LAPLACE — In celebration of Small Business Saturday, observed today in St. John the Baptist Parish and across the United States, residents are urged to invest in the economic future of the parish by supporting locally owned businesses.

For every $100 spent with independent merchants in St. John Parish, $68 stays within the parish to improve local assets and meet the needs of residents, according to Parish President Natalie Robottom.

Shop Local, Shop St. John signs are being displayed across the Parish to remind residents holiday shopping starts here.

Hailey Chapman of LaPlace, owner of Oh So Cute Monograms & Boutique, celebrates Black Friday and Small Business Saturday as a combination holiday, having kicked off festivities Friday with mimosas and sweets.

The first 40 customers who spend more than $40 at the boutique, located at 1145 W. Airline Highway in LaPlace, receive a free blanket scarf. Gift card raffles will be held throughout the weekend.

Opening Oh So Cute has taught Chapman to support local businesses. She considers Small Business Saturday an opportunity to invest in the future of St. John Parish.

Having good resources in the parish depends entirely on support, according to Chapman, and community members banding together, even if only for a day, helps local businesses thrive.

“A small purchase makes a bigger impact than you realize,” Chapman said.

“Even buying one thing from a small business makes an impact. If everyone in the community buys one thing, that’s a big impact for that particular business.”

Chapman keeps a local focus to her boutique by selling soaps, bath bombs and jewelry made by craftspeople in the River Parishes and New Orleans region.

Trinesha Bartholomew, owner of the new children’s spa/baking activity center Elegance of Perfection Kids, purchased Shop Small signage to put on the front door of her business.

Located at 299 Belle Terre Blvd. Suite C in LaPlace, Elegance of Perfection Kids is celebrating Small Business Saturday by offering 50 percent off all walk-in services and 20 percent off birthday party deposits.

“Coming from a small area such as the River Parishes, there is a foundation that everything should start from home,” Bartholomew said. “The more you contribute to your local community, that allows us to expand as a community and have better assets.”

When she’s not running her business, Bartholomew supports local stores to support economic growth within St. John Parish.

“As a business owner, I try to shop locally because I know it starts with us,” she said, noting she prefers to buy groceries from small stores rather than large chains.

Small Business Saturday is a national tradition occurring the Saturday after Thanksgiving annually in recognition of one of the busiest shopping periods of the year.

In St. John the Baptist Parish, Small Business Saturday is part of the larger Shop Local, Shop St. John campaign extending through the end of the year.

The campaign is in its fourth year, and it benefits residents and local business owners who rely on holiday shopping, according to St. John Parish Director of Economic Development Jerry W. Jones.

Jones said local shopping is convenient and accessible to residents, and the tax dollars that stay within the parish allow the government to initiate creative and innovative projects.

To join the Shop Local campaign, business owners can register their business information on opportunitystjohn.com at no cost by emailing jerry.jones@stjohn-la.gov.