On the heels of Black Friday, Sacramento residents and those across California turned their attention to neighborhood storefronts to celebrate Small Business Saturday, lending support to local shops that form the backbone of their communities. As reported by CBS News, Sacramento's very own Strapping Store saw an influx of customers this past weekend. Owner Susan Stewart highlighted the critical nature of this time, sharing that "it's about 40% of our business within a 4-6 week stretch of sales, it's kind of a do-or-die moment for us."
According to the Governor's office, there are 4.3 million small businesses across California, many of which are experiencing the struggle against the convenience of online shopping and the pressures of inflation. "This is affecting the shops here in Sacramento. Every day I'm hearing of new businesses closing down, whether it's a restaurant or store," Stewart told CBS News, emphasizing the stark reality of these economic challenges. Old Sacramento Waterfront is attempting to counter this trend by hosting a small business spree through the end of December in a bid to drive local patronage.
On Small Business Saturday, Governor Newsom highlighted the importance of local businesses, calling them central to “California’s economic strength and cultural identity.” He noted that small businesses employ nearly half of the state’s workforce and are a primary source of local jobs and innovation.
The California Office of the Small Business Advocate (CalOSBA), part of the Governor's Office of Business and Economic Development, supports local businesses through programs like SCALE, which has helped launch 13,900 businesses and create over 84,000 jobs. Accelerate CA provided more than $2 million in startup funding this year. Governor Newsom encouraged Californians to "explore local retailers, participate in community markets, and celebrate the small businesses that bring creativity, diversity, and opportunity to every region of our state."
Strapping Store owner Susan Stewart told CBS News, "We're all dreamers. Small business owners are dreamers and to have people show up and say 'Hey, we got your back,' it means the world to me." The comments came as residents supported local businesses on Small Business Saturday across Sacramento and California.
