By Lauri Lee
Dane Buy Local

Shift Your Shopping, a Dane Buy Local program, encourages residents and businesses to buy local on Small Business Saturday held Nov. 24, the day after Black Friday, as well as throughout the holiday season.

Americans expend a large portion of their annual retail shopping budget between Nov. 1 and Dec. 31. “We’re asking community residents to shift purchases of food, greeting cards, gifts, flowers and other holiday items to locally owned businesses in the area. Consider shopping at local businesses first,” said Colin Murray, Executive Director of Dane Buy Local.

Numerous studies show if local dollars are shifted to locally owned, independent businesses, they’ll generate far more economic benefit in local communities than money spent at national chain outlets.