Small businesses participate in deals to encourage local shopping

A national campaign goes local, as businesses across the City of Salisbury took part in a campaign aimed at encouraging people to shop at small businesses.

The event takes place the Saturday after Thanksgiving every year.  It started back in 2010 as a way to help small businesses recovering from the last recession.

Last year, 15 billion dollars was spent last year across the country on Small Business Saturday. 

Local business owners say the campaign highlights the importance of shopping local.

"I've got a family, most of the restaurants around here, they're family owned operations and that stays local.  It pays for the educations for our kids, and it pays for food on our table, and we have about 30 employees here and they're all locals," says Jeremy Norton, owner of Roadie Joes.

According to the Small Business Association, 68 out of 100 dollars spent at small businesses stay in the communities they're spent in.  That's compared to just 43 dollars at larger businesses.