Burnett & Williams

Small Business Saturday is Extra-Important This Year!

Small Business Saturday is Extra-Important This Year!

Help keep your neighborhood businesses vibrant this holiday season by shopping local.  

Small Business Saturday text

This year, holiday gatherings will look different, and so will holiday shopping. But that doesn’t mean that you can’t still support your local community businesses with Small Business Saturday shopping! Because of the pandemic, shopping will have to be done much more carefully than in years past — either with masks on and socially distanced, or online — but whether you live in Hopewell or Orange, Leesburg or Midlothian, or anywhere in between, there are ways you can still show your love for the many wonderful shops and entrepreneurs in your own neighborhood.

This Saturday, November 28th, is the 10 year anniversary of Small Business Saturday, and though we won’t be crowding the aisles of our favorite boutiques or specialty shops as we may have in years past, there are still plenty of ways to support the local economy as you shop for all of your holiday-season goodies. According to the American Independent Business Alliance, every dollar spent at a local business can create as much as 3 and a half times the local economic benefit than if that dollar were spent at a chain store, so where you shop can have a huge impact on the local economy.

Many businesses are offering curbside pickup, where you can order online or by phone and then pick up your special purchase without ever setting foot inside of the store. There are also a lot of small-store owners who would be more than happy to chat with you on the phone if you need advice about which of their products might best suit the people on your holiday list. And if you find it challenging to pick out the perfect gift without perusing the aisles in person, most shops are allowing patrons to enter, just at a greatly reduced capacity, which may mean some wait-time before you can shop, so be sure to bring your mask and your patience when you head out.

Local community websites are great resources for shopping and business information as you plan your outing. If you are doing your holiday errands in the Orange area, Orange County has a great website that has gathered information for many of the local businesses and what they are offering this holiday season.

If you live near Alexandria, the parking will be free, and if you’re lucky one of the masked elves on Elf Patrol will hand you a gift card to one of the local shops! There will be lots of outdoor decorations and lights to enjoy as you stroll around downtown. 

Whatever your plans are for this upcoming Thanksgiving weekend, all of us here at Burnett & Williams hope that it is filled with warmth, good food, and laughter.