As citizens of Glen Rock, many of whom have witnessed our town’s growth over the past couple of years of living here, we can all benefit from our town’s vibrant and diverse downtown spread. Whether it be shopping for a loved one’s present at a local gift store, grabbing lunch on the way to work, or even wanting to receive a well-deserved spa treatment after a long week, Glen Rock’s small businesses are fundamental to our town’s welcoming atmosphere and present in many of our everyday lives.
Small Business Saturday, founded by American Express in 2010 and officially cosponsored by the US Small Business Association since 2011, plays a significant role in a small business’ busiest shopping season and intends to celebrate small businesses and their contributions to their communities by encouraging shopping at a small business on the 30th of November. According to the event’s cosponsors, the reported projected spending in the U.S. from those who shopped at small businesses on Small Business Saturday was around $17 billion in 2023. Since 2010, the sum of reported U.S. spending at small businesses during the annual Small Business Saturday is approximately $201 billion, reflecting the event’s wide range of participants all across the country and its substantial impact on small businesses.
Only a couple of weeks ago, citizens of Glen Rock got to experience Small Business Saturday, championing the phrase “shop small” and supporting their favorite local businesses as the event was enhanced with live music, caroling, and scavenger hunts for young children. Glen Rock High School students were also able to gain hands-on marketing experience through various volunteer opportunities provided by the school’s service clubs. Most importantly, the small businesses, both newly established and longstanding, that we know and love, received an immense amount of support from the town they generously contribute to. For many businesses, this special day marks the busiest event of the season, if not the most hectic of the entire year. Micheal McGowan, owner of Carrick Mor, an Irish gift store in town, gratefully describes his experience on Small Business Saturday.
“It was a very busy day, much busier than usual. Lots of people came to town to support outer small businesses. It was a great experience, because so many people came in and it was fun to talk to them all and meet more people in our town.”
Small businesses, especially those in our town, play a larger role in enhancing our lives as citizens of Glen Rock than we may realize. Small Business Saturday was an amazing opportunity for Glen Rock citizens to thank our business owners for making the necessary contributions to elevate and strengthen our small town.
