalition led by Women Impacting Public Policy, an increase of 11 percent.

Of those who shopped on Small Business Saturday, 31 percent reported attending a community event that day while 81 percent encouraged family and friends to support local small businesses, the survey found.

Small Business Saturday was created by American Express in 2010.

As the event headed into its sixth year, 55 percent of U.S. consumers reported being aware of the day – the highest figure to date.

Efforts to draw people to small business in downtown Wilmington began with the Wilmington Jaycees’ Christmas parade and continued with live music at eight businesses.

Under a tent outside the Starboard at Dewey Beach, dozens gathered to peruse craft items from local artists and stores at the first Sip and Shop event organized by the Dewey Business Partnership. Milford held a scavenger hunt that took shoppers to local businesses.

In Dover’s business district, merchants are offering a 10-percent discount to shoppers who have a receipt from another downtown business up until Christmas.

Contact business reporter Scott Goss at (302) 324-2281, sgoss@delawareonline.com or on Twitter @ScottGossDel.