Shopping Small

Shop Small Business Saturday, November 30 appeared to be a success story for American Express, its sponsor and many small businesses across the country.
According to a poll of shoppers, consumer awareness of Shop Small Business Saturday was up to 71% from 2012's 67%.  At Sweet Tooth we had a number of people tell us that they came into our store to shop on that day because they wanted to support small businesses like ours.
Those comments really made our day!  We gave away all the free tote bags which American Express sent us and could have used more.  And guess what?  Not all the shoppers used an American Express card.
Today on KWGS radio I listened to part of a discussion about pop up ads, banners and other advertisements on the internet.  What I heard was that people were paying less and less attention to those ads.  Occasionally I find those ads annoying...they pop up right in a middle of something I am researching and I can't find the button fast enough to get rid of them.
What does all this mean for small business in America?  One customer told me she was surprised to find out that small businesses generate the majority of consumer purchases in the U.S.  Talk about being sheltered!!  Until that moment when the customer said that to me, I had been thinking it obvious that all us "moms and pops" were the basis of consumer sales and that everyone knew that.
We've got to start all over again making people aware of how important shopping locally, shopping in individual stores, etc is to our general economy.  Think of the loss to Tulsa of Steve's Sundries store when it closes at the end of December. 
Going into a store like Steve's Sundries or Sweet Tooth where staff know your name, where they provide real customer service may still be of value to Americans.  That would certainly make our 21 years well worth all the time and effort we have given to Sweet Tooth.  Thanks, folks!! 
PS:  21 more days until Christmas.  If you are shopping for Christmas, remember to please SHOP SMALL.