NRA, SBA hype local dining on Small Business Saturday

Show us your menus.

That’s the challenge from the National Restaurant Association and Small Business Administration, which are partnering to promote dining out on Small Business Saturday on Nov. 29. The goal is to support small businesses on the busiest shopping weekend of the year.

Dining out on Small Business Saturday will emphasize the accomplishments of small business restaurants across the country while encouraging consumers to patronize eateries in their neighborhoods. Each dollar spent in restaurants generates an extra two dollars in sales for other industries, spurring economic activity in their communities and across the nation.

“While the industry is the nation’s second-largest private sector employer, the overwhelming majority of restaurants, more than 90 percent, have fewer than 50 employees,” says Dawn Sweeney, NRA’s president and c.e.o.

The SBA and the NRA also are encouraging small business owners and community members to share success stories of restaurants in their areas on social media using the hashtag “#DineSmall.” This will allow communities big and small to come together and show their support for entrepreneurs across the country.

To encourage not only the public to dine small, but for restaurants to prepare for the busy day, the Small Business Administration will launch a social media campaign called #ShowUsYourMenu. Restaurants are asked to create a special menu for Small Business Saturday and promote it on Facebook, Twitter and other social media sites to spotlight their business and remind everyone to #DineSmall while they #ShopSmall.

For more details on the promotion, along with marketing materials and tips on promoting the day, visit the Small Business Saturday website.