On Wednesday, Alabama Gov. Kay Ivey signed a proclamation designating Nov. 24 as “Small Business Saturday” in the state. The day is designed to celebrate small businesses and their impact on communities across the state and encourage shoppers to show their support.

This year marks the eighth year that the day has been recognized on the Saturday following Thanksgiving as an unofficial kick-off of the holiday shopping season.

“Small businesses are one of the key drivers behind our recent economic success,” Ivey said in a press release. “They serve as the centerpiece for most cities and towns across this state. When you shop local, you have the opportunity to develop relationships with business owners in your community and many of them offer unique products and services that you simply can’t get online or at department stores.”

According to the U.S. Small Business Administration, small businesses, defined as businesses with less than 500 employees, make up more than 99 percent of all businesses in the state and employ nearly 50 percent of the state’s private sector workforce.

“Shopping on ‘Small Business Saturday’ has become a tradition,” said Rosemary Elebash, Alabama State Director of the National Federation of Independent Business (NFIB). “When you shop local with family-owned small businesses, you are helping your town to have steady economic growth. Family-owned small businesses provide jobs, sales tax revenue to fund schools, infrastructure and a good quality of life for their friends, neighbors and citizens of their community.” 

According to a recent survey by the NFIB and American Express, $12.9 billion was spent by 108 million shoppers in independently-owned small businesses on “Small Business Saturday” last year. Further, 43 percent of adults shopped in small businesses or ate a meal in a family-owned restaurant the Saturday after Thanksgiving.

Analysts expect for that number to increase this year.

“I encourage all Alabamians to visit their local main street, curb market, or favorite restaurant and shop local on Small Business Saturday and throughout the year,” Ivey said.