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Shop Local on Small Business Saturday

Just what is Small Business Saturday and why should you support it in your town?

Big name national retailers take the spotlight on Black Friday as their deep price cuts pull in shoppers in droves.

What about those mom-and-pop businesses all over your town and beyond that are the backbone of America’s economy? Just when do they get their day?

That’s basically the question that was asked back in 2010 when the concept of Small Business Saturday was born.

Small Business Saturday is “a day to celebrate and support small businesses and all they do for their communities,” the U.S. Small Business Administration explains on its website.

American Express gets the credit for founding the shopping holiday, which got its official start on Nov. 27, 2010, according to the Small Business Saturday Facebook page. Celebrating its third year on Nov. 24, the event drew over 100 million people last year, according to the Small Business Saturday website.

Locally owned business across the country now take part in Small Business Saturday, offering their own deals to rival those offered the day before on Black Friday.

To find local retailers that take part in the promotion, just visit the Small Business Saturday website, click on “Find Out Where To Shop” in the menu at the top of the screen and type in your ZIP code.

What are your favorite small businesses? Share your thoughts in the comments section below!

BART FRAENKEL November 24, 2012 at 08:03 pm
Springfield does have some large retailers but none of them are located in what is considered the center of town. Bed Bath & Beyond is on Morris Turnpike, while Bob's Store and Sports Authority are on Rt. 22. There's a reason for that and its the traffic an area generates (meaning customers) and nothing anyone does will change that to include the approximately 3 block area of downtown Springfield; its a logistics issue.
Jojo November 24, 2012 at 09:06 pm
I went small business shopping down Main St. Woodbridge but half of the storefronts were empty and for rent. Oh well, just another 4 more years...
Susan November 24, 2012 at 09:07 pm
Sometimes "small & local" are online stores of folks who live nearby! www.beachwritingsnj.com
Coloniamick November 24, 2012 at 11:15 pm
Dumb idea shutting down Main Street to all traffic! That move cost the small businesses that were open from potential customers who park on Main St.
Bryan November 25, 2012 at 12:19 am
How can anyone have a small businesss against the national chains? Everyone loves these dallor stores popping up but you dont realize that they low ball their venders and have them stock their shelves and pay their staff next to nothing and rake in the cash!
TimeForChange November 25, 2012 at 03:02 am
@LogicSeeker, you are confusing Capitalism and Corporatism.
Joe Russo November 25, 2012 at 01:24 pm
We had the nice Farmers Market in Lawrence. Much effort on the part of vendors, and it was well liked. Lot's of traffic on 206 Main St. but they had to shut down for lack of customers. They were forced to take down a small sign that helped people find the market-horrible!
Joe Russo November 25, 2012 at 01:31 pm
For 2013, I'd like to see Town Council promote local business in Lawrence with a series of actions that would meet the needs of someone wanting to start a business. Something like a "Live Lawrence-Shop Lawrence". We take 1/2 dozen reasons why people may feel it's difficult to conduct business in Lawrence, and try to reduce or remove them. If Town Council is already doing this, perhaps we expand it under a new banner of "2013, New Year, New Opportunity". :)
Joe Russo November 25, 2012 at 01:33 pm
OK, Sorry folks. I thought this was Lawrenceville Patch. Have a good day.
George November 25, 2012 at 03:15 pm
why is this 1st posted a day after the events happens?
lawrence williard November 25, 2012 at 03:19 pm
Is today Nov. 24? That's when this was posted.
Carl Gates November 25, 2012 at 10:28 pm
If you want a real local plumber in Clark, here we are !!! A-AaaBetter Plumbing & Heating Co. of Clark, N.J. I'm the owner: Carl Gates N.J. Master plumbing license #4485 and I work with my son, Steve who is also a Master Plumber and lives in Clark. If you go on the internet to find a plumber, there will be hundreds of plumbers saying they are Clark plumbers but there are only a few of us that actually live here. The rest come here from all over N.J. and call themselves Clark Plumbers. If you want a local family business, try us. Thanks, Carl Gates (732) 382-1785
Laurielle November 25, 2012 at 11:08 pm
This holiday season... give the gift of Laughter! The Comedy Cove @ Scotty's Pub is selling Gift Certificates with an incentive. Buy a $50.00 Gift Certificate and receive a FREE Ticket for Two to the Comedy Cove for you with a retail value of $30.00
Teresita Bastides-Heron November 26, 2012 at 03:20 am
This is Lawrwenceville Patch. I do not why we have people from other towns commenting on the Lawrenceville Patch!
Teresita Bastides-Heron November 26, 2012 at 03:22 am
I agree with you Joe Russo.!
Teresita Bastides-Heron January 18, 2013 at 09:55 pm
When you shop in your town owned bysinesses you help to build a strong, sustainable community and help your community to keep its unique character.. When you shop and dine locally. It's an investment in your community that pays off every day. Keep your money circulating in your local economy. Forget big business they will survived but supporting your own businesses you are building a sence of community.

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Rob Goldstein June 14, 2013 at 02:53 pm
Karen Egert, were you opposed to the DARE program that was in effect a few years ago? The DARERead More officer (whether it was a uniformed officer or detective) always carried his or her duty firearm in the school and was at each school on a weekly basis.
karen egert June 14, 2013 at 03:01 pm
Apparently Mr. Common Sense you were not at the Board meeting because if you were you would knowRead More that it was clearly outlined that all decisions and reporting of this police officer will be from the police department -- not the school. So are you saying that Lucy Biegler is now the new spokeswoman ? You said she is calling out the position for what it REALLY is ? The discrepancy in outlined roles and the vagueness of this position is reason enough to question it. Ofcourse you have an opinion , but because our children will be directly affected I think our concerns should be heavily weighed . .
karen egert June 14, 2013 at 03:05 pm
Rob -- to answer your question , I was never crazy about the DARE program and yes , I was disturbedRead More that the officer carrying a gun in school . I didn't like it . So I am being consistent. I was new to the school at the time .
Charles Sullivan June 12, 2013 at 05:28 pm
Maddy, Thank you for your comment and I agree that's a lot of money. I just wanted to let you knowRead More that I wanted to give the board some options to consider in case they felt the need to hire a hybrid public safety officer with experience in security operations. Does the town need one, maybe. Can the WPD do more in regards to daily school security, yes I think so but they don't have to assign a cop they already have on the books for this activity. Thank you again for time.
New perspective June 13, 2013 at 02:45 pm
Mr. Sullivan - thank you for your lengthy explanation and detail. I think one of the statements youRead More made should speak volumes to all "Resource officers are proactive, and they can stop something before it starts, Police Officers are re-active and they respond to locations to enforce the law." Do we really want an armed officer in the school who MAY react to let's say someone who has a watergun but the police officer *thinks* it is a real gun at first quick glance? This happens everyday thoughout this country all by accident. Do we really need WHS to be another statistic? Here's another question....why just have an SRO at the High School? Aren't the middle school aged children MORE prone to peer pressure and stress that can cause them to want to harm others as a reaction? In my Non-Professional opinion, middle school aged kids are more of a danger than High School kids.
John Q. Public June 14, 2013 at 11:17 am
Mr. Sullivan, I believe I read that the SRO position had been eliminated for budgetary reasons inRead More the past but that doesn't really address the first issue I mentioned, nor does your comment about having external foot patrols. (As an aside, I believe the crossing guard in the morning at the corner where the auditorium is is a regular sworn police officer). In addition, I see the presence or lack of such external patrols and the lack of coverage if a single SRO has a sick day as logistical issues that can be worked out as opposed to legitimate objections. I don't really see these as evidence going against the SRO concept.
concerned citizen June 11, 2013 at 08:03 pm
Egert is just against guns, that's it. Everything has to fit into this, her small world, and sheRead More tries hard to make it fit, squeezes it, bends it and massages it. She gets help from the elitist billionaire Nanny Bloomberg for the talking points, but he has none regarding this specific topic, so she flounders.
john June 11, 2013 at 10:28 pm
Karen, karen, karen. it is to easy. never mind.
karen egert June 15, 2013 at 10:28 pm
GGG - I have nothing against the Westfield police . On the contrary, on the few occasions I hadRead More interactions with any of them., they were all professional , courteous and very helpful . I am grateful for our Westfield police . I believe that the wonderful job they do as trained police officers is spectacular . I just disagree with the use of a police officer that has only been trained in the duties of an SRO for 7 to 10 days to be the ones counseling our children. . But please don't say I'm against police officers . That's inaccurate and unfair .
karen egert June 11, 2013 at 01:38 am
Thank you Matt for working to represent the third ward . If elected I hope you will work to moveRead More the traffic light on Central Ave that is literally on a resident's driveway . It also flashes as soon as it turns red . As my street is one block from there , I often see residents walking across the crosswalk while the lights are flashing . It doesn't make sense and it's dangerous . Putting that light there is also a terrible thing to do to that resident in our Third Ward . It's wrong and we need it moved .