I think we can all agree that it’s a very weird and uncomfortable time in the world. I mean, shit, it’s 2 PM on a Wednesday as I write this and I just had mozzarella sticks and a beer for my second lunch of the day.
I’m lucky; while I have a mellow day to myself while I write this before it’s back to my work-from-home grind, I still have a job and reliable source of income. Many people haven’t been as lucky. Unemployment has skyrocketed, with rates as high as 20% right now and estimates predict it will go up to nearly 30%. Small and local businesses are struggling and many don’t know how they can help when they’re struggling themselves.
I’m not here to make anyone feel bad for being unable to spend money. Budgets are tighter than ever and I completely understand. But, as humans, we are empathetic, and it hurts to see others struggle, especially when we can’t do anything about it. Many of my friends own small businesses, so how can I help when I don’t have the economic means to?
Shop small (when you can)
Whether you’re using your quarantine to online shop or only purchasing the essentials, now is the time to really evaluate where you’re spending your money. If you usually purchase from a big-box store, see if you can find comparable items for comparable prices at small and local businesses. If price is a factor, ask if they can price match. If price isn’t a factor, remember those few extra dollars are going to support a family, not a big corporation’s stock price.
Local grocery stores, boutiques, and restaurants are all the types of places that you could potentially support during this time. While I’m not getting takeout as often as some people, when I get it once or twice a week, I’m trying to only order from local restaurants. (As a tip: remember that places like DoorDash, GrubHub, and Postmates might offer discounts, but the restaurant doesn’t make a lot of profit from those sales! When you can, order directly from the location, but if delivery apps are your only means of takeout, consider switching to ordering from locally-owned restaurants only.)
Engage with their Social Media
Think of how much time we’re spending on social media lately. Follow your favorite spots on Instagram, Twitter, Facebook, and whatever else you can think of! Like and comment on their posts to help them get seen among the weird algorithms of social media. Sometimes supporting a business is as small as a ‘like’ on a photo.
Promote and Share their business
When you see them sharing discounts and sales, share them! Whether you’re sharing with friends or sharing on your Instagram story, there’s a chance that someone else will see it and want to purchase! Personally, I’ve been sharing as many discounts as I can to help people find them because, even though I can’t eat out for every meal no matter how much I want to, others are eating out too and seeing a post might help bring a small restaurant to the front of their mind the next time they order.
Write reviews for their businesses
Get your butt on Yelp or Google reviews and start writing reviews for the businesses you love! Each review helps out a business, bumps them up in search results, and influences the others’ decisions. If you haven’t written reviews for your favorite spots yet, now is the perfect time.
Make future appointments
If some of the services you’d normally get are closed right now (think hair and nail salons, spas, barber shops, etc.), try making future appointments for when they reopen! Even though they’re not currently open, they’re struggling with knowing what their income is going to look like. Future appointments give them reassurance that their customer base is still with them once things resume as normal.
Share any helpful resources with them
This one is a bit more specific, but if you see a resource like a small business loan they may qualify for, don’t hesistate to share it with them! Sometimes, getting grants and loans is as simple as knowing how and when to apply. While this is specific, just keep your small business owner friends in your thoughts and support them when and how you can.
Stay safe out there and shop small!
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