Leeds Area Chamber of Commerce Makes National List Promoting Small Businesses
Leeds Area Chamber of Commerce Makes National List Promoting Small Businesses - The Leeds Area Chamber of Commerce participated in an international effort to promote small businesses and shopping local during the holiday season. Chambers who participated in the campaign and who had with the most influence and interactions as part of the 2023 Small Business Season included the Leeds Area Chamber, the only chamber in the state of Alabama to make the top 13.
Other chambers named to the list were Newcastle OK Chamber, OK; Humboldt Chamber, TN; Cabot Chamber, AR; Lake Elsinore Valley Chamber, CA; Milford Regional Chamber, CT; Van Buren Chamber, AR; Wayne County Chamber, GA; El Dorado Hills Chamber, CA; I love Babylon, NY; Cynthiana-Harrison County Chamber, KY; Navarre Chamber, FL; and The Dalles Area Chamber, OR.
Campaign organizers observed that it is clear this is more than just a campaign: it is an international movement with participants in the US, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, and parts of Europe, Asia, and Africa.
As part of Small Business Season, the campaign not only brought attention to the importance of shopping small for the holidays, it also set the pattern for people to buy small year-round. The campaign opened doors of possibilities for area businesses and made shopping local an enjoyable event rich with memories and community support.
Leeds Area Chamber of Commerce Makes National List Promoting Small Businesses
The Small Business Season campaign reached an impressive 26.8M people, with over 21,500 interactions showcasing the audience's commitment to shopping small. Together, the campaign achieved a substantial online presence earning 6,300 mentions and a noteworthy 6,100 social media acknowledgments, emphasizing the resonance of the message
Enthusiasm was evident through the 11,800 shares, spreading Small Business Season content far and wide. Local communities have shown a heartwarming endorsement of Small Business Season, with 4,700 positive mentions underscoring the deep-seated support from the communities where the Small Business Season participants operate.
This year was particularly important to small businesses as 2021 and 2022 saw a record-number of small businesses opening (10 million in the US alone!). And they faced unprecedented (at least in the past few decades) challenges with inflation and cost increases.
Communities are starting to realize the role that small businesses play in improving the quality of life. In a recent Gallup poll, 85% of Americans reported that small businesses positively impact people’s lives.
Shoppers are beginning to realize the ease in shopping small. In a recent poll by QuickBooks, 59% of consumers said shopping small was less stressful than shopping at large retailers. These efforts have helped get out that messaging and change the perception of shopping small from something that is costly and inconvenient to an enjoyable investment in local communities and support of their neighbors.
For more information about the Chamber, please email sandra@leedsareachamber.com, visit the Chamber’s website at www.leedsareachamber.com, ‘like’ us on social media @Leeds Area Chamber, or call 205.699.5001.