Let’s save our small businesses!
Small businesses are the backbone of our local communities. Think about your community. The corner coffee shop, the local pub or sandwich shop, the small hardware store, the clothing boutique, the yummy bakery, your gym. These are important parts of the town or city you live in. Maybe your kiddos have worked at one of these places, or maybe you have back in the day or still do. Whatever your connection is to the small businesses in your area, I think we can all agree that we want them to not only succeed but thrive!
According to Oberlo, a well-known business blog, there are approximately 30.7 million small businesses across the United States. Those businesses account for the creation of about 1.5 million jobs every year and account for 64% of the new jobs created in this country. Over 90% of the business population represents small and medium-sized businesses. WOW!
Here is one more statistic that caught my eye. Oberlo states that as of May 2020, more than 31% of small businesses were non-operational due to the pandemic. That number is likely different now, due to more states suspending lockdown orders, however, with more restrictions on businesses in many areas, that number may actually be higher. Walking down mainstreet in many towns will give you the very grim reality that many of our favorite places have either closed or are seriously struggling.
So, what can we do? Being a small business owner myself, I am constantly on the lookout for how I can help others. It’s important that small business owners stick together, but more importantly, that you, the consumer, stick with your small businesses as best you can. Here are some super simple ways you can help support your local small businesses to help keep them operating until the world comes out of whatever this is!
1. Write a glowing review of a product or service. This could be done on Facebook or other social media, sent to the owner in an email or letter, or any other way. Many small businesses can then use these reviews, with your permission, as marketing and to help promote their services and products. Businesses with more reviews, tend to attract more new customers.
2. Get social! Engage with social media posts. Like, comment, and share their posts. Social media pages with more likes, followers, and comments also attract new followers and help businesses be successful with the algorithms of each platform.
3. Pay in cash. I have a tough time with this one myself, but I’m getting better! Businesses have to pay a fee for every credit card transaction that is made. It’s a small fee, but it’s still a fee. I know it’s not always possible to use cash, but if you can, it’s something simple you can do to help.
4. Sign up for their newsletters. Many businesses are making the switch to online marketing and newsletters are a great way for them to stay connected and share information (and great deals!) with you. Plus, it always feels good when someone signs up for your newsletter!
There you go. Those are just a few ideas to get you started. I want to give a shout out to all the small business owners out there who are thinking on their feet, getting creative, and pouring their heart and soul into their businesses! You are all truly amazing! And you are inspiring me to up my game and get creative!
None of us predicted this pandemic and none of us alone can fix the situation we are in. But working together, we can help preserve the businesses and people we care about. We have all had to switch gears many, many times over the past few months, and businesses are no different. On behalf of small businesses everywhere, thank you for your continued service! We couldn’t be here without you!
Peace, love & kale!
Lindsay
Reference:
Mohsin, M. (4 May, 2020). 10 Small Business statistics Every Future Entrepreneur Should Know in 2020. Retrieved from: https://www.oberlo.com/blog/small-business-statistics#:~:text=more%20proactive%20manner.-,Summary%3A%20Small%20Business%20Statistics,small%20and%20medium%2Dsized%20businesses.