Small Business Saturday coming this week across the nation

gold filled and is not solid gold

The marking 14KP or 14KP does not necessarily mean gold plated It also can stand for 14K gold plumb, which is solid gold If your piece of jewelry has a P in the marking, be sure to have the gold tested Technically you should never depend solely on a gold hallmark to determine gold value Some people will illegally mark plated gold with 14K gold stampings to try to sell for a profit

The term carat, spelled with a "c," is often confused with the term karat. They are both pronounced the same, but carat refers to the weight of a gemstone You could have a 1 5 carat diamond set in an 18 karat gold setting

SHOP LOCAL We can show you Howe! I encourage you to shop locally at various Howe merchants especially during the holiday season Think outside the box when buying gifts for your favorite folks Why not purchase gift certificates at Abby’s, Gabrielas, Quick Chek, Palios, Bakers Dozen Donuts, or Sonic for your working friends who will likely eat lunch out? Or give a gift certificate to a friend’s favorite hair salon And consider fresh baked goods or dinner prepared by Mama Suzy Senior citizens would appreciate gift certificates for Dollar General, gasoline, oil changes or other auto repairs And of course, HOWE MERCANTILE has dozens of gift items from china to books, primitives from Pennsylvania, teacups and saucers to man cave items for your favorite men, as well as spectacular jewelry, pillows, and holiday decorations

On Nov 26, millions of Texans and other Americans will "shop and dine small" on Small Business Saturday, which has become an American tradition Over the past two and a half years, Howe has experienced a renaissance of small businesses opening in the area Since 2014, Don's Smokehouse, Gabriela's Mexican Cocina (formerly Mi Estrella), Abby's Restaurant, Howe Mercantile, Texas Home Emporium, TLD Design Consulting, Advanced Business Machines, Stark Lane Farms and the Howe Development Alliance have all opened doors in the downtown area

According to the National Retail Federation, consumer spending accounts for 70 percent of gross domestic product year-round, delivering a big boost to the U.S. economy That’s why consumer motivations and behavior behind that spending are critically important this time of year Holiday season sales account for 19 percent of annual retail industry sales, according to the NRF

In an article written by Herbert Austin recently published in the Denton Record-Chronicle, it stated that many consumers indicated Small Business Saturday inspires them to continue to shop and dine small throughout the year and not just for the holidays Among those who shopped on Small Business Saturday, 81 percent helped spread the word by encouraging family and friends

Austin listed a few simple steps to help do your part:

If you’re a customer, commit to making at least one purchase from a locally owned small retailer Get to know the owner, and make your gift more meaningful by sharing their story as part of what you give your loved ones

Also, after a day of shopping, you can continue to support small businesses by dining small at your favorite local restaurant, coffee shop or watering hole

Enjoy the experience Travel outside your comfort zone and away from your computer screen to discover an out-of-the ordinary shopping district with trendy local stores

Join the conversation on social media, using the tags #SmallBizSat, #ShopSmall and #DineSmall to amplify your support If you find a great small retailer with unique products, tweet or Facebook your find so others can enjoy it too

When you open your gifts, start a conversation about which one came from the most distinctive and creative sellers This can make for great debate over eggnog or your drink of choice

Please join in supporting and driving Small Business Saturday until the sun goes down on Nov 26 in Denton County And remember that “shop small” refers to whom you buy from, not how much you buy!