Hurley Encourages Community to Shop Locally on Small Business Saturday

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. – To help boost the local economy and support community business owners, state Rep. Fran Hurley, D-Chicago, is encouraging shoppers to participate in Small Business Saturday.

“As many families begin gift shopping for the holiday season, it is important to patron the small businesses that are right here in our local neighborhoods,” said Hurley. “Small businesses help keep our community unique, and supporting local businesses translates to a direct investment back into our economy.”

Saturday, Nov. 30 marks the 10th Annual Small Business Saturday, which was created to help small businesses compete with large retailers between the busy shopping days of Black Friday and Cyber Monday. Hurley is encouraging residents to shop locally at small businesses this holiday season, as they offer unique goods for gifts, jobs for local residents, and support to local charities and organizations.

Shopping local is increasingly highlighted as a great way to support local communities, as a recent study showed if a consumer were to spend $100 at a local small business, roughly $68 of that money stays in the local economy. However, if the same consumer spent the same $100 at a large corporation, only $43 of that money would stay in the local economy.

“When we shop locally we are supporting our neighbors and stimulating our local economy, not putting more money in the pockets of billionaires,” continued Hurley. “I encourage local residents to consider shopping small not just on Small Business Saturday but throughout the year.”

For more information, contact Hurley’s constituent service office at 773-445-8128 or RepFranHurley@gmail.com.