Supporting Small Businesses Helps Keep Our Community Strong

Black Friday has become an annual tradition for shoppers seeking unbeatable bargains on big-ticket items and holiday essentials. But while the unofficial start of the holiday shopping season tends to get most of the headlines, Westwood Magnolia Parkway Improvement District (WMPID) has another themed shopping event on its mind this week. On Small Business Saturday, Nov. 29, we hope you will join us in remembering the more than 3 million small businesses that make up 99.8% of all Texas businesses and employ more than 44% of the state’s total workforce. 

Small Business Saturday, which began in 2010, is held on the Saturday after Thanksgiving as a critical reminder that supporting small businesses in your community has far-reaching benefits. For example, money spent at small businesses often ends up right back in the community. Beyond providing jobs, an estimated 90% of small-business owners report they have financially supported community or civic groups in their community, and another 76% of business owners report volunteering their time in the community. That kind of support goes a long way toward creating a city’s unique character. 

Your support of small businesses may be especially important this year, given that many small-business owners have been significantly impacted by rising tariffs, which have increased their prices and added unwelcome uncertainty to their supply chains. 

A small-business support system 

Retail, including many large, national retailers, is at the heart of WMPID, and supporting these businesses is an essential part of what we do. Our data center offers comprehensive information to help current or potential business owners make informed decisions about opening or expanding their businesses, and our resources page helps connect businesses to grants and other funding sources to help fund their dreams. 

We want our local businesses to succeed, and we work hard every day to make sure they have every chance to thrive. 

Strengthening community

It doesn’t take a heroic effort to support local retailers on Small Business Saturday. From shopping and dining locally to highlighting local businesses on social media and buying local gift cards for family and friends, every effort makes a difference. Even a positive online review can help a local business attract attention from other shoppers. 

Big businesses and online retailers have made it easier than ever to send money out of your community. WMPID will celebrate keep spending local on Nov. 29, and we hope you will join us.

If you are a small business owner looking to learn more about the incentives and support WMPID offers, we invite you to visit us at westwoodmpid.org.