Small Business Saturday 2024 In Guilford: See Sales, Deals

GUILFORD, CT — Saturday, Nov. 30, is a crucial day for independently owned local businesses in Guilford. It’s Small Business Saturday, the kickoff to “shop small” events that emphasize the power of dollars spent in local communities.

Founded by American Express in 2010, Small Business Saturday is sandwiched between the major Black Friday retail shopping holiday, which tends to favor national brands, and Cyber Monday, an online shopping event that this year takes place on Dec. 2.

Here are some businesses that are participating in this year's event:

• Guilford Greenery, 86 Water St.
• Som Siam Thai Restaurant, 63 Whitfield St.
• Village Greene Gardens, 715 Boston Post Road
• Blazing Fresh Donuts, 16 Church St.
• Kamana Fine Indian Cuisine, 1004 Boston Post Road
• Wearever, 55 Whitfield St.
• Breakwater Books, 81 Whitfield St.
• Guilford Coffee House, 1065 Boston Post Road
• The Village Chocolatier, 79 Whitfield St.
• Shoreline Wine Merchant, 1015 Boston Post Road
• Guilford Sporting Goods, 934 Boston Post Road Suite 1
• Swish, 57 Whitfield St.
• Guilford Bistro and Cafe, 1016 Boston Post Road
• Henry Whitfield State Museum, 248 Old Whitfield St.
• Water Street Jewelers, 23 Water St.

Check out the full list here

Since it started in 2010, consumers have reported spending an estimated $163 billion at small businesses across all 12 Small Business Saturdays combined.

There are 365,824 small businesses in Connecticut, according to the U.S. Small Business Administration’s 2024 state profiles. That number makes up 99.4 percent of Connecticut businesses.

According to the data, there are 678,339 small business employees in CT

Local businesses depend on increased sales in the last few months of the year to help them reach their revenue goals, and you’ll find plenty of in-store cheer and holiday happenings that will make the shopping experience fun.

Locally owned businesses recirculate a far greater percentage of revenue locally compared to absentee-owned businesses, according to the American Independent Business Alliance. Independents return about 48 percent of their revenues back into the local economy, compared to 14 percent returned to the local economy by chains.

Small businesses are typically defined by the federal government as those with fewer than 500 employees.

They are responsible for two of every three jobs over the past 25 years. Even a partial collapse of small businesses could weaken the overall U.S. economy, according to the Labor Department.