Small Business Saturday boosts local economy in South Carolina [Video]

COLUMBIA, S.C. — All across South Carolina, on Saturday, stores opened their doors and encouraged the public to shop local.

It’s all part of the Small Business Saturday program, which encourages consumers to “shop small” to support local businesses.

Matt Floyd, with Gadgetboy on Devine Street in Columbia, described the benefits of shopping locally on Small Business Saturday.

“So shopping local, you know it’s more of a community-based thing, and it also uplifts other businesses that are around here, especially on the Devine District,” Floyd said.

The Small Business Administration (SBA) cosponsors the program, which was founded by American Express in 2010 and encourages local shopping across the United States. The SBA said 2023 spending on Small Business Saturday was around $17 billion.

Don McCallister, a co-owner at Loose Lucy’s in the …