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I often wonder if our world is turning into one giant shopping mall. Two years ago, I wandered through New York City with my daughter amazed at how many Gap stores existed within walking distance of each other! Don’t get me wrong, I love Gap (and Eddie Bauer, Target, and Cheesecake Factory for that matter).
But it dawned on me that most of Times Square was one chain store after another. It took a subway ride to the Upper West Side to find something unique and different. Looking back on it now, the difference between Times Square and the Upper West Side was the presence of small business (OK, I know I’m simplifying, but you get my point).
The Saturday after Thanksgiving (Nov. 26) is Small Business Saturday- a day that’s about supporting small businesses. The concept of this day really appeals to me, because I know I don’t think enough about the impact of small business in our area. Many of our small businesses here in Penfield (or any other town) are very loyal and supportive of our community. Small business owners often provide donations — for refreshments, raffles or auctions — which benefit our youth and several other community groups.
I’m going to make a point of patronizing small, locally-owned businesses on Saturday, November 26. More importantly, I will make a special effort to continue to support them beyond this one day.
You can learn more about Small Business Saturday by clicking here or by joining their Facebook page. Go local!!
Marie Cinti lives with her husband and two children in Penfield. A former college academic advisor and school counselor, she is passionate about community service and blogs about life in Penfield, books, events, and more. She enjoys reading, writing, cooking, and geocaching. If you have an idea for her blog, please email Marie at sfinkels@rochester.rr.com.
