Small Business Saturday shows the importance of small businesses

By Natasha McLane
Staff Writer

Every year after Thanksgiving and Black Friday, comes an equally important date to our economy, Small Business Saturday. Throughout the nation, small businesses strive to support the economy and job growth. Small businesses are an essential part of our lives in Red Lion. According to Forbes, small businesses account for 60-80% of all U.S jobs. That’s 25-28 million businesses, outweighing corporate industries 1,162 to 1. In addition, 44% of America’s payroll comes from small businesses. In Pennsylvania alone, nearly 30% of the payroll comes from small businesses.

Small businesses impact the world around us in a huge way, “It all breaks down to small businesses, even big businesses,”  Harley Moser, Computer Technician of Moser’s Custom Computers said. Running a small business is a “very demanding, very high stress job.” Moser has had his business for 11 years now, and counting.

Red Lion alone practically runs on small businesses, whether it be manufacturing clothing and plastics, having excellent customer service, giving health care to patients, and providing goods and services. Red Lion has a wide range of shops that are independently owned in the center of town. These businesses have many purposes, including computer repair, candy distribution, locksmith services, and pet supply.

By providing a high quality customer service, small businesses are able to give back to the community. What us, as customers put in, we get out. Although most profit goes back into the business, Moser donates to much of the community needs, such as church events and Salvation Army efforts and even offering free services to our veterans on November 11th, since he too is a veteran. But with an expected $100,000 profit, imagine how much comes back when we are to spend as little as $60 on repairs.

To a business owner it’s not just a job, “It is my life, my whole life reflects in my shop.” Moser said. Throughout the past 10 years small businesses have tended to change according to the fast pace in our world today. To keep up with the newest trends Harley said “Keep learning everyday.” He provides all of Red Lion with computers needs, by updating Jerry’s Great Valu computer software. As much as we would like to think small business are small, they are the foundation of our economy. Without small businesses, we would not succeed in bigger corporations. At one point in time all corporations, such as Microsoft, started small.

No matter how small a business may be, its impact can be massive at a local level. Moser’s Custom Computer’s alone has given back to the community in numerous efforts. If all businesses did this our economy would be booming. Next year when Small Business Saturday arrives, it shouldn’t be taken lightly, because without them we would not be a proud Red Lion family. They are the foundation among us.