Morris County urges residents to ‘Shop Small’ on Nov. 29 for Small Business Saturday
MORRIS COUNTY, N.J. — As the holiday shopping season begins, the Morris County Board of County Commissioners is encouraging residents to support local merchants on Small Business Saturday®, which falls on Nov. 29 this year.
The board formally adopted a resolution at its Nov. 17 meeting proclaiming the date “Small Business Saturday in Morris County,” highlighting the vital role small businesses play across the county’s 39 municipalities.
“When you shop at local retailers, eat at locally and family owned restaurants and do business with local service providers, you reinvest in your community,” said Commissioner Director Tayfun Selen. “Our small businesses support Morris County’s economy in a big way, providing jobs, services and unique experiences in our 39 towns. Let’s support our small businesses — not just this weekend, but all year — and keep our communities strong!”
Small Business Saturday®, created by American Express in 2010, encourages shoppers to patronize independently owned businesses the day after Black Friday. What began as a marketing effort has become a national campaign to support local shops, restaurants and service providers.
Small businesses represent 99.7 percent of all companies in New Jersey, and nearly half of the state’s workforce is employed by them, according to state economic data.
Morris County continues to experience strong entrepreneurial activity, according to the Morris County Economic Development Corporation:
- More than 7,500 new business applications were filed in 2024.
- The county has 30,555 verified small businesses, each with fewer than 500 employees.
- A total of 529 small businesses reported significant or sustained growth.
- The county is home to 33 veteran-owned and 168 minority-owned businesses.
Morris County is also home to some exceptionally high-performing small firms in the oil and fuel sector, including:
- Eight businesses with 10–19 employees generating more than $100 million in annual revenue.
- Nineteen businesses with 1–4 employees generating more than $50 million annually — far above national averages for companies of that size.
The Morris County Chamber of Commerce, Economic Development Corporation and the Morris County Tourism Bureau continue to support and promote local business success.
“Our goal is to help businesses connect, collaborate and build long-term success. We are proud to support our members on Small Business Saturday and every day,” said Meghan Hunscher, president and CEO of the Morris County Chamber of Commerce and Economic Development Corporation.
Residents and visitors are encouraged to shop, dine and explore locally on Nov. 29. Officials say supporting small businesses helps sustain local jobs, strengthens communities and preserves the distinctive character of Morris County.
Small business owners can find tips for maximizing Small Business Saturday through the Morris County Economic Development Corporation.
