Small Business Saturday 2025 In Oswego: See What Retailers Are Participating

OSWEGO, IL — Saturday, Nov. 29, is a crucial day for independently owned local businesses in Oswego. 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. 1.

The stakes for small businesses are higher than ever this holiday shopping season. They have faced increased operating costs, supply chain disruptions and overall market uncertainty. Unlike large big box retailers, they often lack the financial resources and operational flexibility to easily absorb increased costs.

Dozens of local businesses are participating this year. They include:

• Christina's Grill and Gatherings, 3516 Route 34
• Sages Meat Market, 4538 Route 71
• Roadhouse 71, 4571 Route 71
• O'Reilly Auto Parts, 4092 Route 71
• Otts and Ends, 67 Main St.
• Sarabella Nail Studio, 70 W. Van Buren St.
• La Marimba Mexican Restaurant, 65 W. Washington St.
• Oswego Inn, 54 Main St.
• Oswego Cleaners, 4534 Route 71

Since it started in 2010, consumers have reported spending an estimated $210 billion at small businesses across all 15 Small Business Saturdays combined.

There are 1.4 million small businesses in Illinois, accounting for 99.6 percent of businesses in the state, according to the U.S. Small Business Administration’s 2025 state profiles. Between March 2023 and March 2024, small businesses accounted for 33,940 openings and 33,376 closings.

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 about two of every three jobs since 1995, according to the Small Business Administration. Even a partial collapse of small businesses could weaken the overall U.S. economy.