Small Business Saturday 2019: Participating Bradenton Businesses

BRADENTON, FL — You may not think about it much, but independently owned boutiques, gift shops, mom-and-pop hardware stores, restaurants and the like in Bradenton are fighting for survival against malls, big box stores and online retailers.

Small Business Saturday, held annually on the Saturday after Thanksgiving, was created to give them a boost and help level the field of competition. This year, the 10th anniversary of the “Shop Small” movement, the all-local shopping event falls on Nov. 30. in Bradenton.

Here’s a list of some businesses — according to American Express — that you can support on Small Business Saturday:

• Obricks Irish Pub, 427 12th St W, Bradenton
• Mattisons Riverwalk, 101 Riverfront Blvd. Suite 120, Bradenton
• Motorworks Brewing, 1014 9th St W, Bradenton
• The Sage Biscuit Cafe, 1401 Manatee Ave W, Bradenton
• Central Cafe, 906 Manatee Ave. E, Bradenton
• Chateau 13, 535 13th St W, Bradenton
• Fav's Italian Cucina, 419 12th St W, Bradenton
• Lost Kangaroo Pub, 427 12th St W, Bradenton
• Keeton's Office Supply Co, 817 Manatee Ave W, Bradenton
• Lyteworks, 816 Manatee Ave E Suite 101, Bradenton
• Sr Fajitas, 321 12th Street West, Bradenton,
• Robins Downtown Cafe, 428 12th Street West, Bradenton
• The Loaded Barrel Tavern, 450 Old Main Street, Bradenton
• Turner Donut Shop, 902 9th Ave W, Bradenton
• Jennings Provisions, 417 12th St W, Bradenton
• Two Fat Guys, 302 12th Street W., Bradenton
• Arte Caffe, 930 12th St W Bradenton
• Florida Market On Main, 312 12th St. W, Bradenton
• The Play, 436 12th St. W, Bradenton
• Jess Jewelers, 1312 6th Ave W, Bradenton
• Theresas Restaurant, 608 14th St W Tamiami Trail, Bradenton
• Florida Pelot's Pharmacy, 831 Manatee Ave E, Bradenton
• Uphealth, 200 3rd Avenue West Suite 210, Bradenton
• Faire Isles Trading Company,1115 14th Ave W, Bradenton
• City Hall Shoe Shop, 533 13th St W, Bradenton
• Unique Boutique, 417 12th St W Suite 103, Bradenton
• Bills Discount Center, 1001 9th St W, Bradenton
• Suncoast Gems, 435 12th St W 110, Bradenton
• Classic Ink, 306 12th Street West, Bradenton
• Hope Chest, 1215 8th Ave W, Bradenton
• Jennings Dowtown, 417 12th St. West, Bradenton
• Connection Cafe, 1207 3rd Ave W, Bradenton
• Alcover Massage, 204 13th St West Ste A, Bradenton
• Sandy Paws Self Service, 624 14th St W, Bradenton
• Florida Cafe Di Lorenzo, 606 Manatee Ave. W, Bradenton
• City Fitness, 821 12th St W, Bradenton
• Rocco's Pizza Pasta Grill, 827 14th St West, Bradenton
• Pure Florida Honey Co, 417 12th St W #104, Bradenton
• One Tribe Fitness, 602 Manatee Ave., Bradenton
• Riverside Haircuts & Styles, 815 Manatee Ave. E, Bradenton
• The Londoner Bed & Breakfast, 304 15th St W, Bradenton
• Madeline`S Boutique, 1304 6th Ave W Unit C, Bradenton
• Secret Lash Lounge, 1806 Manatee Ave W, Bradenton
• Divine Excess, 1125 12th Street W, Bradenton
• Shear Faith Hair & Spa, 417 12th St W #110, Bradenton
• His Girls Bless N Shop, 902 8th Ave West, Bradenton
• Webtivity Design, 101 Riverfront Blvd #650, Bradenton
• The Tide & The Moon Jewelry, 1209 3rd Ave W Bradenton
• High Vibe Studio, 417 12th Street W, Bradenton
• Douglas, Knight & Assc, 1201 6th Ave W, Bradenton
• Metro Ice, 808 8th Avenue Dr. W, Bradenton

The list of Small Business Saturday participants is growing, so before you head out to shop. “Shop Small” events include not only sales on things you won’t find at the mall or other shopping venues, but also events that bring the community together.

American Express established Small Business Saturday in 2010 to help local businesses reeling from the Great Recession. The U.S. Senate passed a resolution a year later encouraging businesses in all 50 states to participate in what has morphed into a nationwide “shop small” movement.

This year, the stakes are even higher for small businesses. Rising rents and shifting consumer behavior are causing many small business owners to shutter their shops, according to American Express.

A Shop Small Consumer Impact survey from American Express found that 73 percent of people think empty storefronts are a national issue, and 84 percent agree the increase in empty storefronts and the closing of small, independently owned businesses negatively affects their local communities.

“We recognize the hardships faced by small business owners today and want to inspire people to take notice and Shop Small to support their communities on Small Business Saturday and beyond,” Elizabeth Rutledge, chief marketing officer at American Express, said in a news release. “Retail is changing, but local shops are the fabric of our communities, helping them to thrive in the future is part of our brand ethos and backing promise.”

Since 2010, local business supporters have spent $103 billion on Small Business Saturday, according to American Express.

But that’s only part of the story. For every dollar spent at a U.S. small business, approximately 67 cents stays in the local community — and it helps independent shops and restaurants keep their doors open and meet pay their workers, your neighbors.

That amounts to about $67 billion that has stayed in local communities since Small Business Saturday began, according to American Express.

The American Express survey showed that when consumers are aware of the impact of spending their dollars locally, 75 percent said they would be more likely to purchase a product or service from small, independently owned businesses.

Shopping small isn’t just a Thanksgiving weekend retail event, but a year-long movement, according to American Express, which says it is launching a marketing campaign to make consumers more aware of the impact they can have on their communities when they support local businesses.

“We believe in backing small businesses because we know they strengthen the communities where we live and work,” Anna Marrs, president of Global Commercial Services at American Express, said in the news release.