Small Business Saturday encourages shoppers to support local stores

LEXINGTON, Ky. (ABC36 NEWS NOW) – The Small Business Administration is reminding shoppers to think local this weekend as Small Business Saturday returns tomorrow.

The nationwide initiative encourages people to support independent shops during one of the busiest shopping weekends of the year. The SBA says more than 36 million small businesses are participating across the country.

According to the agency, local businesses are still facing challenges, including rising costs, competition from major retailers, and an increased shift toward online shopping. The SBA says supporting neighborhood stores is more important than ever.

Shoppers are urged to kick off the holiday season by choosing to shop local and invest in their community.