Saturday mornings in your chair. Commuting home in the dark. Grocery delivery. Sometimes it’s not easy to support your local small businesses…
There are many perks to living in our small, rural communties. We don’t get stuck in traffic jams (except for harvest), our neighbors show up when we need them, and we feel safe walking down the street. The downside? We don’t have all the amenities we long for nearby. Our favorite chicken joint is 30 minutes away. We have to drive to “town” to get supplies to complete the project. There isn’t a local provider for the care we need.
Small Business Saturday rolls around each year and reminds us to shop local. We’ll make the extra effort to grab a local coffee and pop into a shop to buy a gift. We may even post about it on social media and encourage others to do the same. Our business owners appreciate it, but they need us to show up year-round. Not just when it’s convenient. Not just when it’s the popular thing to do.
MAKE A DIFFERENCE
Every dollar spent locally has a stong multiplier effect. About 68% of every $100 spent at a local business stays in the community. A few thriving local businesses can make the difference between a vibrant downtown and empty storefronts. The dollars spent in these businesses (and on their buildings) support our local tax base – providing valuable funding for our schools, emergency responders, roads, and more. These businesses are the first to sponsor our little leagues, county fairs, and school fundraisers.
GIVE THEM GRACE
Running a small business is hard. Entreprenuers wear a lot of hats and they won’t always be on top of everything. Support them anyway.
- Leave a message if they don’t answer. They might be out making a delivery.
- Try again if they are closed. They might be feeling ill.
- Out of your favorite item? Try something new.
- It’s cheaper in “town”. Save yourself the gas and time, spend the extra few dollars.
Supporting local doesn’t always cost money. Share small businesses’ social media posts. Volunteer for your local Main Street organization. Invite a friend to a holiday market.
Let’s make the extra effort to support local. Together, we can make a difference.
P.S. Alliance Bank is a local business too.
