Shoppers support local economy during Small Business Saturday – Knox Pages

Report on Small Business Saturday’s Contribution to Sustainable Development in Mount Vernon

Introduction: Local Commerce and Global Goals

The “Small Business Saturday” initiative in Mount Vernon demonstrated a significant positive impact on local commerce, aligning with several key United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The event successfully mobilized community support for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), thereby fostering inclusive economic growth, promoting sustainable communities, and encouraging responsible consumption patterns. This report analyzes the event’s outcomes through the lens of SDG 8 (Decent Work and Economic Growth), SDG 11 (Sustainable Cities and Communities), and SDG 12 (Responsible Consumption and Production).

Economic Impact and Alignment with SDG 8 (Decent Work and Economic Growth)

Increased Sales and Business Viability

The initiative served as a direct economic stimulus for local businesses, a key component of achieving sustained and inclusive economic growth as outlined in SDG 8. Reports from downtown merchants indicate a substantial increase in customer traffic and sales.

• Crickets on South Main: The antique store recorded 45 shoppers in the first two hours of Black Friday and a steady stream of 15 customers in just over an hour on Small Business Saturday morning.
• Paragraphs Bookstore: An employee described the day as “one of our biggest sales days of the year,” noting consistent business from the moment the store opened.

Supporting Family-Owned Enterprises and Decent Work

The event highlighted the critical role of SMEs, particularly family-owned businesses, in local economies. Supporting these enterprises directly contributes to household financial stability and job creation, addressing targets within SDG 8.

• According to the U.S. Small Business Administration, Ohio has over 87,000 small business retailers, with approximately 25% being family-owned.
• Christopher Carman of Angry Acres Farm stated, “If you’re supporting a small business, you’re supporting a family, helping make ends meet.” This underscores the direct link between local shopping and poverty reduction at the community level.
• Angry Acres Farm itself is a family enterprise, owned by Savannah Carman and supported by her father, originating from her involvement in local 4-H programs.

Fostering Sustainable Communities (SDG 11)

Enhancing Community Vitality and Inclusivity

By drawing residents to the downtown area, Small Business Saturday strengthens the social and economic fabric of the community, a core objective of SDG 11. The event fosters a sense of place and encourages the use of local public spaces and commercial centers.

• Ann Hudson, co-owner of Crickets, noted the event’s significance is to “expose the community to downtown small businesses and retail.”
• Shopper Andrea McKay described local businesses as “the heart of our community,” emphasizing their role in creating a unique and thriving local environment.
• Coordinated messaging and promotions from entities like Main Street Mount Vernon demonstrate a collective effort to build a resilient and vibrant local economy.

Promoting Local Culture and Heritage

The diversity of small businesses in Mount Vernon contributes to the city’s unique cultural identity, which is essential for creating inclusive and sustainable human settlements.

1. Preserving History: Antique stores like Crickets on South Main offer curated, unique items that encourage reuse and connect residents to local and regional history.
2. Fostering Education: Independent retailers such as Paragraphs Bookstore serve as cultural hubs, providing access to knowledge and a “peaceful respite” for community members.
3. Connecting to Agriculture: Businesses like Angry Acres Farm, which produces goat milk soaps and lotions, link the urban center to its rural, agricultural heritage.

Promoting Responsible Consumption Patterns (SDG 12)

Encouraging Local Production and Short Supply Chains

The initiative implicitly promotes SDG 12 by encouraging consumers to purchase locally produced goods, which reduces transportation emissions and supports sustainable production methods.

• Angry Acres Farm is a prime example of a business utilizing local resources (milk from their own goats) to create products for the local market. This model shortens the supply chain and provides transparency for consumers.
• The presence of such businesses at the Mount Vernon Farmers Market and in a downtown storefront strengthens the local food and goods ecosystem.

Supporting the Circular Economy

Consumer choices on Small Business Saturday also reflected principles of a circular economy, a key strategy for achieving responsible consumption.

• Shopping at an antique store like Crickets directly supports the reuse and repurposing of goods, extending their lifecycle and diverting waste from landfills.
• Customers expressed a preference for the “hand-picked and curated” items found in small shops, representing a shift away from the disposable culture associated with mass-produced goods from large-scale retailers.

Analysis of Sustainable Development Goals in the Article

1. Which SDGs are addressed or connected to the issues highlighted in the article?

• SDG 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth

  The article’s central theme is the promotion of local economic activity through “Small Business Saturday.” It highlights how supporting small, family-owned businesses contributes to the local economy, job sustainment, and overall economic health of the community. Quotes like, “Small Business Saturday helps small businesses, and small businesses are family owned businesses,” directly link shopping locally to economic growth.

• SDG 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities

  The article emphasizes the role of small businesses in creating a vibrant and thriving downtown area, which is a key component of a sustainable community. The sentiment that these businesses are “the heart of our community” and that it’s “really unique that we have this here in Mount Vernon” points to the social and cultural value these enterprises bring, making the city more inclusive, safe, resilient, and sustainable.

• SDG 1: No Poverty

  A direct connection is made between supporting small businesses and the financial well-being of families. The statement, “If you’re supporting a small business, you’re supporting a family, helping make ends meet,” explicitly links the success of these businesses to alleviating financial hardship and contributing to poverty reduction at a household level.

2. What specific targets under those SDGs can be identified based on the article’s content?

• Under SDG 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth

  • Target 8.3: Promote development-oriented policies that support productive activities, decent job creation, entrepreneurship, creativity and innovation, and encourage the formalization and growth of micro-, small- and medium-sized enterprises…

    The entire concept of “Small Business Saturday” is a development-oriented initiative to support small enterprises. The article showcases entrepreneurship through stories like Savannah Carman, who turned her 4-H project into a brick-and-mortar store, “Angry Acres Farm.” The event is described as a “push to shop small on Saturday and support your local businesses,” directly aligning with this target.

• Under SDG 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities

  • Target 11.a: Support positive economic, social and environmental links between urban, peri-urban and rural areas by strengthening national and regional development planning.

    The article highlights the strong economic and social links within the local community. It mentions that the business owners are “all local, or not too far. Within I’d say 25 miles from here.” This focus on local merchants and community-driven events like “Small Business Saturday” strengthens the regional economy and reinforces the social fabric, as described by a shopper: “it’s really like the heart of our community.”

• Under SDG 1: No Poverty

  • Target 1.2: By 2030, reduce at least by half the proportion of men, women and children of all ages living in poverty in all its dimensions according to national definitions.

    The article implies a connection to this target by focusing on the financial stability of families running small businesses. Christopher Carman’s comment that supporting his daughter’s shop “means everything for people to shop small” because they “haven’t turned a profit yet” underscores the financial precarity these families can face. Supporting them directly contributes to their income, “helping make ends meet,” which is a fundamental aspect of poverty reduction.

3. Are there any indicators mentioned or implied in the article that can be used to measure progress towards the identified targets?

• Indicators for Target 8.3 (Growth of small enterprises)

  • Customer Traffic: The article provides specific numbers, such as “15 customers visited the antique store in just over an hour” and “Forty-five shoppers poured into the store during the first two hours,” which can be used as a direct measure of business activity.
  • Sales Volume: It is mentioned that Small Business Saturday is “one of our biggest sales days of the year,” implying that sales revenue is a key indicator of the event’s success.
  • Number of Small Businesses: The article cites a statistic from the U.S. Small Business Administration that “Ohio has more than 87,000 small business retailers,” which serves as a baseline indicator for the number of small enterprises.
  • Business Growth: The establishment of a new “brick-and-mortar store” by Angry Acres Farm in March 2024 is a clear indicator of a small business formalizing and growing.

• Indicators for Target 11.a (Strengthening local economic links)

  • Community Participation in Local Events: The “steady stream of shoppers” participating in Small Business Saturday is a qualitative indicator of community engagement and support for the local economy.
  • Local Sourcing/Proximity of Businesses: The statement that business owners are “all local, or not too far. Within I’d say 25 miles from here” is an indicator of a localized economic ecosystem.

• Indicators for Target 1.2 (Poverty reduction)

  • Business Profitability: The mention that a business “haven’t turned a profit yet” is an implied indicator. Tracking the number of small businesses that become profitable would measure progress toward financial stability for the families that own them.
  • Household Income Sufficiency: The phrase “helping make ends meet” is a qualitative indicator related to whether business revenue is sufficient to support a family’s basic needs.

4. Table of SDGs, Targets, and Indicators

Source: knoxpages.com