Small Business Saturday 2020 In Scotch Plains, Fanwood

SCOTCH PLAINS/FANWOOD, NJ — Small businesses have been the hardest hit by the coronavirus pandemic, making Small Business Saturday in 2020 more vital than ever. This year, the all-local shopping event falls on Nov. 28 including in Scotch Plains and Fanwood.

Independently owned boutiques, gift shops, mom-and-pop hardware stores, restaurants and the like in Scotch Plains and Fanwood are facing unprecedented challenges due to coronavirus-related restrictions and shutdowns.

The list of Small Business Saturday participants continues to grow, despite the pandemic. Here’s some of the businesses that have signed up so far:

• Park Beverage, 1923 Westfield Ave., Scotch Plains
• Showroom Hand Car Wash, 2574 Plainfield Ave., Scotch Plains
• Sheelens Crossing, 200 South Ave., Fanwood
• Fanwood Liquors, 61 South Ave., Fanwood
• Mara's Cafe & Bakery, 250 South Ave., Fanwood
• Houdini Pizza Laboratory, 25 South Ave., Fanwood
• Charles Studio, 288 South Ave., Fanwood
• Shalom Fanwood Nails, 218 South Ave., Fanwood
• Franks Auto Body, 56 South Martine Ave., Fanwood
• Tom The Green Grocer, 2305 South Ave., Scotch Plains
• Starlight Cleaners, 2261 South Ave., Scotch Plains
• Fanwood Larder, 44 South Martine Ave., Fanwood
• Fabio's Bistro, 217 South Ave., Fanwood
• Seng Couture, 226 South Ave., Fanwood
• Scotchwood Florist, 265 South Ave., Fanwood
• Pauls Garage, 2239 North Ave., Scotch Plains
• Skindeep, 2350 South Ave., Scotch Plains
• Geller Graphics, 1665 Ramapo Way, Scotch Plains
• Luminar Solutions, 1520 King St., Scotch Plains
• Jd Organic Landscape, 2311 Seneca Rd., Scotch Plains
• Ez Parties, 1782 Lamberts Mill Rd., Scotch Plains

ALSO ON PATCH: The New Jersey Business Guide.

Did we miss anyone in Scotch Plains and Fanwood? Tell us in the comments or send an email to [email protected] and we’ll add it to the list.

Temporary closures, capacity restrictions, decreased demand for products and services and delays due to supply-chain issues have led to unprecedented challenges for small-business owners.

But the "Shop Small" movement continues amid these hardships.

“This holiday season looks a little different, but we can still share joy,” American Express, which established Small Business Saturday in 2010, said in a statement. “Shop small and support your favorite small businesses — both in store and online — all holiday season long.”

Sixty-two percent of small businesses in the United States need to see sales income return to the same rate it was pre-pandemic before the end of the year to stay in business, according to American Express.

These businesses, many family-owned, were already fighting for survival against malls, big box stores and online retailers before the pandemic.

"Small businesses have an immeasurable effect on the quality of life in neighborhoods by providing necessary resources and supporting a local ecosystem that includes charitable organizations, schools and churches," said Caroline Connors, executive director of the Morgan Park Beverly Hills Business Association, an organization that supports small businesses on the South Side of Chicago.

Since 2010, local business supporters have spent more than $100 billion on Small Business Saturday, according to American Express.

A Shop Small Consumer Impact survey from American Express before the pandemic found that 73 percent of people think empty storefronts are a national issue, and 84 percent agree the increase in empty storefronts and the closing of small, independently owned businesses negatively affect their local communities.

The survey showed that when consumers are aware of the impact of spending their dollars locally, 75 percent said they would be more likely to purchase a product or service from small, independently-owned businesses.

For every dollar spent at a U.S. small business, approximately 67 cents stays in the local community, according to American Express. This helps independent shops and restaurants keep their doors open and meet pay for their workers — your neighbors.

That amounts to about $67 billion that has stayed in local communities since Small Business Saturday began, according to American Express.

"With so many small businesses hit hard in 2020, it’s more important than ever to shop locally this holiday season to ensure they are able to continue operating in 2021," Connors said.