In 2023, local businesses were responsible for $17 billion of economic impact, and over 75% of new jobs.

COLUMBIA, S.C. — All across South Carolina, on Saturday, stores opened their doors and encouraged the public to shop local.

It’s all part of the Small Business Saturday program, which encourages consumers to “shop small” to support local businesses.

Matt Floyd, with Gadgetboy on Devine Street in Columbia, described the benefits of shopping locally on Small Business Saturday.

“So shopping local, you know it’s more of a community-based thing, and it also uplifts other businesses that are around here, especially on the Devine District,” Floyd said.

The Small Business Administration (SBA) cosponsors the program, which was founded by American Express in 2010 and encourages local shopping across the United States. The SBA said 2023 spending on Small Business Saturday was around $17 billion.

Don McCallister, a co-owner at Loose Lucy’s in the Five Points District, said patronizing a local business means supporting a local family.

“You know [with] these businesses, the owners are here. The employees are, very often, as in our case, family,” McCallister said.

McCallister said community support also helps keep businesses from disappearing.

“There [are] only so many of us left, so it’s really important to support these small businesses all year round,” he said.

Shoppers in the area agreed.

“I think it’s so critical. I mean, if we don’t support small businesses, then major retailers just come in and shut [them] down, and everyone just has something cookie-cutter,” said Amber Hussain, a Dallas resident visiting Columbia and checking out the local stores.

Lisa Call was shopping with her daughter, specifically to show support for small businesses.

“Well, they’re always very friendly when we come in, so we just want to make sure that we’re helping support them so they can stay in business and do our part to help our local economy,” Call said.

Small businesses also contribute significantly to the local job market.

The SBA says in 2023, almost 80,000 new jobs were added across South Carolina, with 78.9% of those coming from small businesses.

Floyd from Gadgetboy had one last reminder for shoppers.

“Keep it local. You’ll get better service. That’s usually the case,” he said.