... continued from Cover Small Business Saturday Coalition, a task force responsible for spreading the word and message of Small Business Saturday. The holiday continued to grow, and in 2018, consumers across the globe spent over $17.8 million shopping on Small Business Saturday. Today, small businesses are a common stop for shoppers on the Saturday after Thanksgiving, continuing the initiative set by American Express over 10 years ago.
community. This is due to the fact that small businesses are typically the organizations that support other local causes such as charities, team sporting events, and back-to-school drives. Additionally, small businesses are more likely to hire local employees instead of outsourcing the jobs to other states or countries.
How to Shop Small
Want to participate in Small Business Saturday and don’t know where to start? Don’t worry! Shopping at small businesses can be as easy as asking your neighbor for suggestions or looking at signs throughout your community to see what types of businesses are in your area. If you want an official list, American Express has a great small business map where you can search by zip code to find businesses near you. You can see this map at AmericanExpress.com/en-us/maps. If you’re an online shopper, I suggest using sites like Etsy.com or Amazon.com/supportsmall. These resources are great places to find small businesses online in whatever market you’re looking for, all in one spot! All This for a Truckle of Cheese?
The Benefits of Shopping Small Business
Shopping locally in your community instead of at the big-box stores can make a huge difference. To the business owner, your patronage is not just another sale; it’s their livelihood. When you shop at larger establishments like Target or Walmart, there’s no way to tell where the money you spend is actually going. However, when you buy from local businesses, you are helping support business owners and their families by providing them with a source of income while also receiving a fantastic product!
On top of helping the business owners who live in your neighborhood, spending locally helps money stay within your
What Is Cheese Rolling?
During the spring, the southwest part of England hosts one of the strangest sports each year — cheese rolling. People worldwide travel to watch and participate as contestants launch themselves down a hill in pursuit of a round of cheese. But how did this sport come to be? It’s kind of a mystery. No one really knows the origins of cheese rolling. For as long as the locals can remember, the sport has always been there. Several theories attempt to explain how the sport came about. One theory states that the competition started in the 15th century, and racing down the hill was a way to establish grazing rights on the commons. Others say the game has a pagan origin, where people would throw bundles of brushwood down the hill to represent the new year once winter ends. Although its roots are unknown, locals have kept score since the 1970s and watched it gain in popularity over the years.
90-degree angle. Then, when the master of ceremonies tells you to go, you launch yourself down the mountain. The first person to grab the 8-pound wheel of double cream Gloucester (which has never been done before) or cross the finish line at the bottom (about 200 yards) will win the race and the cheese. You don’t need to meet any criteria or fill out any paperwork to participate. Simply arrive at the top of the hill before the race begins, and you’re all set. But participating is at your own risk: Many people suffer severe injuries because you’re going down the hill at speeds reaching 70 mph. The sport has gained many fans over the years — around 15,000 attendees come to view the spectacle annually. The media attention further spreads the interest and popularity of cheese rolling. Many YouTube channels cover the sport, and a Netflix show titled “We Are the Champions” has an episode covering the sport and how competitors train.
What are the rules?
Competitors begin the race at the top of Cooper’s Hill in Brockworth, Gloucester, which slopes downward at an almost
Can you believe all of this excitement and fame over a truckle of cheese?
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