Shop Local, Year-Round

EDENS proudly partners with 2,000+ small businesses across our national portfolio, from Boston down to Miami, across Texas and Colorado to California. These businesses and services are integral to the overall health and prosperity of their communities, and we salute them.

Small Business Saturday started as a campaign to encourage consumers to get out the weekend following Thanksgiving, stroll main streets and downtowns with family and friends, and support small and locally owned businesses. But why limit yourself to just one weekend a year?

Here are some recent statistics that prove the considerable impact small businesses have on local economies—all year long:

• There are 33.2 million small businesses in the U.S.; 99% of all businesses.
• For every dollar spent at a small business in the U.S., approximately 67 cents stay in the local community.
• Small businesses have accounted for roughly 40% of the United States’ gross domestic output (GDP) for the past 20 years, which equates to trillions of dollars of economic activity.
• In 2024, the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) reported a historic surge in small business financing, with $56 billion delivered to small businesses. This includes a significant increase in loans to underserved communities, such as Black-, Latino-, and women-owned business.

We are all in this together.

Famed restaurant critic Pete Wells noted in his final article for The New York Times: “It’s no wonder we are always hearing about diners acting like entitled jerks — they’ve been trained to expect that everybody who works in a restaurant should be as fast and compliant as a touch screen.”

The winter holidays are, de facto, the “most wonderful time of the year.” But is this true for everyone? As customers, what can we do to improve the experience for those who serve us? One thing to remember is people are doing the very best they can. Along with our dollars, a generous gift of kindness lifts up employees during a very busy time of year. If your retail or dining experience was a good one, say something positive on Google Business and Yelp—these platforms aren’t exclusive to complaints and bad reviews!

One smile can light up a whole room. A 14th-century poet once said that patience is a virtue—yet it’s challenging to take pause in our fast-paced 21st century. All these actions will mean a lot to those on the frontline of our everyday experiences. When we come together to celebrate this year, let’s reflect on the power of kindness and gratitude, and pay it forward with abundance.