Local Entrepreneurs Gear Up For Small Business Saturday

George Reynoso, owner of east El Paso’s All That Music, is hoping the national Small Business Saturday movement will make a splash locally.

“People generally don’t come to independent businesses to shop on traditionally what has been the busiest shopping day of the season which is right after Thanksgiving,” said Reynoso.

However, that might change if enough shoppers are convinced to keep their money in the community. Small Business Saturday is not attached to a specific place or time of day. The idea is to encourage folks to support homegrown entrepreneurs instead of big chain stores.

Phillip Silva, El Paso district director of the Small Business Administration, said small businesses are the engine that moves this community.

“If we were looking at out of every 10 jobs, we’d probably have eight or nine jobs that are created by small business, so there’s a very significant impact on the community,” said Silva.

Small Business Saturday took off last year after American Express pushed an online campaign. The company is offering a $25 credit for its customers who shop at qualifying stores. Visit kvia.com’s hot button to see how to register for the credit.