Small Business Saturday

Small retailers across Massachusetts are adjusting hours, taking wares outside and buying hand sanitizer in bulk as the holiday shopping season gets underway. Many businesses hoped for a boost on the Saturday after Thanksgiving, known as Small Business Saturday or Shop Local Saturday. But they’re having to make adjustments, just as many big retailers did ahead of Black Friday....

It has been a tough year for local businesses amid the ongoing coronavirus pandemic. Restrictions in Massachusetts have resulted in shutdowns, event cancellations and far fewer in-store shoppers than retailers would normally see. “It is tough,” said Charlotte Walsh, who has owned Charles River Running in Norwood for nine years. “There’s no marathons. No road races.” Walsh had to...

The State of Massachusetts is trying to provide support with the My Local MA campaign, which encourages people to shop at the 700,000 local businesses and restaurants across the Commonwealth.