U.S. Rep. Kathy Castor (D-Tampa/St. Petersburg, FL) today visited an independent bookshop in Tampa to champion local Small Businesses at the start of the holiday shopping season. Since 2010, Small Business Saturday has been promoted as a day to support local businesses during one of the busiest shopping weekends of the year.

“Shopping locally at our small businesses means more of our dollars spent during the holidays stay right here in our community,” Rep. Castor said. For every $100 spent on a local store, $68 stays in the community, compared to $43 when shopping at a nonlocal business, according to Civics Economics.  "As families make their holiday shopping lists, I urge them to go out of their way to 'buy local,' whether at a bookstore, restaurant, gift shop, auto repair or more," noted Rep. Castor. 

Small businesses in Hillsborough County make up 92 percent of businesses, and Inkwood Books is one of 75,000 small businesses operating in Hillsborough County.

“Small Business Saturday supports the uniqueness of local shops. This is how I make my living and I am invested in my customers,” Inkwood Books owner Stefani Beddingfield said. Inkwood Books has been in business for more than 20 years, but Stefani Beddingfield is new to entrepreneurship. After having been a long-time customer of Inkwood Books, she purchased the shop from its previous owners in April. 

“Tampa Bay is a community of small businesses, and in America, small businesses are responsible for about half of all jobs,” Rep. Castor said. “Whether it is consumers shopping for holiday gifts, or businesses and governments procuring local goods and services, shopping locally provides a powerful return for the Tampa Bay economy. Small business is where the real job creation happens.”

During her visit to Inkwood Books, Rep. Castor met Lisa Unger and Claire Conner, two local authors who will help Inkwood Books host "Indies First" on Small Business Saturday. Indies First is a national grassroots campaign urging authors to serve as booksellers for a day at their local independent bookshop. More than 1,000 authors have signed up for join Indies First, according to the American Booksellers Association. Local authors August Scatergood and Kristen Simmons will also join Indies First at Inkwood Books on Small Business Saturday.

"I'm delighted to be part of the Small Business Saturday event at Inkwood Books," said Claire Conner, author of Wrapped in the Flag. "Stop by Nov. 30, soak up the atmosphere and discover the perfect book for everyone on your holiday list."

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