{"id":45818,"date":"2025-11-27T01:26:24","date_gmt":"2025-11-27T01:26:24","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-pa\/45818\/"},"modified":"2025-11-27T01:26:24","modified_gmt":"2025-11-27T01:26:24","slug":"small-business-saturday-puts-the-focus-on-shopping-local-2","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-pa\/45818\/","title":{"rendered":"Small Business Saturday puts the focus on shopping local"},"content":{"rendered":"

Chris Lerch is passionate about supporting small businesses. And while he claims Small Business Saturday \u2013 an annual event observed the day after Black Friday \u2013 is his favorite day of the year, his efforts to do so extend throughout the year.<\/p>\n

\u201cSmall businesses are the heart of a community, but they can\u2019t survive without our support,\u201d he said. \u201cI work to generate that support for local businesses because I believe they make our communities better.\u201d<\/p>\n

In 2020, Lerch founded Hello 422, an organization that promotes small businesses located along the Route 422 corridor from Birdsboro to Phoenixville. The goal was to drive traffic to local shops and restaurants that were struggling during the COVID-19 pandemic.<\/p>\n

The same year, he kicked off Shop Small to Win Big, a campaign that has become an annual tradition celebrated on the three days after Thanksgiving.<\/p>\n

\"ChrisChris Lerch (Photo Courtesy Chris Lerch)<\/p>\n

\u201cWe get a whole lot of businesses along the corridor to donate a $50 gift card,\u201d Lerch explained. \u201cAnyone who spends $50 or more in any of those businesses can send me a picture of their receipt to enter the contest to win all the cards.\u201d<\/p>\n

With more than 100 businesses participating, there is huge incentive for shoppers and diners to get out and support community enterprises.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt gives you the collective power of all these businesses to get people excited and out and about,\u201d Lerch said. \u201cIt\u2019s such a fun time.\u201d<\/p>\n

Held in collaboration with Shop Small to Win Big is a Small Business Saturday Nacho Crawl, during which participants can visit about 20 businesses along the Route 422 corridor offering a variety of nachos and other items.<\/p>\n

\u201cThat\u2019s my favorite day of the year,\u201d Lerch said. \u201cI literally spend the entire day out, eating nachos.\u201d<\/p>\n

Information about both events is available at Hello 422\u2019s Shop Small to Win Big 2024 Facebook page<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Small Business Saturday Celebrated Throughout the Region<\/p>\n

While Shop Small to Win Big generates a lot of traffic for local businesses, it\u2019s by no means the only event celebrating Small Business Saturday, an initiative introduced in 2010 by American Express with the intent to drive consumer spending to small businesses across America.<\/p>\n

In Berks County, the Greater Reading Chamber Alliance \u00a0is sponsoring a month-long celebration spotlighting local shops, restaurants and bars.<\/p>\n

Leah Fassnacht, GRCA\u2019s senior director of communications & marketing, said although the current celebration lasts for a month, her organization\u2019s efforts to support small businesses is a 365-day endeavor.<\/p>\n

\u201cOur support can\u2019t be limited to just one day or one month, it has to be year-round,\u201d she said. \u201cBy encouraging residents to shop, dine and experience local businesses throughout the year, we help ensure these small businesses can thrive long-term.\u201d<\/p>\n

Similarly, the TriCounty Area Chamber of Commerce celebrates Small Business Season, designated from Nov. 1 to Dec. 31.<\/p>\n

\u201cSmall Business Saturday is a pivotal day that highlights the immense value small businesses bring to our community, but at the TriCounty Area Chamber of Commerce, we recognize that supporting small businesses goes far beyond one day,\u201d said Hailey Heimbach, marketing and communications director.<\/p>\n

\"Shop<\/p>\n

Shop owners along Bridge Street in Phoenixville are hoping for a busy holiday shopping season. (Susan Shelly For MediaNews Group)\n<\/p>\n

\"Leah<\/p>\n

Leah Fassnacht (Courtesy Greater Reading Chamber Alliance)\n<\/p>\n

\"Hailey<\/p>\n

Hailey Heimbach (Submitted Photo)\n<\/p>\n

\"Crowds<\/p>\n

Crowds of shoppers are expected in West Reading for Small Business Saturday. (BILL UHRICH\/MEDIANEWS GROUP)\n<\/p>\n

Show Caption<\/p>\n

1 of 4<\/p>\n

Shop owners along Bridge Street in Phoenixville are hoping for a busy holiday shopping season. (Susan Shelly For MediaNews Group)\n<\/p>\n

Expand<\/a><\/p>\n

West Reading is gearing up for a series of events on Small Business Saturday, including a prize wheel and a chance for children and families to be photographed with Santa Claus.<\/p>\n

Businesses will be offering specials throughout the day and into the coming week, said Robin Horman, who owns Lilibea\u2019s in West Reading and helped organize the borough\u2019s Small Business Saturday initiative.<\/p>\n

Horman said it\u2019s especially important this year for shoppers to remember small businesses, many of which are struggling due to economic conditions and uncertainties surrounding tariffs.<\/p>\n

\u201cThere have been impacts on small businesses this year that they didn\u2019t anticipate,\u201d Horman said.<\/p>\n

She noted that chains and big box stores cannot match the personal service found in small shops.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe owners of local stores know everything about their stores and their inventory,\u201d Horman said. \u201cWe\u2019re experts in what we sell. Plus, you can walk into a small business and someone working there will know your name.\u201d<\/p>\n

West Chester is aglow with more than 80,000 lights, wreaths and greenery throughout the historic downtown, part of its Lights Up Holiday Weekends in West Chester, sponsored by Penn Medicine Chester County Hospital that kicks off on Friday.<\/p>\n

More than 40,000 people are expected to visit West Chester during the holiday season, according to Laurie Ryan, president of the Greater West Chester Chamber of Commerce.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt truly is an unforgettable hometown holiday experience,\u201d Ryan said.<\/p>\n

West Chester\u2019s annual tree lighting and holiday parade are set for Friday, Dec. 5, part of the borough\u2019s Lights Up Holiday Weekends in West Chester, which run through Jan. 4.<\/p>\n

\"ShopsShops in West Chester are ready for Small Business Saturday shoppers, including this shop in the 100 block of W. Gay Street. (BILL RETTEW \u2013 MEDIANEWS GROUP FILE PHOTO)<\/p>\n

For information about all the West Chester events visit https:\/\/www.greaterwestchester.com\/lightsupchristmasparade.html<\/a>.<\/p>\n

The Value of Small Businesses<\/p>\n

Small businesses give back to communities in ways that online retailers and big box stores cannot, according to the National Business Association.<\/p>\n

Studies show that 68% of money spent at small businesses stays within the local community, compared to just 43% for large chain retailers.<\/p>\n

Small businesses create two out of every three new jobs in America, according to the Small Business Association, and contribute nearly 44% of the gross domestic product. Small businesses provide essential services and contribute regularly to their communities.<\/p>\n

\"CrowdsCrowds of shoppers are expected in West Reading for Small Business Saturday. (BILL UHRICH\/RMEDIANEWS GROUP)<\/p>\n

Horman pointed out that small business owners frequently volunteer their time, as exhibited last week when shopkeepers sponsored a food drive in West Reading to benefit Helping Harvest Fresh Food Bank, which serves Berks and Schuylkill counties.<\/p>\n

They provide financial support to youth sports programs, civic groups, charities and other organizations and make in-kind contributions to others.<\/p>\n

\u201cA lot of times we\u2019re the first ones people come to for donations for events, and we\u2019re always willing to help,\u201d Horman said. \u201cWe\u2019re the businesses that give right back to the community.\u201d<\/p>\n

\"AA sign promoting small businesses in front of a shop on Main Street in Phoenixville. (Susan Shelly For MediaNews Group)
\nThe Value of Small Business Saturday<\/p>\n

Kelly Stanford, a longtime employee at the Diving Cat Studio Gallery in Phoenixville values Small Business Saturday because it kicks off the holiday shopping season and gets people excited about buying special gifts for friends and family members.<\/p>\n

The studio offers separate events for men and women shoppers, setting aside two nights that include special deals, snacks, drinks and a chance for camaraderie.<\/p>\n

Stanford said the event is always well attended and everyone enjoys themselves.<\/p>\n

\u201cI think that Small Business Saturday opens the door for the season and gets people in the mood to be out in their community and interacting with each other,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n

For Charles Booz, the owner of Chantilly Floral Boutique in Lansdale, Small Business Saturday is an asset for small businesses because it shines a spotlight on them and prompts shoppers to take notice.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s a great resource because it makes people think about small businesses rather than running to a big box or ordering from Amazon,\u201d he said. \u201cIt\u2019s one day, but I think it serves a good purpose.\u201d<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"Chris Lerch is passionate about supporting small businesses. And while he claims Small Business Saturday \u2013 an annual…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":45819,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[11],"tags":[349,60,1557,61,27070,182,200,28,20911,128,130,129,436,1444,1558,707],"class_list":{"0":"post-45818","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-reading","8":"tag-berks-county","9":"tag-business","10":"tag-chester-county","11":"tag-economy","12":"tag-lansdale","13":"tag-local-news","14":"tag-montgomery-county","15":"tag-pennsylvania","16":"tag-phoenixville","17":"tag-reading-city","18":"tag-reading-city-headlines","19":"tag-reading-city-news","20":"tag-retail","21":"tag-top-stories-lan","22":"tag-west-chester","23":"tag-west-reading"},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-pa\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/45818","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-pa\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-pa\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-pa\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-pa\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=45818"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-pa\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/45818\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-pa\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/45819"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-pa\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=45818"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-pa\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=45818"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-pa\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=45818"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}