Small Business Saturday continues to be a vital revenue driver for local retailers as communities prepare for the annual post-Thanksgiving event. On today’s episode of the SBA Update, SBA Southeast Regional Administrator Tyler Teresa and True Fashionistas Founder Jennifer Johnson join us to discuss the day’s economic importance and the shared strategies for both business owners and consumers.
The initiative, held on the Saturday after Thanksgiving, encourages Americans to shop with neighborhood retailers, many of whom rely on the uptick in traffic heading into the fourth quarter. Teresa notes that the day often generates a ripple effect throughout local economies as revenue circulates back into community services, staffing, and reinvestment.
"Every dollar spent, 67 cents stays in that community... so it's really important to go out and support your local businesses." – Tyler Teresa
While the SBA is widely known for its lending programs, Teresa emphasizes that the agency’s support extends beyond lending, offering education, planning assistance, and development resources. Programs such as the SBA’s Emerging Leaders cohort help entrepreneurs build long-term operational skills, while the agency’s disaster assistance efforts proved crucial during events such as Hurricane Irma and the disruptions caused by COVID.
For business owners, Teresa encourages retailers to review past performance, promotional results, and staffing needs ahead of the event instead of relying on last-minute efforts. He adds that visibility matters, pointing to social media engagement, customer communication, and basic data collection, such as gathering emails at checkout, as tools to strengthen customer relationships long after the shopping weekend ends.
Similarly, Johnson notes that customer experience and communication play a massive role in converting first-time shoppers into repeat buyers. Therefore, she encourages owners to ask for feedback, request reviews, and learn what customers want to see more of in-store, noting that the information often shapes future buying and merchandising decisions.
Consumers also benefit from planning ahead, Teresa said, by researching nearby small businesses and prioritizing locally owned shops. With in-person shopping regaining momentum since the pandemic, the SBA is promoting the experiential side of Small Business Saturday, directing shoppers to resources that help them locate independent retailers in their communities.
"You want to make sure on Small Business Saturday, and everyday for that matter, that you're collecting those emails and phone numbers so can market." – Jennifer Johnson
Further, Johnson shared her own anecdote about growing True Fashionistas from a small 1,800-square-foot location into a consolidated 13,000-square-foot flagship store that now stands as Florida’s largest lifestyle resale and consignment shop. The hybrid model blends resale and consignment and offers a wide assortment of apparel and accessories, serving as an example of the growth potential available to local entrepreneurs.
Both guests highlight that Small Business Saturday is more than a single shopping day. They encourage consumers to support local businesses year-round and urged owners to take advantage of SBA resources designed to help strengthen operations, improve planning, and sustain long-term growth.
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