Officials push residents to shop local over holiday season

State Sen. Shirley Turner and County Executive Brian Hughes are urging residents to visit locally owned shops and restaurants

MERCER COUNTY -- As the holiday shopping frenzy gets underway, local elected officials are urging residents to visit locally owned shops and restaurants instead of swarming the big-box stores and malls.

"We know that small businesses don't have the ability to market themselves to the same extent as larger ones that are promoting Black Friday or Cyber Monday sales," state Sen. Shirley Turner (D-Mercer) said. "Doing so helps to fuel the economy but also supports our friends and neighbors who own or are employed by these businesses."

Mercer County Executive Brian Hughes said shopping at small businesses represents an investment in local communities. He cited studies showing that for every $100 spent at a local business, $45 is returned to the community, as opposed to $14 for retail chains.

"The effect on our economic development community can be significant when we decide to buy local," he said. "That particular business is more likely to purchase goods or services from local or regional businesses, and thus stimulate more economic growth."

http://www.nj.com/business/index.ssf/2015/11/black_friday_no_longer_biggest_shopping_day_report.html#incart_river_index

Though "Small Business Saturday," the campaign started in 2010 by American Express, celebrates small businesses on the weekend after Thanksgiving, Hughes singled out several "buy  local" initiatives that keep the momentum going throughout the rest of the year.

Among them are Hamilton Biz Group, Keep It Local Robbinsville, Lawrenceville Main Street, Princeton Merchants Association and the Princeton Regional Chamber of Commerce Independent Business Alliance.

"Small businesses are the backbone of our economy and our state will not thrive without their success," Turner said. "This season, we can do our part to support the sustainability of businesses and jobs in New Jersey by patronizing the businesses operating on 'Main Street' and in our downtowns."

Cristina Rojas may be reached at crojas@njadvancemedia.com. Follow her on Twitter @CristinaRojasTT. Find The Times of Trenton on Facebook.