by Jerrod Shouse

The following opinion editorial appreared in the Oklahoman on Thursday, December 8. To see it, click here: http://newsok.com/article/3629789

Small Business Saturday has come and gone, but shoppers should support small businesses all year long.

When you support small business, any small business, you’re supporting Main Street, not Wall Street. You’re supporting your friends and neighbors, the entrepreneurs and families who have put everything on the line to run their own businesses, be their own bosses.

You’re also supporting the local economy. The chain stores are owned by big corporations based someplace else, but small businesses are usually owned by people who live in the community. When you shop at a small business, you’re supporting your hometown, your neighborhood.

Small businesses represent about 97 percent of all Oklahoma employers, and they employ about 54 percent of the state’s private-sector workforce, according to government figures.

We can’t have a strong economy unless our small businesses are doing well — and right now they’re not doing well. They’re hurting.

The recession may be over, but according to the National Federation of Independent Business’ latest Small-Business Optimism Index, the outlook among small-business owners is still grim. Owners say their No. 1 concern is still “poor sales,” followed by crushing government regulations and taxes.

Small businesses aren’t going to hire new employees if they’re worried about keeping the lights on. They aren’t going to grow if they’re worried about the torrent of new regulations coming out of Washington or a health care package that’s going to jack up costs without doing much to increase competition and improve access to affordable coverage.

Shopping small, then, is a good opportunity for people to support the establishments that mean so much to America’s economic well-being.

Small businesses also offer better service than you’ll find at the chain stores. When you shop at a small business, there’s a good chance you’ll be dealing with the owner or with someone else who also knows something about the products or services offered and will still be there after the holidays to personally serve you.

Small-business owners and their employees will do everything they can to keep you satisfied because their livelihoods depend on you coming back.

Finally, there’s the value that small businesses bring to the community.

Small businesses are usually owned by people who have a vested interest in the community, in its schools, in the quality of life. It’s no accident that small-business owners are among the most generous supporters of civic groups, local charities, youth sports, schools and virtually every other form of community activity.

That’s why I urge you to support small businesses over the holidays and the rest of the year, too.