Happy Small Business Saturday! Because they’re some of us who don’t like long lines, big crowds, snarling, pushing, trampling, fighting. This day is for us, and the Internet helps promote it.
One may think the Internet favors mega corporations because of they have most of the online superstores and most of the online advertising. But that’s just part of the story. Smartphones and cloud computing often give small businesses an upper edge. Accounting and inventory can be purchased, managed and used through automation services at high quality levels. And since over 90% of Americans own a smartphone, these small business needs can be worked on at any time. Cloud and smartphone technologies give them more time to innovate. In fact, it’s easier for small businesses to innovate because big, global corporations because of the scale of a major corporation. Don’t forget, a mom and pop website can get just as many hits, and as many sales as Amazon and Walmart. This may not happen often, but the technology, and the potential, is always there. All that’s needed is shipping, and shipping companies don’t discriminate based on business size. Add the business owner’s potential to the growing consumer sentiment about local businesses. Last year, consumers spent $5.7 billion of Small Business Saturday alone. This trend has no sign of slowing down.
I try to be as non-bias as possible at times with these blogs, but I can’t with this one. I’m glad people are taking note of Small Business Saturday. Thankfully, technology makes it a level playing field. And that’s good for everybody. Let’s not forget: American free-market enterprise is because of small business. Believe it or now, even Walmart and Target were once small businesses. And I’m happy small businesses can stand on their own without getting shut down or merged out. Whey should the big-time mega corporations have all the fun?