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FREEMAN NEWSPAPERS • GMTODAY.COM 2 • SMALL BUSINESS SATURDAY • NOVEMBER 2022 Craft an entire day around tree shopping Though retailers may begin playing holiday tunes shortly after Halloween, for many people, no date on the calendar marks the beginning of the holiday season better than the day they pick up their Christmas tree. There are many different ways to acquire a Christmas tree. Some people prefer artificial Christmas trees that can be stored and taken out each year. Others make a yearly expedition to a tree lot or a Christ- mas tree farm to find the perfect fir or spruce. Historians believe a man named W.V. McGallard planted 25,000 Norway spruce seedlings at his Mercer County, New Jersey farm in 1901, essentially estab- lishing the first commercial Christmas tree farm. By 1908, customers could visit the farm and choose trees for $1 each. McGal- lard helped create an entirely new industry that now accounts for 350 million trees being grown and sold in the United States every year. Selecting a Christmas tree may not take more than an hour or two, but there are ways for families and other tree shoppers to maximize their time spent looking for a tree. • Bring refreshments. Couple Christ- mas tree shopping with picnicking if the weather is amenable. Pack some foldable chairs into the vehicle (sitting on the ground on a blanket may be too cold) and bring along thermoses of coffee or hot cocoa. Snacks like granola bars, Christmas cookies or other filling treats can keep everyone satisfied and energized while they shop for a tree. • Pair tree shopping with a trip to see lighting displays. Find the tree lot or tree farm and then scope out potentially scenic spots to view holiday lighting dis- plays nearby. Neighborhood Facebook or other social media groups often tout homes that put up eye-catching displays. Ask around for addresses and plan your own tours. • Plan a night out. Everyone may be tired and hungry after a long day of Christ- mas tree hunting. Plus, it's typically a good idea to wait some time for boughs to open before decorating. Use this opportunity to dine out and return home ready to decorate. Make it a regular occur- rence that Christmas tree shopping is followed by a family meal at a favorite restaurant. • Watch a classic film. Many different holiday movies are broadcast this time of year and each enhances the Christmas spirit. While putting up the tree, play a favorite film in the background. What better way to enjoy decorating your own tree than by watching Charlie Brown adorn his meager evergreen at the same time? Make a day of selecting and putting up the Christmas tree each year. Doing so can enhance the holidays and make for an enter- taining way to spend time together as a couple or family. Small businesses are booming. Informa- tion from the Small Business Administra- tion and the U.S. Census Bureau's Annual Survey of Entrepreneurs says that small businesses, or firms with fewer than 500 workers, accounted for 99.7 of businesses in 2016, the most recent year for data. Firms with fewer than 100 workers accounted for 98.2 percent of companies. In Canada, 97.9 percent of businesses were small as of 2017, with more than half concentrated in the Ontario and Quebec provinces. Thanks to their influence and reach, small businesses have the potential to impact local communities in numerous ways. • Small businesses employ local resi- dents. The Statistics Canada Labour Force Survey indicates companies with fewer than 100 employees employed 69.7 of the population in 2017. According to the SBA's Office of Advocacy, small businesses accounted for 61.8 percent of net new jobs in the United States between 1993 and 2016. • Small businesses are innovative. The SBA notes that small businesses repre- sent about 96 percent of employer firms in high-patenting manufacturing industries. That suggests that small businesses are full of new ideas. • Small businesses support local charities. Many local businesses give to charity, particularly local charities. Some donate money while others may offer their professional services or event spaces, each of which can be particularly helpful to local communities. • Small businesses contribute to com- munity identity. Small businesses con- tribute to the charm and character of a town or city. Many local businesses make up the fabric of Main Street, and towns are known and loved for the businesses that have endured. • Small businesses help the environ- ment. Shopping locally means consumers do not have to travel far to get their goods and services. The United States Environ- mental Protection Agency's research report on walkable downtown centers found small businesses encourage walking and cycling, helping to reduce air pollution from vehi- cles. • Small businesses keep money in communities. Local businesses keep dis- posable income and tax money within their communities. Business tax money remains local and can support schools, roads and municipal services. Local small businesses are the life force that keeps cities and towns prosperous and humming along. Such establishments help build a sense of community and forge last- ing relationships. How local businesses give back to their communities

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