Occupy Black Friday

As a matter of fact, DON'T Occupy Black Friday - stay home, enjoy your family, watch some football, eat leftovers. Avoid the madness Black Friday brings.

But, when you do go shopping, ON SATURDAY, participate in SMALL BUSINESS SATURDAY! Small business is the backbone of America and the key to economic recovery. Here are some important contributions of small business according to the SBA:

Small firms:

• Represent 99.7 percent of all employer firms.


• Employ half of all private sector employees.


• Pay 44 percent of total U.S. private payroll.


• Generated 65 percent of net new jobs over the past 17 years.


• Create more than half of the nonfarm private GDP.


• Hire 43 percent of high tech workers ( scientists, engineers, computer programmers, and others).


• Are 52 percent home-based and 2 percent franchises.


• Made up 97.5 percent of all identified exporters and produced 31 percent of export value in FY 2008.


• Produce 13 times more patents per employee than large patenting firms.

And, when you spend locally, more of your dollars stay in your community:

Here are some great ideas to spend your money this Christmas - really, it's like giving three times or more - your spending is a gift to independent, locally owned business owners, who in turn spend your dollars in the community, AND you get to give great, thoughtful gifts to your loved ones.

Everything from soup to nuts: Grow Nebraska, online or at retail stores in Kearney, Grand Island and Lincoln.

Kearney
5019 2nd Avenue, #20
Kearney, NE 68847
(308) 338-3520
Hours:
Monday – Saturday: 10 am - 9 pm
Sunday: 12 noon - 6 pm

Grand Island
Conestoga Mall #144
3404 W 13th Street
Grand Island, NE 68803
(308) 382-1287
Hours:
Monday – Saturday: 10 am - 9 pm
Sunday: 12 noon - 6 pm

Lincoln
6100 O Street, Bay #228
Westfield Gateway Mall
Lincoln, NE 68505
402-464-3030
Store hours
Monday-Saturday: 10:00am – 9:00pm
Sunday: 12:00 pm – 6:00 pm
Please check Westfield Gateway Web site for specific holiday hours.
November 4 - December 24

Other ideas?

Give some locally brewed craft beers. You can find all of the Nebraska Brewers on the Nebraska Beer Blog.

Nebraska Wine - check out the Nebraska Wine and Grape Growers or your local retailers for selections.

Nebraska Music - you can find a lot of great artists at Hear Nebraska, check them out then buy their music directly from their websites, at Amazon or iTunes.

Make a REAL difference with your Christmas shopping this year! Buy local.

Thanks for stopping by. The coffee is always on (purchased from our local grocery store, Maline's Super Foods in Sutherland, Nebraska.)