First there was Black Friday, then Cyber Monday. Now, Small Business Saturday is an event that drives shoppers to local, independently-owned merchants.

Small Business Saturday is a national initiative that marks a day to support the local businesses that create jobs, boost the economy and preserve neighborhoods around the country. It has since become a nation-wide, well-known celebrated event on the national calendar with support from elected officials, public and private organizations and millions of Facebook users.

The fourth-annual Small Business Saturday gave a boost to Main Street merchants and spurred millions of Americans to shop at independently-owned small businesses.

Did you know?

~ The 23 million small businesses in America account for 54% of all U.S. sales (1)
~ Small businesses provide 55% of all jobs and 66% of all net new jobs since the 1970s (2)
~ 73% of local small business owners aware of Small Business Saturday said they make it a point to hire employees from their neighborhood (3)
~ When you shop at independent, locally owned businesses, 52% of what you spend stays right in your community (4)

(1, 2) U.S. Small Business Administration (2012)
(3) The American Express OPEN Small Business Saturday Consumer Pulse (2013)
(4) American Booksellers Association Indie Impact Study Series Conducted by Civic Economics (2011-2013)