Hernandez Highlights Small Business Saturday, Encourages Residents to Shop Local

AURORA, Ill. – With many local businesses impacted by the COVID-19 crisis, state Rep. Barbara Hernandez, D-Aurora, is highlighting Small Business Saturday on Nov. 28 to remind residents to shop at area businesses this holiday season.

“Many of our community’s small and family-owned businesses have taken a hard financial hit from the COVID-19 crisis, and they usually heavily rely on the holiday shopping season for increased revenue,” said Hernandez. “I encourage folks to do their holiday shopping at the wonderful small businesses that our community has to offer and try to utilize online shopping and curbside pickup options to stay safe.”

Small Business Saturday is an annual observance that takes place immediately after the large commercial shopping holiday, Black Friday, as an effort to encourage shoppers to support their local shops. Small businesses make up 99.6% of businesses in Illinois, with over 307,000 of those minority-owned. Hernandez is urging residents to adhere to public health guidelines and only go out when necessary. Many small businesses have online shopping, local delivery and curbside pickup options that allow individuals to shop safely.

“This year more than ever it is important to support our local businesses rather than giving more money to large corporations like Walmart and Amazon,” said Hernandez. “By shopping locally, not only are you able to support local small business owners and the local economy, but small businesses offer one-of-a-kind, local products that are unmatched compared to big retail.”

For more information, please contact Hernandez’s constituent services office at 630-270-1848 or by email at RepBarbaraHernandez@gmail.com.