Small town giants

For the longest time, since President Abraham Lincoln, in fact, Thanksgiving was celebrated on the last Thursday of November. In 1939, President Franklin Roosevelt proclaimed that Thanksgiving needed to be changed. During his terms in office, two Novembers had five Thursdays. This, according to retailers and business people, left little time for Christmas shopping. Roosevelt proclaimed that Thanksgiving should be permanently changed to the second to last Thursday of the month. He rescinded the new date two years later because of the uproar his change caused.

Congressional action then established the date for Thanksgiving as the fourth Thursday of November.

And, so it is this year.

The holiday has long been a national observance to give thanks and show gratitude.

Still, as Roosevelt and many others realized, it was also the start of the holiday season. And, in 1939 any boost to the economy was important.

Even then, the importance of the holiday season for retailers was obvious. It is easy to see why.

Many businesses do up to 40 to 50 percent of their annual business during the months of November and December. Black Friday did not get its name because of the danger of contact shopping. It got its name from the fact that many businesses turn profitable after ten or so months of being in the red.

Although the holidays seem to be run by major retailers, the small, independent stores cannot be forgotten.

Despite their size, independent small town stores have a far greater impact on local communities than the big stores have.

It is from these local stores that local taxes are derived. Local employment depends on small, local businesses for jobs. It is to these stores and businesses that locals turn to for support and donations for school and community projects and local fundraising of all kinds.

In this sense, small local businesses are giants to the local community.

These small stores are the lifeblood of a community. Their combined impact on communities is immense and vital.

The way to support these hometown giants is to take advantage of their products and services as much as possible.

Shop local, shop small.

Gordon Forgey

Publisher