Local businesses are usually smaller in size. Many of them face the challenge of keeping up with the demands of the quality that consumers require but at the same time they are in competition with bigger firms.
No all industries are the same but one principle applies across all of them.
If you want to survive, you need to adapt quickly, since pandemic lifestyle is a new normal.
However, without a certain amount of consumers companies can easily go bankrupt, especially those local businesses that are most vulnerable.
We, therefore, want to encourage you to support your local businesses that you care about.
Here we conducted a short list of ways each and every one of us can help them sustain.
Things to do to support local businesses
Here are some ideas that you can do to support local businesses during pandemic and also beyond that. Get started today.
1. Buy local, whether its online or offline
You probably can name 5 companies off the top of your head that are based around your area and you know about them, they provide good quality stuff. It could be food producers, local farmers, local coffee shops or it could be local ngo.
Order online. Many local businesses have e-shops. Consider gifts for holidays, birthdays, christmas or events that you have planned. Take it as you got a full stock of gifts for anybody in the near future.
Also stay aware that next time when you go shopping, find those local businesses and buy from them instead of big chain players.
2. Leave an honestly positive review
This one takes only a few minutes but when more people do it, referrals will stay there lifelong. So when you like the service or product that you purchased from local business, make time to search their online accounts to leave a review.
The more the better. Nowadays businesses have more than just one place to make a review. Try google a website, facebook fun page, twitter, linkedin accounts or even youtube.
Why do it ? Well you would be surprised how much local businesses rely on these reviews, since they do not have big budgets for commercials. You and I would likely go to the 5 star review shop instead of 3 star.
3. Local businesses have their gift cards, consider buying
Getting a gift voucher is a great way to force someone to go buy in certain stores. Local businesses should have those. You can also buy them for your family. It gives the cash to the business owner and you have in mind future buying here.
You can also buy online gift cards. It saves you a journey to the local business. And when you buy them for someone as a gift, you can introduce them to your favorite local business.
4. Buy takeaway or delivery.
Local businesses such as restaurants are some of the most popular in the past few years, but due to the pandemic hurt very much. Many of them adapt to the conditions and create online places and sign in with local deliveries.
And even though these deliveries take a high fee it is better than nothing. So next time you make an order or take your food away with your money is going where it is needed the most.
Keep that attitude in mind. Tip a little more than you usually do. That’s a huge help too.
Yesterday I went to a local coffee roaster shop where I talked a little with the owner. He told me that every payment that is going through the card machine is going directly to the creditor to pay the debt. So I decided to pay cash so the guy has a little something.
Talk to owners, listen to what they say. I guarantee that it will invite you to think about local business from different perspectives. Don’t just follow the big chains. It is good to keep the local economy running.
5.Find a local NGO and make a small donation
Even though they can’t make profit, it does not mean they are immune to the ongoing crisis. When everybody is home, these ngo’s deal with lack of volunteers, fundraising events etc.
That all results in making less and less revenue. Ngos exist for a reason. It might be a good idea to finally make a little donation that you postpone for such a long time.
I personally know three non profits in my area. I also know the owners personally and I know how hard it is to keep this type of a local business running.
I also know that I do the work that is needed. I therefore created a monthly strategy to pay a little.
6.Help your favorite local business in new unprecedented ways
Gym, restaurant, local farm or a school. Everybody needs help in some way. It may sound ridiculous but why not use the pandemic as a fuel to come together as a local society together.
Some may need help with food prep, some with babysitting, some with sharing a social media event.
Let’s support the local business in unprecedented ways and lets say, create new, deeper relationships out of it.
7. Simply say thank you more often
Local businesses create so much for society. It’s not only about jobs, but also creating the culture. Not everybody is fortunate enough to support local businesses financially but everybody can say honest and clear thank you.
Say it !
Conclusion: how to support local businesses ?
Start by starting. It is more important than ever. We all have to sacrifice a lot. Things are foggy now. We learn to adopt and change routines every day.
With that in mind, consider a few ways to implement that into your buying behaviours and make more conscious choices and care about the local produce.
