According to the Small Business Administration, small businesses make up 99.9% of businesses in the United States. Small businesses are credited with creating just under two-thirds of the new jobs created from 1995 to 2021 according to the U.S. Chamber of Commerce. They account for 43.5% of the nation’s gross domestic product.

Being a small business owner is a stressful undertaking. 18% of small businesses fail within the first year and about another 50% fail by their fifth year according to Bureau of Labor Statistics. Businesses of all sizes face threats to their success every day – from not being able to find qualified employees to lack of funding and raw resources for manufacturing.   

Since 2010, the Saturday after Thanksgiving has been recognized as Small Business Saturday. American Express started the event to acknowledge small businesses’ impact on the economy, towns, and our individual lives. By shining a light on the businesses we frequent every day and helping us see them in a whole new light, American Express and many neighborhood and municipal advocates are making Small Business Saturday a day of discovery and rediscovery.  

The Mast Store hovers right around the line between a small business, which according to the Small Business Administration (SBA) is a business having 500 employees or fewer, and a medium-sized business. Within our walls, we are proud to represent many small companies that have their home bases in our region.  

This year has been a struggle for businesses of all sizes in Western North Carolina, Upstate South Carolina, and East Tennessee. Several businesses, including the Mast Store, were damaged by Helene’s wind and rain. Some are struggling to re-open their businesses and others have already made the difficult decision to move on to their next big dream. We are hoping that Small Business Saturday – and the days before and after it – will be the biggest ever this year.  

Small Businesses in WNC 

Asheville Tea Company – This company seeks to redefine how teas are sourced and enjoyed by partnering with small, regional farmers who utilize sustainable and regenerative agricultural practices. During Helene, they lost their blending facility but are making steps every day to rebuild. Their products were sourced in and around the Asheville area and can be found most locations of the Mast Store.  

Barefoot Baby Clothing – Located in Marion, Barefoot Baby Clothing’s facilities were unharmed by Helene, and they were able to re-open and bring employees back in as they were able to return. Their mission is to connect young ones (and adults, too) with nature through whimsical outdoor and agriculture inspired apparel. In the wake of Helene, the Barefoot Baby Foundation is working to raise funds for farmers and artists who lost their livelihoods in the flood waters. Barefoot Baby apparel is found in all locations.  

Primitive Woodsman – Josh Morgan IS the Primitive Woodsman. He is one of our locally based knife makers. His dream was (and is) to make heirloom quality tools that can be counted on in any circumstance. Before Helene, Josh was expanding his operation and bringing on more employees to keep up with demand for his knives. The knife manufacturing shop was damaged in the storm, but he managed to rescue most of the machinery. According to an interview on Ridgerunner Knives’ YouTube channel, he is making some positive progress. Josh said, “Here we are, and we are dealing with it. We’ve done the best we can with what we got... We are making knives and keeping everybody paid, so everybody’s bills can get paid...  All things considered, I think we got pretty lucky in the whole scenario.”  

More Businesses Based in Mountain Regions 

Mast Store’s shelves are stocked with other businesses based in the Blue Ridge Mountains. Some experienced damage to their facilities, but even if they didn’t have physical damage, they face many challenges to getting their businesses back on a more normal trajectory. Here’s a list of some of the businesses in the affected area. 

Hintz Targeted Marketing – Asheville – Appalachian Trail & Asheville tees  
The Landmark Project – Greenville 
Iron Mountain Metal Craft – Pigeon Forge  
Joey Henson Art – Boone  
Naylor Forge – Boone  
R.L. Scott Knives – Boone 
Winkler Knives – Boone  
Blue Ridge Apiaries – Hudson  
Biscuit Head – Asheville/Swannanoa  
Essential Journeys – Asheville (Soaps) 
Spicewalla – Asheville - Members of the Chai Pani Restaurant Group, which includes the makers of Spicewalla, worked alongside volunteers with World Central Kitchen to provide meals in Asheville. 
Old Mule Dipping Sauce – Columbus, NC  
Shade Tree Farms – Franklin, NC (Soaps) 
Wounded Warrior – Enka, NC  
Oxbow Farms – Boone (Soaps) 
Muddy Pond – Monterey, TN (Sorghum)  

Small Businesses are the Heart of the Community 

This year, it is more important than ever to ‘Shop Small’ on Small Business Saturday and throughout the holiday season,” said Lisa.

“Mast Store is a retail anchor in every downtown that we call home,” said Lisa Cooper, president of Mast Store. “If we do well, our neighbors will do well and vice versa. When people come downtown to find a new pair of shoes, most of them will also go to a coffee shop, get a bite to eat, and walk into other stores, too.”  

According to the U. S. Chamber, there are many reasons to support small businesses. They are looking to reciprocate goodwill and guests’ patronage by donating to local charities, sponsoring or donating goods to local events, and encouraging employees to shop at other local small businesses. 

“This year, it is more important than ever to ‘Shop Small’ on Small Business Saturday and throughout the holiday season,” continued Lisa. “The viability of our downtowns depends on having a wide variety of businesses – from attorney offices, government services, and non-profit headquarters to restaurants, galleries, studios, theatres, and emporiums. They all work together to make downtowns special places to visit. And this year, they all need us to come through their doors.”