Constant Contact, a digital marketing and automation platform, announced findings from its latest Small Business Now report, which uncovers a surprising contradiction in how consumers view small businesses.
While most people feel personally and emotionally connected to the small businesses that shape their communities, the vast majority misjudge the scale of SMBs and their value to the economy.
“Small businesses are deeply embedded into our lives, yet it is easy to look past them and take them for granted,” said Frank Vella, CEO at Constant Contact.
“Many of us feel a personal connection to our favorite local businesses, but our research shows a significant awareness gap when it comes to the prevalence of SMBs. Failing to recognise the critical importance of small businesses in our communities and economies creates a blind spot, overlooking their impact on all of us. As we approach National Small Business Week in the United States, this is a reminder that small businesses deserve more than just our appreciation; they should be seen, supported, and celebrated.”
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Top Findings:
Constant Contact combined insights from over 8,000 consumers across the United States, Australia and New Zealand (ANZ), Canada, and the United Kingdom, to explore the perceptions, behaviors and emotional drivers that shape how people engage with small businesses, and celebrate their contributions to our communities and economies. Top trends include:
- Only 19% of Americans correctly identified how many small businesses operate in the US (33 million), with similar awareness gaps in Canada (16 percent), the UK (20 percent), and ANZ (11 percent).
- 82% of consumers agree that small businesses positively impact their lives
- 83% would feel upset if their favorite businesses had to close, and 40 percent would be “devastated.”
- 40% of global consumers say they visit their favorite small business at least once a week.
- Across all regions, consumers say supporting small businesses makes them feel connected, helpful, and proud.
- Globally, the most popular types of small businesses are food and beverage businesses like restaurants and bakeries, grocery stores, retail and specialty stores, locally-owned franchises and personal care or wellness businesses.
- The top reasons for supporting small businesses are quality of products and services, personalised customer support, and local impact.
These findings provide new insight into how consumers perceive and engage with small businesses and highlight why it is important to see, visit, and support the businesses that power our local economies.
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