The Alternative Press

MADISON, NJ - As the holiday season rapidly approaches, many think about the older, more established holiday shopping days - - Black Friday and Cyber Monday.  However, Small Business Saturday, a day dedicated to accentuating small businessess and their value to our local communities, has taken on a life of its own.

According to the Small Business Saturday website, “Small Business Saturday is a day for everyone – from the business owners who create jobs to the customers who buy locally – to support small businesses that invigorate the economy and keep communities thriving.”

Local small businesses like New Leaf Consignment in Madison are gearing up for their chance to shine and celebrate this week as their day approaches.

“We are a proponent of shopping small because we give so much back to the town,” said Arleen J. Gaetani, the president of New Leaf. “We provide personalization that the Internet and shopping malls can't give you.”

Gaetani said that as a small business she is close to her clients and offers exceptional customer service.

Small Business Saturday comes every year and is recognized as the Saturday after Black Friday, and before Cyber Monday. Compared to all the shopping that is done at malls and on the Internet, Small Business Saturday gives consumers a chance to engage in their community.

Gaetani says that these businesses are family businesses and storeowners give personal attention. 

“We give customer service, we get to know our clients,” she said, “We sell them things that look good on them, we're honest with them, straightforward.”

At NeeDell’s of Summit, they enjoy the community aspect of Small Business Saturday.

Mark NeeDell says that most of his customers are local.

“The main thing we offer is that we are sincere,” said NeeDell. “We talk to our customers like they are real people.”

NeeDell's sells the same high quality shoes that one can find in Nordstrom, but with the added bonus of personal attention from accommodating, friendly staff.

His sense of community has been evident in the business for 80 years. Proud of the fact that he and his store support the local community, donations to schools and charities are something he never turns away.

“We are not a corportation,” said NeeDell. “The selection here might be a little different because corporate people aren’t telling us what to buy.”

Being on the sales floor is very important to NeeDell, and he says the most important thing about his small business are his employees.

“They're what really sets us apart,” he said.

NeeDell’s, according to their website, is a “…third generation, same family owned, fashion with comfort shoe store for men and women.”

Another benefit to shopping small goes to American Express cardholders when they “…enroll their eligible American Express card and then use it to spend $25 or more in a single in-store transaction at a qualifying small business location on Small Business Saturday,” according to the company's website. These customers can earn themselves $25.

Shopping at small businesses wherever one lives supports the local economy and local businesses who give back so much to our communities.