Support Small, Local Businesses this Holiday Season
The 2020 Holiday Season
With everything that has happened this year, it would be easy to just use Amazon and allow our shopping to become a highly detached and impersonal event. However, 2020 has shown us that our actions have far reaching impacts. As this year comes to a close, the simple act of shopping small could have a positive impact on our friends, family, neighbors and community!
Why Shop Small?
As stated by Harvard Business Review, businesses with fewer than 500 employees are responsible for nearly half of American jobs, and almost 44% of our GDP. In addition, the Institute for Local Self-Reliance reports that independent, locally-owned businesses are credited with fostering higher incomes and fighting income inequality, fueling job creation, generating more tax revenue, improving environmental sustainability, fostering community health and cohesion, and so much more.
However, while small businesses are an essential part of America's economy, they’re often financially fragile. A research article published in PNAS cites a survey that was conducted during March and April of this year. With 5,800 small businesses surveyed, it was found that just weeks into the pandemic mass layoffs and closures had already occurred.
As the pandemic continues, so does the toll it is taking on the economy. It is clear that our small, local businesses need our help this holiday season!
How to Support Small, Local Businesses
- Mask up, bring hand sanitizer with you, and be prepared to social distance as you go out to do your holiday shopping at local businesses.
- If cases in your area are surging, you are feeling sick, have been in contact with someone who is sick or have a compromised immune system, it is best to stay home. Luckily, many small businesses allow you to shop online! You can even complete your order via Facebook, email or over the phone.
- Contact your favorite local store and see if there are unique ways you can support them. They may offer gift cards or have the option to schedule a private shopping hour with just those from your household.
- Think small when it comes to your food! Support local non-chain grocery stores, restaurants, coffee shops and bakeries. Many of them offer delivery, curbside pickup and gift cards!
- Small businesses need support all over the country! So checkout websites that support small businesses like Etsy, or look up the websites of your favorite small businesses you came across in past travels. They will forever appreciate your repeat business!
While small businesses may not always have flashy sales or the best deals on new gadgets like large corporations, they often have more thoughtful and meaningful items. Also, just one single purchase from a small business means so much to them and has a positive, ripple effect throughout the whole community. For more information, click here!