Chamber wants lower cost of doing business amid GDP upswing

Business News

The Bahamas Chamber of Commerce and Employers’ Confederation’s (BCCEC) chief executive officer said yesterday that the gross domestic product (GDP) increase for the first half of 2024 needs to be followed by initiatives to lower the cost of doing business, and increase the ease of doing business.Dr. Leo Rolle told Guardian Business yesterday upon the revelation of the GDP growth shown in Bahamas National Statistical Institute’s (BNSI) release of its advance estimates for Q2 2024 that: “We need the lowering of the cost of doing business and the increase in the ease of doing business to follow this growth.”The BNSI said in its advance estimates report for Q2 2024: “The half-year GDP 2024 (which combines 1st and 2nd quarters) shows that the Bahamian economy stood at $6.58 billion. The 2024 half-year recorded an increase of 1.8 percent, slightly outpacing GDP reported in the same period of 2023. This increase in the half-year 2024 was led by the Q2 of 2024, which reported $3.37 billion, an increase of 4.8 percent when compared to the same quarter in 2023, and an increase of five percent compared to the previous quarter. Conversely, the 1st quarter of 2024 reported a GDP of $3.2 billion, representing negative real growth of 1.2 percent, compared to the first quarter of 2023. However, compared to the fourth quarter of 2023, there was an increase of 2.8 percent.”Rolle continued: “It’s a challenge to do necessities, to get a business license renewed, to pay your taxes. The government had an offsetting program where it would offset VAT collected, that has gone away. The process is just a lot of cumbersome aspects that businesses have to muddle their way through.Inflation is also still a concern for businesses. Rolle contends that the rate has slowed down to 0.2 percent, which is a “good thing”, and shows that the country is moving in the right direction.Rolle also said: “The role of the government is to curate an environment that is conducive for the business economy to thrive. Now, the business economy, once that environment is created, has a role then too, to ensure that they create or make an atmosphere that is easier for them to work and ensure they’re more creative in the way that they advertise, market, and create in their undertaking of pricing strategies, and mechanisms for the introduction of new products and services.”He said that businesses are expressing concerns about the upcoming Christmas shopping season, and are making a plea to have an increased police presence around establishments this year. “We want increased police presence in very densely populated areas, especially to keep business owners, the tourists and the general public safe,” Rolle said.“We’ve seen an increase in crimes against the shopping public, against tourists, and we’ve called several times for an increase of police presence. And we know that there was a challenge originally with manpower, and now that they have this list of new recruits that came out, I think it was earlier this month or last month, they can be shifted to those areas where businesses are very prevalent.Pointing to a recent Inter-American Development Bank report that said crime costs the Bahamian economy $100 million annually, Rolle said that by ensuring the police are more visible on the streets during the Christmas season, Bahamians will be less victimized.

Why German investors see business in Africa as too risky

Business News

Africa is back in the spotlight as a continent of opportunities, with German Economy Minister Robert Habeck traveling to Kenya to open next week’s two-day German African Business Summit (GABS).The gathering, which is held in a different African country every two years, is Germany’s largest business event focused on the continent, bringing together business and government leaders from Germany and Africa. 

Perceptions of Africa’s investment climate

“The perspective on Africa is one of exaggerated political, policy and economic risks: politically unstable, corrupt, weak infrastructure, bureaucratic hurdles and high-risk environment,” said Serwah Prempeh, a senior fellow at the Africa Policy Research Institute’s (APRI) economy and society program.

“This, of course, deters German investors, particularly those in small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), who are typically more risk-averse,” Prempeh told DW. 

In her recently-published autobiography “Freedom. Memories 1954-2021” former German Chancellor Angela Merkel mentioned the difficulty of persuading senior executives from large German companies to accompany her on trips to African countries.

“Most of them saw few opportunities for themselves on the African markets,” she wrote.

Attempts to foster investment

Previous German governments have made several attempts at persuading German SMEs to increase investments in Africa. Initiatives such as the Compact with Africa — established during Germany’s 2017 presidency of the G20 — aims to generate additional private investment in African nations to boost their economies.

Overall, however, Germany has hardly been politically and economically active in Africa in recent decades, according to APRI.

Foreign direct investment data reflects this. Germany ranked ninth among the top 10 investor countries in Africa in 2022 with $13 billion (€12.3 billion) — only 2 billion more than 2018, according to the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD).

Prempeh told DW that German investors generally have a low appetite for risk.

“Many are holding out for increased government support before they invest in Africa,” Prempeh said.

“This support might not come considering the tight fiscal position of the German government and the increasing pressures from citizens to focus and spend more on internal development issues.”

Challenges for German investments

In 2022, Habeck called for a “restart” and a new approach to relations between Germany, Europe and Africa ahead of his first trip to Africa, during which he visited South Africa and Namibia.

In Kenya, Germany is acting as a financing partner for the expansion of Africa’s largest geothermal power plant in Olkaria.

In May 2023, Chancellor Olaf Scholz personally announced a new €45 million loan on-site in Olkaria.

Habeck also plans to visit the power complex, whose capacity is set to double to 2,000 megawatts by the end of the decade.

According to Kenyan economist James Shikwati, the German investment approach to Africa and Kenya is facing a double crisis. 

“When it comes to Africa the potential German investments are facing competition from China and other emerging economies that have become aggressive in their investment approach to Africa,” Shikwati said.

Shikwati suggested that Germans often come with a “mindset of how things should work,” and should rather step back from assuming that “they are the experts and creating possibilities where they can co-create with Kenyan and African counterparts.”Germany partners with Africa on green hydrogen energyTo view this video please enable JavaScript, and consider upgrading to a web browser that supports HTML5 video

Continent of opportunities

Africa offers significant opportunities for German companies looking to diversify and reduce dependencies, especially from China. The green energy, infrastructure and IT sectors are attractive for investment projects.

But since the COVID pandemic and new conflicts on the continent, many African economies have been hit hard, financial budgets have become volatile. 

Many experts warn that mitigating those risks will be important forfuture investments.

Christoph Kannengiesser, CEO of the German African Business Association, pointed out that while there is a lot of talk about risk, Africa can actually help safeguard business models against risks and make them more resilient.

 “The continent does not share many of the global risks and supply chains to the same extent and is objectively no more risky than other regions of the world,” he told DW.

The false and defensive perception by rating agencies and listed risk classes by the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) makes it more expensive for companies that want to become active in Africa to raise debt capital, Kannengiesser argued.

Companies increasingly recognize the need for diversification and for the incredible potential offered by the neigboring continent, noted Kannengiesser. But the recession, the need for transformation in local markets is absorbing a lot of resources.Germany looks to expand cooperation with West AfricaTo view this video please enable JavaScript, and consider upgrading to a web browser that supports HTML5 video

Africa ready to do business

Before the current economic challenges and the consequences of Russia’s war in Ukraine, Germany had a well-functioning business model with investments in China, Western Europe, and the USA.

“Many German companies had the impression that the markets on the African continent, which are perceived as complicated and unknown to the vast majority, were not needed for business success.”

Prempeh said that African governments are open and ready to do business. Most have very vibrant investment promotions institutions and special economic zones working to bring investors with different incentive packages, she stressed.

“Prospective German businesses should be talking to these state institutions,” Prempeh said, adding that the German banking sector, including the public banks, must urgently develop new funding models for African investments.

“The current approach is not working,” she concluded.

Edited by: Keith Walker

Why German investors see business in Africa as too risky

Business News

Africa is back in the spotlight as a continent of opportunities, with German Economy Minister Robert Habeck traveling to Kenya to open next week’s two-day German African Business Summit (GABS).The gathering, which is held in a different African country every two years, is Germany’s largest business event focused on the continent, bringing together business and government leaders from Germany and Africa. 

Perceptions of Africa’s investment climate

“The perspective on Africa is one of exaggerated political, policy and economic risks: politically unstable, corrupt, weak infrastructure, bureaucratic hurdles and high-risk environment,” said Serwah Prempeh, a senior fellow at the Africa Policy Research Institute’s (APRI) economy and society program.

“This, of course, deters German investors, particularly those in small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), who are typically more risk-averse,” Prempeh told DW. 

In her recently-published autobiography “Freedom. Memories 1954-2021” former German Chancellor Angela Merkel mentioned the difficulty of persuading senior executives from large German companies to accompany her on trips to African countries.

“Most of them saw few opportunities for themselves on the African markets,” she wrote.

Attempts to foster investment

Previous German governments have made several attempts at persuading German SMEs to increase investments in Africa. Initiatives such as the Compact with Africa — established during Germany’s 2017 presidency of the G20 — aims to generate additional private investment in African nations to boost their economies.

Overall, however, Germany has hardly been politically and economically active in Africa in recent decades, according to APRI.

Foreign direct investment data reflects this. Germany ranked ninth among the top 10 investor countries in Africa in 2022 with $13 billion (€12.3 billion) — only 2 billion more than 2018, according to the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD).

Prempeh told DW that German investors generally have a low appetite for risk.

“Many are holding out for increased government support before they invest in Africa,” Prempeh said.

“This support might not come considering the tight fiscal position of the German government and the increasing pressures from citizens to focus and spend more on internal development issues.”

Challenges for German investments

In 2022, Habeck called for a “restart” and a new approach to relations between Germany, Europe and Africa ahead of his first trip to Africa, during which he visited South Africa and Namibia.

In Kenya, Germany is acting as a financing partner for the expansion of Africa’s largest geothermal power plant in Olkaria.

In May 2023, Chancellor Olaf Scholz personally announced a new €45 million loan on-site in Olkaria.

Habeck also plans to visit the power complex, whose capacity is set to double to 2,000 megawatts by the end of the decade.

According to Kenyan economist James Shikwati, the German investment approach to Africa and Kenya is facing a double crisis. 

“When it comes to Africa the potential German investments are facing competition from China and other emerging economies that have become aggressive in their investment approach to Africa,” Shikwati said.

Shikwati suggested that Germans often come with a “mindset of how things should work,” and should rather step back from assuming that “they are the experts and creating possibilities where they can co-create with Kenyan and African counterparts.”Germany partners with Africa on green hydrogen energyTo view this video please enable JavaScript, and consider upgrading to a web browser that supports HTML5 video

Continent of opportunities

Africa offers significant opportunities for German companies looking to diversify and reduce dependencies, especially from China. The green energy, infrastructure and IT sectors are attractive for investment projects.

But since the COVID pandemic and new conflicts on the continent, many African economies have been hit hard, financial budgets have become volatile. 

Many experts warn that mitigating those risks will be important forfuture investments.

Christoph Kannengiesser, CEO of the German African Business Association, pointed out that while there is a lot of talk about risk, Africa can actually help safeguard business models against risks and make them more resilient.

 “The continent does not share many of the global risks and supply chains to the same extent and is objectively no more risky than other regions of the world,” he told DW.

The false and defensive perception by rating agencies and listed risk classes by the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) makes it more expensive for companies that want to become active in Africa to raise debt capital, Kannengiesser argued.

Companies increasingly recognize the need for diversification and for the incredible potential offered by the neigboring continent, noted Kannengiesser. But the recession, the need for transformation in local markets is absorbing a lot of resources.Germany looks to expand cooperation with West AfricaTo view this video please enable JavaScript, and consider upgrading to a web browser that supports HTML5 video

Africa ready to do business

Before the current economic challenges and the consequences of Russia’s war in Ukraine, Germany had a well-functioning business model with investments in China, Western Europe, and the USA.

“Many German companies had the impression that the markets on the African continent, which are perceived as complicated and unknown to the vast majority, were not needed for business success.”

Prempeh said that African governments are open and ready to do business. Most have very vibrant investment promotions institutions and special economic zones working to bring investors with different incentive packages, she stressed.

“Prospective German businesses should be talking to these state institutions,” Prempeh said, adding that the German banking sector, including the public banks, must urgently develop new funding models for African investments.

“The current approach is not working,” she concluded.

Edited by: Keith Walker

This giant coral is the biggest ever found — November’s best science images

Science and Health

Space robot. This dextrous machine is the Robotic Servicing of Geosynchronous Satellites (RSGS) payload, a pioneering robot designed to inspect and repair satellites in geosynchronous orbit around Earth. Satellites in geosynchronous orbit, about 36,000 kilometres above Earth, are crucial for military, government and commercial communications, as well as Earth-observing science. There is currently no way to repair or upgrade these spacecraft, so they become space junk if broken. The RSGS, a project of the US Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA), is aiming to change that. If successful, it could transform the lifespan of satellites in orbit.
U.S. Navy photo by Sarah Peterson

‘We’ve become an amusement park’: the Alaskan town torn apart by cruise ship tourism

Travel

“The noise never stops,” says Karla Hart, her voice competing with the hum of approaching helicopters. “I can feel them before I see them.” She looks at her phone to check a website that monitors air traffic and identifies operators. Hart wants to know whether the pilots are adhering to legal flight routes.A few minutes later, five helicopters, flying in formation, crisscross the grey October skies above Hart’s home in Juneau, Alaska’s capital. “I get groups of two to five helicopters flying over my house every 20 minutes. On any given day, that adds up to 50 to 75 flights. It’s impossible to enjoy my garden or concentrate on work.”For Hart and other Juneau residents, the noise from helicopters shuttling cruise tourists to remote glaciers is one of the many reminders of how their lives are being upended by a city that has embraced industrial tourism.View image in fullscreenJuneau is one of the US’s most remote towns, accessible only by air or sea. The waters surrounding it are the traditional fishing grounds of Alaska’s Indigenous communities. It is wedged between towering mountains and the Gastineau Channel, a dramatic vista for more than 1.5 million cruise passengers who visit annually. Juneau was historically reliant on timber and gold, but as those industries have declined, the city now depends on tourism and government sector jobs.Cruise season runs from April to October, with as many as five vessels docking daily in the heart of the historic district. Ships such as the Ovation of the Seas and Norwegian Bliss, with passenger capacities exceeding 4,000 plus crew, arrive in the morning and depart by nightfall, only to be replaced by new arrivals. This cycle continues until the treacherous Taku Winds, with gusts reaching more than 100mph, signal the end of the season.View image in fullscreenThe rhythm of the cruise season dictates daily life for Juneau’s 32,000 residents. Local people monitor the schedule provided by the Alaska Cruise Ship Association and avoid the centre during peak cruise hours. Traditional seasons have been replaced by two distinct periods: cruise and non-cruise.Under an agreement with the City of Juneau, up to 16,000 cruise passengers disembark daily from Sunday to Friday, with a cap of 12,000 on Saturdays. Annually, cruise passengers outnumber the local population by 50 to one.Hart eagerly anticipates the end of the cruise season. It will offer a break from traffic congestion on the town’s single-lane road, and the relentless noise from aircraft ferrying tourists seeking a brief taste of Alaska wilderness. Souvenir shops selling little that’s authentically Alaskan, alongside jewellery stores offering Tasmanite and pendants for couples celebrating milestones, will shutter. Themed pubs, aspiring to evoke a bygone era, will close for the season.Hart, a former tourism business owner turned activist, is at the centre of a political fight that has divided the community. She spearheaded Proposition 2, a ballot initiative aimed at banning cruise ships on Saturdays and 4 July. In October, it was defeated by a margin of about 60/40, with approximately 10,000 people voting, more than in the mayoral election, which took place at the same time. “We’ve become an amusement park,” Hart says. “The soul of Juneau is being sold off piece by piece.”View image in fullscreenView image in fullscreenResidents cherish their access to Alaska’s vast wilderness – its forests, mountains, waters and glaciers. They value the security and sense of community that defines small-town life in America. But Juneau’s identity has fundamentally changed with the rise of an industry that monetises experiences local people take for granted. Hiking, whale watching, fishing and kayaking – everyday activities for Juneauites – are packaged and sold at premium prices aboard the cruise ships.“It is a once-in-a-lifetime trip,” says Pat Farrell, who is in Juneau with his wife, Freda. The semi-retired couple from Dublin are passengers on the Celebrity Solstice and are on a typical seven-night Alaska itinerary. After a day of excursions, they return to the ship, where meals and drinks are already paid for.They take a few minutes to break away from the stream of passengers descending the terminal and crossing the ship’s gangway. Nearly 320 metres long and 19 decks high, the Celebrity Solstice is fully lit, shimmering in the late Alaskan summer evening. It’s hard to argue that these giant ships aren’t an engineering marvel.View image in fullscreen“I wanted to see the glaciers before they melt,” says Freda. Pat adds: “We’ve seen things we never would have, like glaciers and whales. It’s just beautiful.” Though conscious of the environmental impact of their cruise, they wanted to see these places before it was too late.The Farrells have noticed banners and storefront display stickers promoting cruise ship tourism but they are also aware of community divisions. “I see that some of these towns depend on the cruise ships,” Freda says. The ease of travel made the cruise an attractive option though. “Everything is well-organised, and the service is top-notch. It’s hard to resist the temptation. It’s the adventure of going to Alaska.” They tried to support local businesses. “We made it a point to shop at a store that says it’s Alaskan-owned, but I do wonder how the locals feel with so many of us here.”View image in fullscreenView image in fullscreenView image in fullscreenView image in fullscreenView image in fullscreenThe cruise industry is one of the fastest-growing tourism sectors, with more than 30 million people choosing cruises each year, according to the latest report from the Cruise Lines International Association. The industry promotes frontier tourism – visiting remote and “exotic” locations – with ships going into regions such as the Arctic, South Pacific and Galápagos Islands. Prof Jackie Dawson of the University of Ottawa termed the idea of seeing wildlife and habitat before they disappear as “last-chance tourism”. Others have labelled it extinction tourism.Environmentalists are sounding the alarm about the impact of cruise ships on fragile ecosystems. Arved Fuchs, a German adventurer and the first person to reach both the north and south poles on foot in a year, warned five years ago of the problem: “The number of cruise ships is rising, that’s the crux. And the bigger the ship, the more problematic this is.”View image in fullscreenAt a gathering at the Gold Town Theater, where activists and concerned local people are meeting to discuss the daily impact of cruising on Juneau, Stacy Eldemar, a member of the Tlingit Indigenous community, offers a particularly poignant perspective: “I don’t like the uncontrolled growth, the impact on the ecosystem that I’m seeing. [The ships] killed off the herring run. We used to gather herring. Our sacred spaces are disappearing. It is so important that we have these places where silence speaks.”Protect Juneau’s Future, a coalition of business owners and tour operators, opposed Proposition 2. It argues that limiting cruise ships will severely affect businesses, many of which are still recovering from the financial fallouts of the Covid pandemic.The coalition is heavily funded by cruise ship companies, primarily headquartered in Miami. The Alaska Public Offices Commission has recorded donations from Carnival Corporation, Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings and the Royal Caribbean Group of $75,000 each to Protect Juneau’s Future. Disney Worldwide services has contributed $30,000. In total, the Commission reports that Protect Juneau’s Future has generated $495,988 in direct cash donations from cruise lines, businesses with cruise ship interests, and a few individual supporters. It has employed two public relations companies to support its work.By contrast, supporters of the ballot have raised about $500.Portland Sarantopoulos, campaign manager for Protect Juneau’s Future, told Juneau Empire in September: “Protect Juneau’s Future is a local organisation led by residents from diverse backgrounds. Our 22 co-chairs and five executive committee members all live in Juneau. In addition to monetary donations from the cruise lines, we are proud of the many small dollar donations made by residents concerned about the negative impacts of Proposition 2.”View image in fullscreenWhen asked about Proposition 2, the Cruise Lines International Association, the industry’s trade group, responded: “We believe ongoing, direct dialogue with local communities is the best way to collaboratively self-regulate, ensuring great experiences for both residents and visitors while providing a stable market for the many local businesses that depend on the cruise industry.”For business owner Holly Johnson of Wings Airways, the stakes are high. Her company operates five floatplanes that take tourists to see glaciers. She employs 78 people, 18 full-time, and helped to negotiate the agreement to limit cruise passenger numbers.Johnson argues that limiting cruise ships beyond the existing cap would have a real impact on businesses and the community. “Everybody is somehow touched by tourism because that’s the fabric of community, right?” she says. “There’s no bubble where the tourism people live and the other people live, and they go to different grocery stores, and their kids go to different schools, and they go to different hospitals.”She emphasises the ripple effect tourism has on secondary businesses – electricians, food producers, mechanics, fuel stations, for example – and how it provides jobs for young people, who might have few prospects otherwise.View image in fullscreenBut Eldemar disagrees. “It’s ironic that the very thing these tourists are seeking is being destroyed by the industry that’s bringing them here.” Finding a balance between economic necessity and preserving Juneau’s way of life may be the town’s most significant battle yet.

This story was produced in partnership with the Pulitzer Center

These are the must-watch Netflix and Crave shows and movies to stream this weekend

Arts & Culture, Film & TV

Each week, Netflix and Crave unveil a list of the top-ranked titles to stream, including newly released and trending content. These are the current highest-ranked series, films and premieres in Canada for each respective platform this week, with the Netflix’s newest holiday film “The Merry Gentlemen” and Crave’s “Conan Without Borders” headlining this week’s lists.Netflix releases a weekly top 10 chart based on views in Canada. The following titles have made this week’s list in their respective categories.Top 10 Series1. A Man on the Inside (Season 1) — first week in top 10
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2. Arcane (Season 2) — third week in top 10 
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3. Cobra Kai (Season 6) — sixth week in top 10 
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4. The Empress (Season 2) — first week in top 10
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5. 900 Days Without Anabel: Limited Series — first week in top 10 
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6. Outer Banks (Season 4) — sixth week in top 10 
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7. The Cage (Season 1) — second week in top 10
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8. Our Oceans (Season 1) — first week in top 10 
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9. The Diplomat (Season 2) — fourth week in top 10
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10. Ransom (Season 1) — third week in top 10
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Top 10 Films1. The Merry Gentlemen — first week in top 10 
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2. Dr. Seuss’ The Grinch — ninth week in top 10
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3. Hot Frosty — second week in top 10 
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4. Buy Now: The Shopping Conspiracy — first week in top 10
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5. 13 Hours: The Secret Soldiers of Benghazi — first week in top 10
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6. Ready or Not — first week in top 10 
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7. The Lost Children — second week in top 10
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8. Meet Me Next Christmas — third week in top 10
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9. How the Grinch Stole Christmas — nineteenth week in top 10
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10. Spellbound — first week in top 10
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Each week, Crave releases a roundup of premieres and trending titles to stream in Canada. Here is what made the cut this week: Featured PremieresSweethearts (Movie Premiere) — Nov. 28 
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Conan Without Borders (Seasons 1-2) — Nov. 29
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Music Box: Yacht Rock: A Dockumentary (Premiere) — Nov. 29
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Wilfred Buck (Canadian Documentary Premiere) — Dec. 2
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HBO and MaxSweethearts (Movie Premiere) — Nov. 28Music Box: Yacht Rock: A Dockumentary (Premiere) — Nov. 29MoviesSong of the Sea — Nov. 28Edge of Winter — Nov. 28Fabulous Four — Nov. 29Everything Everywhere All At Once — Nov. 29Downtown Owl — Nov. 29Serendipity — Nov. 29Happiest Season — Nov. 29Out Come The Wolves — Nov. 30National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation — Dec. 1A Harvest Homecoming — Dec. 1Christmas at the Greenbrier — Dec. 1This Time Each Year — Dec. 1STARZFoxcatcher — Nov. 28The Hitman’s Bodyguard — Nov. 29Hitman’s Wife’s Bodyguard — Nov. 29Ice Castles — Nov. 29Serendipity — Nov. 29Happiest Season — Nov. 29The Other Boleyn Girl — Dec. 1The Age of Innocence — Dec. 1Highlighted ProgrammingAlan Cummings Paradise Homes (Season Finale) — Nov. 28 Rupaul’s Drag Race UK (Season 6 Finale) — Nov. 28 Conan Without Borders (Seasons 1-2 Premiere) — Nov. 29 Icons Unearthed: Star Wars (Series Premiere) — Nov. 29 Stargate SG-1 (Seasons 1-10 Premiere) — Nov. 29 Mark McKinney Needs A Hobby (Season 1 Finale) — Dec. 1 The Traitors France (Season 2) — Dec. 1 Wilfred Buck (Premiere) — Dec. 2 Marco Lachance (Season 2 Part 1 Premiere) — Dec. 2 The Traitors Canada (Season 2 Finale) — Dec. 3Mighty Cruise Ships (Year 1 & 2 Full Seasons) — Dec. 4
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Downtown Holland shops offering deals, freebies for Small Business Saturday

Business News

HOLLAND, MI – Downtown Holland is encouraging shoppers to skip the big-box stores on Black Friday and instead keep their money local for Small Business Saturday.Downtown shoppers on Saturday, Nov. 30, will have the chance to enjoy a full day of promotions, such as discounts and giveaways, from 65 businesses and restaurants. Promotions vary by business.American Express launched Small Business Saturday in 2010 as a response to Black Friday, with the goal of increasing holiday shopping at small businesses. Downtown Holland first started hosting Small Business Saturday as an official holiday promotion in 2015.“Small Business Saturday has always been an important event for us in downtown Holland, as we’re widely recognized for the number of locally owned businesses in our shopping and dining district,” Downtown Holland Marketing Coordinator Kara de Alvare said in a release.“On Small Business Saturday, it’s important for us to raise awareness of the important role that small businesses play in their local communities. And in downtown Holland, it’s also a perfect opportunity for our shops and restaurants to thank the entire community for shopping small this holiday season and throughout the year by making Small Business Saturday a fun-filled day to shop.”The Curragh Irish Pub at 73 E Eighth St. is participating by giving away winter coupon packages that can be used during January and February and feature discounts such as buy-one-get-one entrée and kids eat free.“We’re just trying to spread as much community cheer and goodness as we can, so we figured participating in as many things and letting people know that we’re here is the best way to go,” Carly Civici, Curragh general manager, told MLive.In addition to discounts and giveaways at participating businesses, customers can win a $100 gift card to their favorite downtown Holland shop or restaurant by participating in the annual Small Business Saturday Selfie Contest.To enter the contest, customers just need to snap a photo of themselves in downtown Holland on Saturday, Nov. 30, and share it on the downtown Holland Facebook page. A gift card winner will be selected at random on Monday, Dec. 2. Participants must be 18 or older to enter.Small Business Saturday participating businessesApothecary Gift Shop Blu Veranda Borr’s Shoes & Accessories Bowerman’s on 8th Brick + Ivy Market Bubs’ and Betty’s Cakabakery on 8th Canterbury Cottage Interiors Carolyn Stich Studio Cento Anni Home Essentials Cherry Republic Clovier Cotton Bay Culture Cheese Shop Curragh Irish Pub DesignWorks Interiors Downtown Antiques & Home Furnishings Dutch Village Downtown Estella Rose Fashion Family Central Bookstore Fatface Frances Jaye Fris Supply Shop Fustini’s GarenHuis Yarn Studio Garsnett Beacon Candle Co. Gazelle Sports Gezellig Home & Garden Glik’s Boutique Glik’s Men’s Harbor Wear Holland Museum HOM By Benchmark Hops at 84 East jb and me Jean Marie’s Lake Effect Gallery Laurel & Jack Le Bon Macaron Lokers Shoes Merle Norman Cosmetics New Holland Brewing Sidecar Oak + Leather Onalee’s Peachwave Frozen Yogurt & Gelato Postcards from Paradise Prettie’s Intimate Apparel Reader’s World Silver Fox II Jewelry Spring Sweet Studio K. Clothing Co. The Bridge The Flower House The Poppy Peach, LLC. The Seasoned Home Thomas A. Davis TIKAL Tip Toes Warner Vineyards of Holland Waverly Stone White House Black MarketWant more Grand Rapids-area news? Bookmark the local Grand Rapids news page or sign up for the free “3@3 Grand Rapids” daily newsletter.

Small Business Saturday helps keep local dollars in community

Business News

(The Center Square) – After Thanksgiving turkey, the holiday shopping season kicks into high gear with Black Friday. A small business advocate is reminding consumers to shop local for Small Business Saturday.Black Friday deals have already started in some places with online stores offering their own savings. Noah Finley, Illinois state director for the National Federation of Independent Business, hopes you’ll give that local shop your support for Small Business Saturday.“And so when you shop local, most of that money actually stays in the local economy and gets recycled, and it’s just good for everyone,” Finley told The Center Square.Small businesses are the lifeblood of the economy.“They provide jobs, they provide services and goods and it’s important that we support them as well,” he said.A recent survey conducted by NFIB found that small business owners do more than just create jobs, and provide services and goods, they also provide other support for their communities.“Seventy-six percent indicate that they donate their time to get involved in civic organizations, sports teams, other things throughout their communities and 90% indicate that they actually donate their money to communities as well,” Finley said.

National Federation of Independent Business Illinois State Director Noah Finley

Greg Bishop | The Center Square

And with competition from big box stores and online retail giants, Finley said small businesses are up against another Goliath, government regulations.“They don’t have, say the HR department, the legal team, their whole government affairs to sort through it and make sure that all the reports, all the paperwork requirements are up to date and so they are all too often at a disadvantage,” Finley said.Finley said the NFIB will be working in Washington D.C. in the new year to extend the small business tax deduction that expires at the end of next year.“If we don’t extend the small business tax deduction,” Finley said, “nine out of ten small businesses will see a massive tax increase at the end of next year.”The typical NFIB member employs between one and nine people and reports gross sales of about $500,000 a year.

Small Business Saturday: Shopping local supports community, businesses

Business News

LENAWEE COUNTY — While supporters of small businesses want to promote the importance of shopping locally throughout the year, the message of doing so rings even louder during the holidays.This is where — and why — Small Business Saturday came to be.Created in 2010, Small Business Saturday was founded by American Express as a marketing initiative to encourage holiday shopping on the Saturday after Thanksgiving in the United States. The days post-Thanksgiving are some of the busiest shopping periods of the year with Black Friday on the Friday after Thanksgiving, Small Business Saturday the very next day, and Cyber Monday on the very next Monday.“Now more than ever, small businesses need our support,” the United States Small Business Administration (SBA) said on its website, sba.gov.SBA has cosponsored Small Business Saturday with American Express since 2011, calling the special retail day “an important part of small businesses’ busiest shopping season.”“Support our nation’s more than 34 million independent businesses this Small Business Saturday and all holiday season long,” the SBA said.Here are some facts and figures to consider about Small Business Saturday:In 2023, according to the SBA, the reported projected spending in the United States from those who shopped at small businesses on Small Business Saturday was around $17 billion.Since its establishment in 2010, the total reported U.S. spending at small businesses during Small Business Saturday is an estimated $201 billion.Small business growth predicted for 2025A report released Nov. 22 by U.S. Chamber of Commerce Vice President Thomas Sullivan forecasts an upward trend in small business success for 2025, according to information shared by Launch Lenawee, a local program that educates entrepreneurs and business owners to ensure their success and ultimately boost the local economy.Sales at small businesses rose by an average of nearly 10% in comparison to last year at this time, the report said. Specifically, the types of businesses experiencing growth include retailers, restaurants and service-based businesses.“For people debating on starting their own business, now is the time to take the leap,” Sheila Blair, team leader for Launch Lenawee, said in a news release.The Adrian Armory and Events Center near downtown Adrian, 230 W. Maumee St., which houses the Launch Lenawee program, will host a program orientation at 6 p.m. Jan. 7, 2025, in its lower level for the Launch Lenawee Entrepreneurial Action Program (LLEAP). LLEAP is described as a learning series that combines in-person and online learning as well as guest presenters and mentors, who have experienced business success.“The orientation is open to anyone who has a business idea or wants to be a business owner,” Blair said. “We’ll go over the entrepreneurial lifestyle and what people can expect out of the LLEAP program.”The program is the only one of its kind offered in Lenawee County and allows participants to gain the skills and tools needed to run their own small business.“In the last seven years, Launch Lenawee has launched many successful businesses,” added Mark Murray, one of Launch Lenawee’s founding principals.Some of the businesses that have come through the program include The Marks Trading Company, Pets in Focus, W4 Entertainment, Harvest Chocolate and many more.“The classes also will offer Spanish translation services, provided by the Hispanic of Lenawee Alliance (HOLA), so Spanish-speaking residents of Lenawee County are welcome as well,” Blair stated.For more information about the orientation program, including to express interest in the program, email Blair at [email protected] Calley keynotes Lenawee Now’s Fall Economic Club luncheonLeaders in business, education and government came together Nov. 19 for the Fall 2024 Economic Club luncheon hosted by Lenawee Now and the Align Center for Workforce Development.The event, held at the Christian Family Centre in Adrian, welcomed more than 90 patrons from across the region who heard from keynote speaker Brian Calley, former Michigan Lieutenant Governor and the current President and CEO of the Small Business Association of Michigan (SBAM).Calley served as the Lieutenant Governor under Gov. Rick Snyder. In this role, he made Michigan more economically competitive, the Align Center said, and lifted the state’s business tax climate into the nation’s top 10. Calley has been the President and CEO of SBAM since 2019, advocating for businesses throughout the state.At the luncheon, Calley addressed key economic trends and legal developments that could shape the small business climate in the coming year. He highlighted inflation, income growth trends and the impact of the consumer price index. He also noted how the labor force participation rate, job growth and the national debt affected federal rate cuts and the economy.“Brian Calley brings a wealth of private-sector experience and a proven track record in public office,” Lenawee Now and the Align Center for Workforce Development commented jointly. “As President and CEO of the Small Business Association of Michigan, he takes an inclusive, problem-solving approach that addresses the needs of small businesses.”Lenawee Now and the Align Center for Workforce Development have announced the next Economic Club luncheon — a winter presentation — will be held Jan. 14, 2025, featuring Jim Holcomb, president of the Michigan Chamber of Commerce. Inquiries about the event can be emailed to Ron Griffith, interim executive director of the Align Center for Workforce Development at [email protected].“We are pleased to be able to provide forums related to economic development,” Griffith said.Economic Club luncheons began in 2022 and provide various perspectives and dialogue on key economic issues. Throughout the luncheons, college presidents, acclaimed authors and technology innovators have shared insights on relevant developments regarding the state of business, workforce and education.Shopping locally supports an entire community, not just a businessIn Lenawee County, each municipality has its own way of celebrating/promoting Small Business Saturday. Many of the businesses in these communities are offering specials, sales and giveaways to kick off the holiday season.In Morenci, for example, the city is planning its third annual Small Business Saturday event downtown. Nearly 10 businesses will have promotions throughout the day including the following:More than 30 small business booths are registered as part of a craft show and vendor fair from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Nov. 30 at the Morenci Event Center.Subscribe Now:For all the latest local developments, breaking news, and high school and college sports content.“Shopping local is more than just a transaction; it’s an investment in our community and its people,” the city of Morenci said in an announcement. “When you choose to spend your dollars in downtown Morenci, you’re supporting your neighbors, friends and local entrepreneurs who are the backbone of our economy.”The impact of a local purchase:For every $100 spent at a local business, $73 stays within the community. In contrast, only $43 remains when the same amount is spent at a national chain, the city of Morenci said.Small businesses donate 250% more to school and community causes as compared to national chains.Shopping locally is environmentally friendly, reducing fuel consumption for transportation, and minimizing packaging waste.“By shopping local, you’re investing in our community and supporting businesses that consistently give back to Morenci,” the city said.— Contact reporter Brad Heineman at [email protected] or follow him on X, formerly Twitter: @LenaweeHeineman.