ORLANDO, Fla. — In Avalon Park, and across the U.S., Small Business Saturday is more than a shopping day. It’s a chance for families here to pour back into the neighborhoods they love.

What You Need To Know

Avalon Park business owners said Small Business Saturday brings essential revenue and community support
Eye Create and Mangia owners share how shopping local directly impacts their families and futures
American Express survey shows this weekend can make up 20% of yearly revenue for many small shops
Community leaders emphasize that local businesses give back all year, and this day is a chance to return the favor

“What Small Business Saturday does is that it really focuses on why the business is there and how the business started,” said Andrea Rodgriguez, owner of Eye Create, a brow and lash salon in Avalon Park and Downtown Orlando.

American Express — the company that sponsors this day — did a survey that revealed this weekend accounts for about 20% of many small businesses’ yearly revenue.

Rodgriguez said it also brings in customers who intentionally choose to shop local.

“We don’t have a big financial backing. We don’t have investors, we don’t have a big marketing company backing us. The community is really who we look out for, we look out for their support,” she said.

A few doors down from Rodgriguez is Anna Zuccarone, who owns a restaurant called Mangia. She said Small Business Saturday reminds her why she started.

“When you come in a small business, you are helping a family build a future for the kids and everything,” she said.

These moments, seeing families share a meal, are what keep Zuccarone’s business thrive. In fact, they are opening another spot right down the street because of the community’s continued support.

“We support small businesses when we go out. We choose small businesses because we are a small business, and we know what it means,” she said. 

Avalon Park’s Stephanie Lerret said this day is just as important for the community as it is for the shops.

“These businesses are the ones that are giving back to us all year long through school organizations, little league, and all those types of ways they like to give back to us. It’s time for us to give back to them,” Lerret said.

With more than a hundred small businesses packed into the area, each one has a story, family and a dream behind the counter, and during Small Business Saturday, those dreams get a little extra support.

“Supporting doesn’t always mean financial. I think that you can always support a business that is local to you by following them on Instagram, following them on socials. Being a good referral. Sending your friends and sending your family,” Rodgriguez said.