Mike Licht / CC
It was ten years ago when American Express launched Small Business Saturday, a day to bring awareness of the small mom and pop shops of Main Street. NFIB State Director Dawn Starns said they were asked to partner with the promotion and this year it is more important than ever.
“But it really became a real movement and NFIB partners up with them and tries to elevate them, and over the past couple of years we try to elevate the conversation, and really it’s become a movement,” said Starns.
With the pandemic, many small businesses have become inventive and added new ways for customers to shop, via online, thru Instagram and other social media outlets, and provide curbside service. Starns said many have had to think out outside the box in 2020.
“It will be interesting to see it how does it change the face of small business going forward, has it really ultimately changed or will we get fully back to where we were,” said Starns.
Starns said many small businesses in the past two months report foot traffic back to almost pre-pandemic levels and are hopeful it continues despite Modified Phase Two adjustments reducing capacity. Starns said PPP loans have kept many small businesses remains afloat along with determination.
“But that’s the beauty of small business is they are so agile, and they are so adaptable. The ones who are going to survive are going to survive because folks that are running those shops, this is their dream,” said Starns.
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