It appears as though the large brands are everywhere we look—on billboards, on the internet, on supermarket shelves, on our feet, and even in our pockets. However, it’s the small businesses that have the greatest influence on our local communities.
Small businesses provide colour and vibrancy to our neighbourhood retail areas by delivering high-quality, one-of-a-kind items and services that we truly value; they also employ individuals we know. Often, we cannot survive without them. They are our next-door neighbours, friends, and family members. Running a small business is difficult and sustaining one for more than a few years requires a certain amount of luck and plenty of hard work.
We wanted to offer simple methods that can help small businesses locally during the global COVID-19 pandemic—whether they’re in your neighbourhood or your favourite e-commerce company on the other side of the world.
If you have extra money or rely on their services (or both), we strongly urge you to support small businesses. Here are some tips that can assist you:
Consider shopping locally
What is the lost straightforward approach to help small businesses? Shop at independently-owned businesses. There are several reasons to support a local small company. As previously said, it contributes to neighbourhood investment and keeps money local.
Additionally, by supporting small companies, you can:
- Discover new and unique items, many of which are created locally.
- Establish a personal relationship with the operator of the small business store.
- Gain a better understanding of the product, as the person selling it is more likely to have created it or been the one who chose it for the store’s shelves.
- Gain experience; the local business owner has to be intimately familiar with their product or service. Ask away!
Order takeout or delivery
Restaurants have been among the hardest-hit industries in recent years, as they have been constrained in their ability to conduct business securely. Fortunately, many restaurants were able to pivot and add or extend their online ordering and takeaway alternatives.
Consider ordering takeout from a local restaurant near you. Numerous restaurants have used contactless drop-off or kerbside pickup to minimise interaction and securely deliver your meal. Whichever way you choose to order, your money will benefit those in immediate need.
Take on a Social Role
Contribute to the social media presence of local shops, dry cleaners, and other small businesses by “liking” them on Instagram, Facebook, LinkedIn, and Twitter. Write favourable reviews, freely share images of your purchases, and don’t forget to tag the shops. Additionally, explore activities on a somewhat larger scale, such as community email lists and social media organisations such as Facebook community pages.
While retailers are knowledgeable when it comes to selling, many are unaware of the critical role social media plays. You can try out the ‘adopt a business’ campaign through your Facebook group, in which locals choose a store and commit to buying there once a week (with no spending requirement) and sharing their experiences on Facebook.
Additionally, newsletters are an excellent method to stay informed about business news, new goods, and information about specific products or services. Contribute to their email list growth by signing up and sharing the link with others to urge them to do the same.
Make recommendations to your friends and family
If you enjoy the service or products of a local establishment, tell your friends and family about it. When you suggest people purchase from a small business, your advice carries far more weight.
This is referred to as “word-of-mouth” marketing and is critical for small businesses. According to Invesp, word of mouth generates five times the revenue of sponsored advertising impressions, and individuals are 90% more inclined to trust and purchase from a business suggested by a friend.