01 May Shop Small: How to Support Small Businesses
No one was prepared for the situation we’re currently living in. While businesses of all sizes have been affected by social distancing and stay-at-home orders, small businesses have been hit particularly hard because they don’t have the financial support of larger businesses and are more reliant on in-person transactions.
If you’re like us, you have a few small businesses you love and would hate to see them not make it through this time. Here are some ways you can support them.
Go Gift Shopping
One way to stay connected with the people who aren’t in your household is to send them a gift! You’ll get the rush of endorphins that comes with giving a gift, and it’s a great way to let the people in your life know you’re thinking about them.
If you’re financially able, now is also a great time to stock up on Christmas gifts. Many of us now have a little extra time to think about the perfect gifts for those closest to us, so why not get it out of the way now?
Mother’s Day is also coming up! Plenty of boutiques, jewelry stores, and flower shops and florists are having Mother’s Day sales. Check out your favorite small businesses to see if they’re offering any specials.
Buy a Gift Card Now and Use It Later
This is a great way to support a business, especially if they’re currently closed or don’t have anything you need or want at the moment. This is especially helpful for hair and nail salons as well as spas.
One fun idea is to do a gift card “challenge” with friends and family, where you buy a $10-20 gift card to one of your favorite small businesses and gift it to someone. Then, that person has to do the same thing with someone else, and it continues to be paid forward. It’s a great way to support your favorite small businesses while also introducing them to new customers.
Plan a Takeout Night
One or two nights a week, order curbside pickup or delivery from a locally owned restaurant. You can turn this into a virtual dinner party with friends or family by all planning to get dinner from the same place one night and eating together on a video call. If you want to dine with people who aren’t in the same city as you, you can order from different restaurants and just plan a time to eat together.
Consider Where You’re Buying Things
Sure, it’s easier to go to a supermarket for all of your necessities, but do you need to get whatever you’re buying from one? There are a lot of things that you buy at a supermarket or grocery store that can be bought from a small business instead.
For example, there are a lot of artisans who make things like soap, lotion, and other skincare products. If you need hand sanitizer, local breweries and distilleries have started producing it during this time. If you’re an alcohol consumer, you can also buy directly from a local distillery or brewery instead of buying from a supermarket chain.
There are a lot of cities that are keeping their farmers’ markets open to some capacity. They’re a great way to support small businesses while getting fresh, local produce and protein.
Go Digital
Before you cancel your gym membership or something similar, see what online or virtual options they’re offering while you can’t physically be in their location. If these work for you, keep your membership.
A lot of clinicians are also going virtual. Counselors, skincare experts and even hair salons are offering virtual consultations where, if needed, they can create a custom package for you that can be picked up curbside or delivered to you.
Interact and Share on Social Media
This is one of the simplest (and least expensive!) ways to help a small business. Different ways to do this include commenting on one of their posts or liking one, as well as tagging the business in a post whenever you buy something from them. This helps them with higher engagement, which leads to more visibility and sales.
I think it was Jenna Kutcher who said that if you have one follower who you can influence, then you’re already an influencer, and this is so true. Sharing a small business’s post with your own audience can help introduce it to someone who would have never found it otherwise.
Thank You
At Artful Agenda, we are so thankful for all of your continued support of our small business during this time. We also love how much you’ve been tagging us on social media lately! We enjoy seeing the different ways you are using Artful Agenda.
Some of our favorite business are:
- Mele (@meleshake on Instagram) – They produce balanced meals in the form of a convenient shake that you can make on-the-go. You can currently send their shakes to healthcare workers through their website: www.meleshake.com
- Lather Bath Bar (@latherbathbar on Instagram) – This small business creates beautiful soaps and bath products. You can even get different monthly memberships that will send new soaps and products to your doorstep every month.
- Grimey’s New & Preloved Music (@grimeys on Instagram) – A local record shop in Nashville, they’ve had to close to the public during the pandemic.
What are some other small businesses you love that you want to share with others? Drop their name in the comments below!
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