Small Business Saturday? Small Business Everyday.

There's been a whole lot written about "Small Business Saturday" the past week or so.  Supposedly conceived as an antidote to the mayhem of Black Friday, the big box frenzies, Small Business Saturday is a promotion by American Express, and some other decidedly not small businesses.  Use your charge card at designated small business and earn a credit back on your account.  It feels good to promote our local businesses; it's easy too.  I did it myself, went through my facebook friends list and invited every local to the Brunswick Winter Market down at Fort Andross.

But what about the $8.50 I'd spent on vegetables last week?  Where's my credit?  Where's my validation?  I supported local, small businesses last week.  Doesn't everyone need to know?

In downtown Brunswick, Maine every Saturday is Small Business Saturday.  The Brunswick Winter Market is in its fourth year providing a winter time outlet for local maine agricultural products and other locally produced products that bear a close relationship to local produce.  For instance, in addition to the typical famer's market fare you'll find woolens, hand crafted wooden and iron work, a glass blower, and locally caught seafood.  The Winter Market will run until April when farmer's market operations resume at the mall, or if not there, somewhere nearby, on Tuesdays and Fridays.  Saturday will see an even larger farmer's market at Brunswick-Topsham Land Trust's Crystal Spring Farm.

So here in Brunswick, it's really not about one day during Thanksgiving vacation.  Supporting local agriculture and local businesses is a year round venture.  It's easy to poke fund at the big businesses like the credit card companies horning in on the buy local trend like it's a fad.  After all AMEX, or any other bank is just as happy no matter where we shop, so long as we shop.

For me, half the fun of the farmer's markets, the winter market, or an independent store on Maine Street is bringing the Nikon along and scratching the photography bug.  Try doing that at a big box.  But don't forget, if you see me with my Nikon and think you might like one like it you'll have to try Walmart, Target, Best Buy, or go on-line to B & H Photo.  There's no independent camera retailer in Brunswick.