Tomorrow is Small Business Saturday, a day that, beyond being a shopping opportunity, celebrates and promotes the positive impact that small businesses have on our communities and the world. It is a day that invites us to reflect on how we consume and, above all, to choose in a conscious, supportive, and ethical way.
What is Small Business Saturday and why is it important?
Small Business Saturday: Porque lo pequeño es poderoso
Small Business Saturday is more than just a day of shopping; it is an opportunity to rediscover the power of small businesses. This movement, which began in 2010 in the United States, as a response to the excessive consumerism of Black Friday - paradoxically created by American Express to expand the market - encouraging consumers to buy locally and support small businesses, seeks to promote local consumption and support those who, with passion and effort, sustain the economic and social fabric of our communities. Over the years, this day has become a global movement, reminding us that our purchasing decisions have a real impact.
The impact in numbers
According to American Express data, Small Business Saturday sales in the United States in 2022 generated more than $17.9 billion. This positive impact shows how a change in consumer habits can transform entire communities. Although the event does not yet have the same level of adoption in Mexico, small businesses remain at the heart of our local economy.
In Mexico, small businesses represent a significant part of the economy. According to INEGI figures, 9 out of 10 companies are micro, small, or medium-sized and generate 72% of employment in the country. In addition, 37% of these MSMEs are led by women, who find entrepreneurship a way to overcome the barriers of the traditional labor market.
Los números no mienten:
In the United States, small businesses account for 44% of the country's economic activity and generate two out of every three new jobs each year.
During Small Business Saturday 2022, American consumers spent approximately $17.9 billion, demonstrating the power of conscious consumption.
In Mexico, 99.8% of businesses are micro, small, and medium-sized enterprises (MiPyMES), and together they generate 72% of jobs in the country. These figures underscore the importance of supporting local commerce to strengthen the national economy and reduce inequalities.
In Mexico, 37% of micro, small, and medium-sized enterprises (MiPyMES) are led by women, reflecting the significant role of women in entrepreneurship and the local economy.
According to INEGI, 48% of women entrepreneurs operate in the commerce sector, while the rest are divided between services and manufacturing, showing a wide diversity of business areas.
These female entrepreneurs, in addition to facing additional challenges such as lack of access to financing, are an example of resilience and creativity.
Female entrepreneurs face additional barriers, such as less access to financing and support networks. Despite this, 7 out of 10 female business owners claim to have started their own businessroyecto para tener autonomía económica y contribuir al bienestar familiar.
Why choose small, local, and fair
By supporting small businesses, you are not only helping the local economy, but you are investing in more than just a product or service:
You promote ethical and sustainable practices. Many small businesses, especially those dedicated to fair trade, take care of their processes to minimize environmental impact, use recycled materials, and offer fair and transparent working conditions.
Female empowerment: A purchase from a small business can be a direct investment in the future of an entrepreneur and her family.
You support individual dreams and talents. Each piece, each service has a person or small team behind it that works with passion and dedication.
You strengthen the local microeconomy. Your purchase generates employment, boosts creativity, and fosters the cultural wealth of your community.
You buy better. Small commerce is often synonymous with quality, proximity, and personalization. It is not unusual for those of us who work in this sector to put a little piece of our soul into each creation.
Reflection: From consumerism to conscious consumption
Black Friday has become a symbol of rapid consumerism: buying more, spending less, without stopping to think about the ethical and environmental implications of our decisions. In contrast, Small Business Saturday invites us to slow down and value what is handmade, local, and unique.
Mass and cheap consumption often involve labor exploitation, excessive pollution, and low-quality products. Choosing fair and ethical trade, on the other hand, means betting on a more sustainable, supportive, and humane world.
How you can participate tomorrow in Small Business Saturday
If you decide to support small businesses, do it with awareness and love.
Buy local and direct. Look for small businesses in your community or platforms that support handmade and value-based products.
Visit local bazaars and markets. If you are in CDMX, I invite you to my Christmas bazaar in Condesa this weekend (details at the end of the post). It will be an opportunity to chat, learn about my new pieces, and celebrate together!
Share on social media. Recommend your favorite businesses, tag your friends, and make visible the efforts of those who work to keep artisanal production alive.
Explore ethical options. Many small businesses adopt sustainable practices, such as the use of recycled materials or processes with low environmental impact.
A small purchase always brings happiness
A thank you to those who value the unique
For those of us who work in fair and ethical trade, every purchase is a vote of confidence, a recognition of our work, and invaluable support to continue creating. Thanks to you, who look for quality instead of quantity, who choose stories instead of disposable trends, who value what is handmade and made with love.
Remember: what is small in size, can be huge in impact.
If you want to know more about slow jewelry, ethical trade, or just chat, I invite you to explore my blog. And don't forget that tomorrow we'll see each other in Condesa to share a special moment!
Christmas Bazaar with Grandes Viñedos de Francia
November 29 and 30
Avenida Michoacán 10, Hipódromo Condesa
10:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.
Your choice of purchase counts more than you imagine.
A hug, Fernanda
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