As the foundation of many local economies, small businesses need the support from the community throughout the year but especially during the holidays. Small Business Saturday, which falls on Nov. 28 this year, is an opportunity to support the local small businesses that provide economic vitality and quality of life to the community.

The idea is for shoppers to designate a portion of their holiday spending on Nov. 28 for purchases at locally owned businesses. Many groups are getting behind the effort, including Buy Haywood and the North Carolina Community Colleges Small Business Center Network.

“Small Business Saturday, is just one day of many to celebrate the local independent merchants and restaurants that make our community unique,” said Katy Gould, director of HCC’s Small Business Center. “These businesses contribute directly to our quality of life, the place we call home.”

Black Friday is still a popular tradition at the big box stores, but the popularity and support behind the Shop Local Saturday initiative has been growing steadily since introduced in 2010 by American Express. A survey conducted recently by the National Federation of Independent Business and American Express shows that a record number of shoppers plan to shop local on Small Business Saturday.

The survey found that a record 55 percent of U.S. consumers are aware of Small Business Saturday, while 83 percent say Small Business Saturday makes them want to shop local and shop small all year long.

According to the fourth-annual Small Business Saturday Consumer Insights Survey, 80 percent of consumers are willing to pay slightly more for an item if it is purchased from a small, independently owned retailer as opposed to online or at a large retailer. On average, consumers are planning to do 35 percent of their holiday shopping at small businesses.

“That’s really encouraging,” said Gregg Thompson, North Carolina state director of the National Federation of Independent Business. “When you shop local and shop small, you’re supporting your community. When you shop at a chain store, most of the money goes back to some corporate office somewhere else, but when you support small, most of that money stays here at home.”

Buy Haywood, a grant-funded initiative in Haywood County to support local farmers and locally grown products, is asking people to support farm-to-table restaurants, fresh markets, local farmers and local Christmas tree farms this year and have a chance to win prizes.

Each time participants shop small, enter the contest by leaving a post on Buy Haywood’s Facebook page detailing the local partner supported and automatically get entered to win. The more you shop, the more you post, the greater your chances of winning.

“Join our efforts and ‘purchase with a purpose’ by using your holiday shopping dollars to invest in the agricultural backbone of Haywood County,” said Tina Masciarelli, Buy Haywood project coordinator. “Support of local agripreneurs keeps farms viable and preserves access to local products while protecting farmland and the rural character of the region.”

The Shop Small Contest runs through Friday, Dec. 25. A winner will be drawn on Wednesday, Dec. 30. The prize is a seasonal pantry full-year membership from Copper Pot & Wooden Spoon. Complete contest details and #ShopSmall ideas can be found at BuyHaywood.com.

The increased hype over Black Friday has caused some to boycott the day altogether. Consumers have expressed their disappointment with big retailers being open on Thanksgiving Day to further capitalize on the most lucrative shopping weekend of the year. If stores are open, it means employees and diehard deal finders aren’t spending the holiday celebrating in the traditional manner — with family and food.

Still, other retailers refuse to open on the holiday, including Gamestop, Staples, Lowe’s, Petsmart, Tractor Supply Co., and many more. Outdoor retail giant REI has taken it a step further by not opening on Black Friday either. Instead, the company is encouraging people to use the day after thanksgiving to get outdoors.

The Blue Ridge Parkway has joined REI’s “Out Outside” campaign and will host a hike at Craggy Pinnacle at Milepost 364.1 from 2 to 4 p.m. on Nov. 27 for the community. The Craggy Pinnacle Trail is 0.7 miles one way and offers panoramic views of surrounding mountains. Parking is available at Craggy Dome Parking Overlook.