Small Business Saturday: Help Them Stay Afloat In South Brunswick

SOUTH BRUNSWICK, NJ — Small businesses have been the hardest hit by the coronavirus pandemic, making Small Business Saturday in 2020 more vital than ever. This year, the all-local shopping event falls on Nov. 28 including in South Brunswick.

Independently owned boutiques, gift shops, mom-and-pop hardware stores, restaurants and the like in South Brunswick are facing unprecedented challenges due to coronavirus-related restrictions and shutdowns.

The list of Small Business Saturday participants continues to grow, despite the pandemic. Here’s some of the businesses that have signed up so far:

• Burgerim 335, 16 Esther Drive E, Dayton
• NJ Mobel Truck & Trailer, 575 Ridge Road Bldg 3, Monmouth Junction
• Master Peters Academy, 485 Georges Rd Ste 117, Dayton
• Asrda, 485 Georges Rd Ste 109 A, Dayton
• Beacons Way, 485 Georges Road, Suite, Dayton
• Capriccio Pizzeria, 485 Georges Rd Ste 102, Dayton
• Shaan Halal Zabiha Meat, 485 Georges Rd Ste 102, Dayton
• Lunas Vip Barbershop, 485 Georges Rd Ste 105 Dayton
• 287 Hala Meat, 485 Georges Rd, Dayton
• Cheng Garden, 485 Georges Rd Ste 103, Dayton
• House Of Biryani's & K, 485 Georges Rd Suite 104, Dayton
• Salon Simran Inc, 495 Georges Road, Dayton
• Creative Solutions USA, 613 Ridge Rd, Ste 106 Monmouth Junction
• Delizia Pizza, 613 Ridge Rd, # 1, Monmouth Junction
• Come & Buy Food Store, 613 Ridge Rd, Monmouth Junction
• Integral Yoga Institute Princeton, 613 Ridge Road Ste 102, Monmouth Junction
• Aricha Beauty Salon, 613 Ridge Road Ste 102, Monmouth Junction
• Pinstripe Prime, 9 Woodland Way, Dayton
• Rasoi III Restaurant, 620 Georges Rd, Monmouth Junction
• Alberta Payments, 68 Culver Road,Suite-125, Monmouth Junction
• Refuel Agency, 68 Culver Rd Suite 110, Monmouth Junction
• Princeton Electrical Makeover, 335 New Road 4b, Monmouth Junction
• La Taverna Restaurant, 375 Georges Rd, Dayton
• Nawab Grill & Halal Meat, 371 Georges Road, Dayton
• Star Quality Cleaners, 365 Georges Rd Suite 3, Dayton
• Bagel Giant Café, 365 Georges Rd, Ste 2, Dayton
• Bagel Exchange, 365 Georges Rd, Dayton
• Dollar Star, 365 Georges Rd, Dayton

Temporary closures, capacity restrictions, decreased demand for products and services and delays due to supply-chain issues have led to unprecedented challenges for small-business owners.

But the “Shop Small” movement continues amid these hardships.

“This holiday season looks a little different, but we can still share joy,” American Express, which established Small Business Saturday in 2010, said in a statement. “Shop small and support your favorite small businesses — both in store and online — all holiday season long.”

Sixty-two percent of small businesses in the United States need to see sales income return to the same rate it was pre-pandemic before the end of the year to stay in business, according to American Express.

These businesses, many family-owned, were already fighting for survival against malls, big box stores and online retailers before the pandemic.

“Small businesses have an immeasurable effect on the quality of life in neighborhoods by providing necessary resources and supporting a local ecosystem that includes charitable organizations, schools and churches,” said Caroline Connors, executive director of the Morgan Park Beverly Hills Business Association, an organization that supports small businesses on the South Side of Chicago.

Since 2010, local business supporters have spent more than $100 billion on Small Business Saturday, according to American Express.

A Shop Small Consumer Impact survey from American Express before the pandemic 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 affect their local communities.

The 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.

For every dollar spent at a U.S. small business, approximately 67 cents stays in the local community, according to American Express. This helps independent shops and restaurants keep their doors open and meet pay for 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.

“With so many small businesses hit hard in 2020, it’s more important than ever to shop locally this holiday season to ensure they are able to continue operating in 2021,” Connors said.

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