Dear Editor,

As the holiday season begins, Main Streets across America are coming alive with lights, decorations, and the energy of small businesses preparing for one of the most important shopping weekends of the year.

When you shop locally, you’re doing more than buying the perfect gift for grandma — you’re investing in your neighbors, your community, and the future of entrepreneurship. When you shop locally your dollar recirculates through your local economy two to four times more than money spent at a nonlocal company. As your dollar moves through your community it helps to create jobs, support youth sports teams, and sustain the local character that makes each of our towns unique.

I want to highlight two aspects of Small Business Saturday that are near and dear to my heart — pop-up retail and youth entrepreneurship.

Across our region, more and more entrepreneurs — especially young people — are testing their ideas through temporary retail spaces, pop-up shops, and local vendor markets. These short-term opportunities allow aspiring business owners to reach customers, build a following, and gain real-world experience without the high cost or long-term commitment of a traditional storefront.

For school aged students, pop-up retail offers a powerful learning experience — turning creativity and classroom lessons into hands-on business practice.

Whether they’re selling handmade crafts, baked goods, tech gadgets, or clothing designs, these young entrepreneurs are building confidence, community connections, and the skills that fuel lifelong success.

The U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) is proud to support this new generation of innovators. Through our network of Small Business Development Centers, Women’s Business Centers, SCORE mentors, and Veterans Business Outreach Centers, we help entrepreneurs of all ages access capital, training, and mentorship. For youth and first-time founders, these resources can turn a weekend pop-up idea into a thriving year-round business.

I want to ask shoppers to please consider spending part of your weekend exploring your neighborhood small businesses, local pop-ups or student-run booths.

Every small purchase you make sends a powerful message of belief and encouragement to the next generation of business leaders.

Jim Spencer

SBA Mid-Atlantic

Regional Administrator