Black Friday and Cyber Monday are coming up, but did you know that Small Business Saturday is a nationally-recognized holiday? Support your local businesses by shopping in your community on Saturday. 93 percent of Americans believe it’s important to support local businesses. Take a break from national chain stores and visit the local brick and mortar shop. Here are just a few quick reasons why shopping locally will help your community:

Less crowds—Every year, there are stories of people being injured during Black Friday. Don’t let that happen to you; sleep in and wait until Saturday to do your holiday shopping. Casually browse local stores to find those special holiday gifts.

One-of-a-kind items—Big-box stores may have everything you possibly need, but do they have that “something special?” Give personal holiday gifts by shopping locally and finding one-of-a-kind items. Whether it’s handmade or fairly traded, support ethical shopping and finding a meaningful gift.

Stimulate local economy—Shopping locally greatly stimulates the economy and enhances the standard of living. Did you know that on average, $73 of every $100 spent at a small business stays in the local economy? Every dollar counts.

Create relationships—Becoming friends with a store owner is a great feeling. You become invested in the shop and in their life. You share silly stories about your family and friends while perusing items. It’s a unique experience you’ll find at a small business, not at a supercenter.