Holiday shoppers are encouraged to shop small for seasonal gifts. Kalona Chamber of Commerce Director Tonia Poole says when people shop locally it positively impacts the community, “Our community takes care of each other. When we shop local we keep those businesses going, that keeps jobs nearby, that keeps taxes nearby. It’s a cycle that feeds itself. And you’re supporting our local volunteers like our first responders, our volunteer fire departments, we have so many people. And those are our business owners, those are the people that you’re supporting when you go into the hardware store, the retail store, just any of it.” 

Small Business Saturday is observed the Saturday after Thanksgiving each year. According to the U.S. Small Business Administration, in 2023 the reported projected spending in the U.S. From those who shopped at small businesses on Small Business Saturday was around $17 billion.