Sen. Carper Encourages Shoppers to Buy Local this Holiday Season

Clockwise from left: Suds Bar Soap and Essentials Owner Kim Aigle, Dover Mayor Carleton Carey, Dover Director of Economic Development Bill Neaton and Sen. Tom Carper, who purchased items from Suds Bar Soap in Downtown Dover.

DOVER, Del. – On Tuesday, November 22, 2011, U.S. Sen. Tom Carper (D-Del.) visited four downtown Dover businesses to encourage shoppers to take part in Small Business Saturday this Saturday, November 26. He was joined by Dover Mayor Carleton Carey and Dover Director of Economic Development Bill Neaton for the tour.

He made stops at Signature Stitches, the mother-daughter owned Suds Bar Soap and Essentials, Partners in Design, and ended at Beyond Dimensions.

“Small Business Saturday gives us the opportunity to support the small, independently owned businesses that keep our economy running and sustain local communities in Delaware and across America,” said Sen. Carper. “Delawareans are fortunate to have so many of these wonderful, locally-owned companies throughout our state, especially as the holiday shopping season approaches. I encourage shoppers to visit their neighborhood small businesses in Delaware every day, but especially this Saturday, November 26th, Small Business Saturday. We need to boost our national economy, but we can’t forget to also lend a hand to the main street businesses right here in the First State.”

Small Business Saturday is a national movement that marks a day to support the local businesses that create jobs, boost the economy and preserve neighborhoods around the country. First there was Black Friday, then Cyber Monday. Now, Small Business Saturday is an event that drives shoppers to local, independently-owned merchants.

The inaugural Small Business Saturday, held in 2010, galvanized support across the US: more than 1.2M Facebook users, 130 small business advocate groups, public and private organizations and government leaders joined the movement.