On Saturday morning at Fox Valley Mall, Aurora resident Michael Steinbarth was at a kiosk which sold stuffed animals with his son, who was deciding which toy he’d like to have.
When asked about the importance of small businesses, Steinbarth had some ready answers.
“Small businesses are kind of the backbone of the United States. I mean, … if they’re not healthy then our economy is not exactly where it wants to be. I personally try to go to mom-and-pops,” he said while standing at the kiosk on Small Business Saturday, a national initiative begun by American Express in 2010.
The event continues to highlight the community-based shops that, according to the U.S. Small Business Administration, make up “approximately 44% of U.S. economic activity, making them a significant portion of the national economy.”
Local business leaders including Beth Walker, executive director for the Batavia MainStreet group, said shopping at local businesses is vital, especially during the holiday season.
“Small businesses are really important. These are the months that they do a lot of their business and people gear up for this,” Walker said. “Especially in the downtown of Batavia, we don’t have many chains and most businesses are run by people who live in this community and when you shop at those you’re supporting people who live in your community.”
According to research by American Express, “approximately 67 cents of every dollar spent at a small business stays within the local community,” something that Paula Schmidt, president of the Geneva Chamber of Commerce, said is important “as most of our shops downtown are small mom-and-pop shops.”
She said Small Business Saturday “is one of the biggest days” for local businesses, “and we really try and push that.”
“We’re hoping there is always a good turnout,” she said. “If you walk into about 80% of the shops you’re going to be greeted by the actual owners so it’s really very Geneva-based. They are helping provide services for people that live in and around Geneva.”
Steve Warrenfeltz, longtime owner of Kiss the Sky records in Batavia, was recently recognized by the Batavia MainStreet group for the longevity of his small business in town, and said that small businesses are vital to the economy.
“People who own their own businesses really, really care about what they do and taking care of their customers,” he said. “How much of the total market do you represent – more than 40% – so, right there, we’re a significant piece of the puzzle. There are a lot of personal relationships that are formed and if these mom-and pops disappeared, that’s one less place where people can get their wishes, their needs, their desires met.”
Missi Hartmann of Oswego, who owns The Tea Tree in Batavia, said she has been in business nearly nine years and that the push to get people to shop at small businesses needs to continue.
“I think it’s an awareness of these little businesses, and I wish (Small Business Saturday) was more than a day,” she said. “It’s a great day for us and reminding people they can find something different they won’t find anywhere else. We have a very dedicated group of people that come in for sure. We have some of the best customers that have kept us going through the hardest times and we get great feedback.”
Hartmann said there is a camaraderie among small business owners and “that’s the best part.”
“It’s not competitive. We do look out for each other and that’s one of the reasons I closed one of my shops and kept another open is because of the sense of wanting to work with each other here in Batavia,” she said.
Sarah Cunnar of Batavia was shopping at The Tea Tree on Saturday and said shopping locally does make a difference.
“I think that the money we spend stays in our community and it employs people that live in our town and we have wonderful opportunities to go to restaurants, stores and bars that you can’t go in if they’re not physically here,” she said. “I love being able to talk to owners no matter which shop I go in. They have wonderful recommendations and I know them and I see them around town.”
David Sharos is a freelance reporter for The Beacon-News.