VALDOSTA, Ga. (WALB) – The holiday season is a critical time for local business owners. Many depend on holiday shoppers and diners to help make an annual profit.

As a push nationally, the United States Small Business Administration uses the last week in November to support small businesses.

With over 5,000 local businesses across Lowndes County to eat, shop and support almost 90% are small businesses with 10 employees or less — making the bigger impact the reinvestment in their communities.

“We’re the ones that are supporting every little sports team, or charity that comes by we make that decision internally because we want to help and give back,” said Brooke White, White Weddings Valdosta and Tallahassee said,

Even with multiple cancellations and changes to bridal events, White said during Hurricane Helene they donated $25 from every dress sold to support survivors in Georgia and Florida.

“We draw brides from all over South Georgia and North Florida, so we just wanted to be sensitive to the fact that many families were hurting not just in Valdosta,” she said.

White Weddings is focused on pushing through the holiday season beginning with their Dec. sale as they prepare for more inventory in 2025.

“Our motto is #MoreThanADress because that’s what we always aim to do,” White said.

Similarly, Yentle Carter, a make-up artist and owner of Adorned Cosmetics, saw significant cancelations after Hurricane Helene. She has continued to build her clientele through community engagement.

“Once you feed into the community we can actually do more things in the community and for our community as a business owner but when we don’t have the funds we can’t,” she said.

Carter said the holiday season is the biggest time for sales and discounts because people make their largest purchases bringing in more money.

“Being able to cross sale and showcase the products that I have, it actually helps with business and revenue coming in,” she said.

For Carter, her business was developed from her desire to create and she found a way to bring her family friends naming her over 80 lip colors after someone special.

“Once my thoughts became my reality and I’m able to touch what was in my mind, I think that is one of the best feelings,” Carter said.

Saturday, Nov. 30, 2024, is Small Business Saturday encouraging you to shop, eat and buy small.

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