After Black Friday comes Small Business Saturday, and New York Gov. Kathy Hochul is encouraging shoppers to invest in their communities this holiday season.
Hochul’s office says businesses with fewer than 100 employees make up 98% of businesses statewide and employ nearly 40% of the workforce.
“Every time we choose a local shop, restaurant, or service provider, we’re investing in our neighbors and our neighborhoods,” the governor said in a statement Friday. “As the daughter of a small business owner, I know the long hours, hard work, and heart that go into running a family business. Small Business Saturday is a reminder that our local enterprises aren’t just places to shop, they’re engines of opportunity and cornerstones of community. This holiday season, I encourage New Yorkers to shop small and help keep our main streets thriving.”
New York’s small business economy
Hochul’s office said approximately 81% of the state’s more than 70,000 retail stores are independently owned, and 7.35% of small businesses are retailers.
The retail sector generated $507 billion in sales in 2024, and retail stores collected $20.3 billion in state sales tax, according to the governor’s office.
Retail workers across the state earn an average of $971 a week, “underscoring the industry’s essential role in supporting jobs, household income, and local economic growth,” the governor’s office said.
Ways to support small businesses
Hochul’s office shared the following tips for supporting local businesses year round:
- Shop at independently owned retailers and other service providers in your community.
- Buy gift cards from local businesses; upfront sales encourage future visits.
- Find unique, locally made gifts and seasonal foods at farmers’ markets.
- Shop the state’s Taste.NY.gov website for products from farms and artisans.
- Eat at neighborhood restaurants and cafés.
- Share your experiences on social media and review sites.
- When returning items, opt for store credit to keep money circulating locally.
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