Small Business Saturday is November 25, 2017

It's right around the corner. Celebrate your community with the small businesses that make it special.

Each of these business owners are small, local and independent. When you buy from them, you make a difference, so please consider shopping locally this holiday season and make it a habit all year long.

Business owners in this picture include: Julie and Bella Keller (Belladance), Stephanie Whitehead (Orangetheory Fitness), Barb Thomas (Fort Thomas Central), Lori Valentine (Fort Thomas Coffee), Ashley Barlow (Meier & Barlow), Tami Root (Studio Root Skin Care), Nicole Shilling (Mint Yoga), Renai Keairns (Fort Thomas Jewelers), Clay Horan and Adam Rosenhagen (H/R Real Estate), Jodi Webster (Travel Leaders), Tami Wilson (Century 21), Tracy Davis (State Farm), Peter Moore (Blue Marble), Diane Beach (Arbonne), Tera Huddleston (Monera Chic), Emily O’Connor (O’Connor Dental), Heidi Barrett (Faded Finds), Ken Bowman (Bowman’s Framing), Brenda Spade (Cobblestone Cafe), Matt Spencer (Spence Co. Roofing), Josh Hubert (The Flying Locksmiths), Monica Howard (Monera Chic), Christy and Steve Hannegan (Performance Chiropractic), Tiffany Brennan (Mint Yoga), Lisa Kelly and Susan Cramer (Pet Wants Fort Thomas), Paul and Connie Fessler (Fessler’s), Jerry Class (Rechtin Heating & Air), Blain Workman (Workman HVAC), Drew Schwegman (Northern Kentucky Action Coach).

TIMELINE:

2010: The first-ever Small Business Saturday took place on Nov 27. It encouraged people across the country to support small, local businesses.

2011: The Day Became Official. The United States Senate unanimously passed a resolution of support for Small Business Saturday.

2012: Every State in the Union From Washington D.C., to Washington State, governors, mayors, and even the President championed Small Business Saturday.

2013: Neighborhoods Celebrated The Day. The day continued to grow, with more than 1,450 individuals and local organizations pledging to support the day as Neighborhood Champions.

2014: Small Businesses Owned The Day. Small business owners took charge of the day. Fort Thomas Matters and Fort Thomas Living began giving the cover to small business owners that year in November. $14.3 billion dollars were spent at small independent businesses on that day across the nation.

2015: One For The Books. Shoppers supported their neighborhood businesses like never before, continuing to embrace the day as a holiday shopping tradition. Ninety-five million people went out to shop at small businesses.

2016: Small Businesses Take the Lead. Shoppers were reported to have spent $15.4 billion at small businesses across the country on the day.