Support Your Local Neighborhood Businesses

Black Friday is today. Cyber Monday is next week. In between is Small Business Saturday.  A movement that was created a few years ago that encourages us to buy from our neighborhood businesses.

Ironically Small Business Saturday was promoted nationally by American Express when they handed out $25 gift cards a couple years ago if you pledged to spend it with a local merchant.

I know it’s easy to shop online.  I do it too sometimes.

And there is some confusion when it comes to national brands that are franchises and owned by local people.

Tell you what, ask the next time you visit a national brand store, who owns the place and where they live.

I know in Fort Wayne most of the McDonalds are now locally owned.  There is a couple of Tim Horton’s coming to town this year and next that are also locally owned.

A new  local Thai restaurant is opening today and there are tons of locally owned business people who want to earn your business year round.

Support them.  Pick them when you are going to spend your $$$.  Not just this weekend, but every week.