October is Small Business Month!
Many of you reading this are small business owners – just like me –
so you know all too well that running your own show is hard work that requires lots of dedication, perseverance, and commitment.
Starting a business is a leap of faith as you take an idea and make it go from concept to commerce. It can be very satisfying, but it also means long hours, taking risks, and going the extra mile to put down roots and flourish.
This is why it’s important to recognize the importance of small businesses and the contributions that they make to their communities. Without small businesses we wouldn’t have the places that give our towns character, like mom and pop shops, family-run services, unique boutiques, bakeries and cafes, artists and creators, yoga studios, roofers, landscapers, guest houses, media companies, and the list goes on.
If all of these small businesses disappeared, what would we have left? Nothing but strip malls and big box stores. Small businesses breathe life into where they work, and owners also know that community is everything, especially if you live in a close-knit town where word of mouth is a valuable tool.
This October, we encourage you to go out of your way to shop local and support the businesses run by people in your community. We all know a small business owner who did not survive the pandemic. But every day we have a choice to make about where we shop, who we hire for services, and who we support.
Here are 10 ways that you can support local small businesses,
not only in October but all year round:
Shop local as much as possible for day to day goods
Buy gift cards from cafes, boutiques, restaurants, or your local theatre
Eat at a local restaurant rather than a chain
Like, tag and share small businesses’ social media pages
Write good reviews and recommendations for local businesses
Hire local companies and tradespeople
Visit independent stores (like a local bookshop) instead of shopping online
Stay connected by signing up for newsletters
Give local goods as gifts – Christmas is just around the corner!
Join your local small business association to learn about and connect with other businesses in your community
Here’s to all the hard working small business owners out there –
let’s contribute to their success!