Small Business Saturday 2019: Participating Ramsey Businesses

RAMSEY, NJ —You may not think about it much, but independently owned boutiques, gift shops, mom-and-pop hardware stores, restaurants and the like in Ramsey 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 Ramsey, here's a list of the businesses that have signed up so far:

• Ramsey Liquors
• Morano's
• Brady's At The Station
• Gao Thai Kitchen
• Steven's Market
• Cafe Panache
• Giovanna's Cafe
• Anthony Franco's Pizza
• Ramsey Hardware
• Bici Restaurant
• Ramsey Golf & Country
• Chocolates With Love
• Ramsey Gourmet Bagel Bakery
• Good Taste Chinese Restaurant
• Vegan Jason
• Horizon Nail & Spa
• Maguro Sushi House
• Farmer's Grocery
• Bobcat's Texas BBQ
• New York Pizza
• Gunther & Indy's Place
• Ramsey Chinese Restaurant
• Brady's At The Station
• Mindful Cafe & Learning Center
• Pietro's Pizza
• Shanghai Chinese
• Arlo Cleaners
• Straight A Head
• Kathy Santo's Dog Training
• La Sunset Tan
• James Cleaners
• New Vogue Nail
• Ramsey Nursery
• The Store
• Interstate Shoe Repair
• Sal's Pizza Corner
• Accurate Locksmith
• Model Electronics
• Lettuce Inn
• Smile Cleaners
• Natural Tail Treats
• Angelo's Desserts
• Michelle's
• Totally Tan
• Yogua Synthesis
• Runway Blowout
• King Pizza North
• Exclusive Auto Collision
• Ramsey Bike & Ski
• Dintinctive Car Care
• B&G Bagels
• The Eyeglass Place
• Village Stationers
• Baron Pools
• Lily Day Spa
• Sabini Tailor
• Happy Nail & Spa
• Mr. Electric Of Ramsey
• Mcpeek's Tire & Service
• Olive Branch & Grape Vine
• Poke time
• Marquis Jewelers
• LC Marketing Communications
• Americna Bulldog
• Artistic Interiors
• Leap Preschool
• Precise Promotions
• Apolo Jewelers
• Nar Towing
• ANK Creative Group
• Irina S. Shea, attorney at law
• Alain Hair Extensions
• Scheidel, Sullivan, & Lanni CPA
• Tiger Lily Cosmetics
• Ramsey Taekwondo
• McDonnell & Whitaker
• First Class Plumbing
• King Crash Auto Collision
• Ktiger's USA Taekwondo
• Results Personal Fitness
• Northeast Pool Patrol
• American Bulldog Coffee
• Learning Lounge
• Design Wise Fine Jewelry
• Central Park Place
• Eli Jewels
• Ramsey Auto Clinic
• 7 Souls Tattoo
• Tai Brands
• Avanti Salon
• Beltone
• Alterations By Greg
• Angstrom Scientific
• Orivet Genetics
• Imprint Marketing
• Narbig
• Northeast Printing & Promotions

Did we miss anyone in Ramsey? Tell us in the comments or email daniel.hubbard@patch.com, and we'll add it to the list.

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 yearlong 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.

Email: daniel.hubbard@patch.com