Shoppers Urged To Go "Local" On Saturday

MIAMI (CBS4) — Hoping to lure holiday shoppers away from the malls and big box stores a day after Black Friday, local businesses are promoting the third annual Small Business Saturday.

South Florida is one of more than a dozen other U.S. metro areas including New York, Boston, Los Angeles and Philadelphia which urges shoppers to check out local business between Black Friday and Cyber Monday.  The initiative was first announced in 2010 by New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg and American Express CEO Kenneth Chenault.  It is intended to encourage shoppers to patronize independent local businesses.

Small businesses have generated 64 percent of net new jobs over the past 15 years and employ just over half of all private sector employees, according to the Small Business Administration.

Social media has played a central role in helping raise awareness about the importance of supporting small business and recognizing Small Business Saturday. The Small Business Saturday Coalition promoted the day to consumers and business owners via their Facebook page.