Businesses and consumers signing up for Canada's Small Business Saturday : Canadians geared up to support small businesses on October 20th

TORONTO, Oct. 2, 2012 /CNW/ - Canadians will soon enjoy a unique opportunity to find some great deals while showing their support for entrepreneurs. Consumers and small business owners across the country are signing up for Canada's Small Business Saturday on October 20^th, a special day offered by the Canadian Federation of Independent Business (CFIB) in partnership with Interac®, Canada's only domestically run, coast-to-coast debit payment network.

Over 1,300 business owners have already registered offers and promotions on-line at www.shopsmallbiz.ca. Numbers are growing every day for the service, which is fast, easy and completely free. By entering a city or postal code, consumers can now find special deals in their neighbourhoods on October 20th.

"Canadians want to support local, independently-owned businesses, but they sometimes don't think of the little shop down the street when they're out to do their shopping," said CFIB's president Dan Kelly. "Canada's Small Business Saturday is going to connect a lot of hard-working entrepreneurs with Canadians who value the work they do."

Entrepreneurs are highly respected in Canada and, according to an Angus Reid survey that was commissioned last year by CFIB, HP Canada and Intel Canada, 98 per cent said small business is important to Canada's future. The survey also found 95 per cent of Canadians value the products, services and personal attention that they get from a small business.

"Everywhere I go, Canadians are almost universally supportive of hard-working entrepreneurs who create jobs and keep our economy moving," added CFIB national affairs vice president Corinne Pohlmann. "On October 20^th if we all shop small it can make a big difference."

As Canada's largest association of small- and medium-sized businesses, CFIB is Powered by Entrepreneurs™. Established in 1971, CFIB takes direction from more than 109,000 members in every sector nationwide, giving independent business a strong and influential voice at all levels of government and helping to grow the economy.

SOURCE: CANADIAN FEDERATION OF INDEPENDENT BUSINESS

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