On Small Business Saturday, establishments with a digital presence may have an edge

PeopleImages.com – Yuri A // Shutterstock On Small Business Saturday, establishments with a digital presence may have an edge The holiday shopping season can be the most wonderful time of year for consumers—but it’s the most important time of year for small business owners. Yet many small business owners find themselves in a tight spot, as the growth of online shopping transforms major retailers into the go-to for shoppers seeking both convenience and good deals. While e-commerce platforms take precedence, many small businesses don’t even have a website—and those that do may lack digital accessibility. This puts them at a disadvantage during the biggest shopping days of the year. Holiday sales account for about a third, on average, of small businesses’ annual revenue, according to Intuit’s 2024 Holiday Shopping Report, with about 3 in 5 small business owners saying the holiday season is critical to the longevity of their business. When the holiday shopping season is short—2024 has five fewer shopping days—business owners have to make the most of promotions, both for brick-and-mortar and digital presences. Business owners often use Small Business Saturday, which falls on the first Saturday after Thanksgiving, to gauge how well their stores will do during...