How Can You Help Small Businesses Right Now?
Whether you’re a small business owner, have friends or family who are, or you just love some local spots that are in need right now, we have some ideas for ways to help out!
** Here are some ways you can help small businesses right now:
TAKE ONLINE CLASSES
Additionally, some gyms and similar businesses are finding ways to provide value through online classes. Even if you don’t belong to one already, spending extra time at home may be the perfect excuse to try something new while also supporting a local company.
BUY GIFT CARDS
If your favorite small business still isn't open or if you don't feel comfortable shopping in public yet, consider buying a gift card. Buy one for a friend, and encourage that friend to pay it forward.
We’re loving this one as we, and many of our small business neighbors are ever so appreciative of a gift certificate purchase!
You can buy now and use later; Be sure to buy lots as the holidays get closer and the names on your gift list can be crossed off, one-by-one!
(Buy A Pinot’s Gift Certificate): https://www....-certificates
SHOP LOCAL
Zac Owen of personal finance site The Ascent, noted that in a recent study his company conducted, 55% of respondents said they'd "make most purchases at a big box store or chain," 30% said they'd do so online, and only 14% said they would "make most purchases at a local store." Some communities are richer in retail services than others, but the next time you think about hitting up Amazon or Walmart, consider supporting a small nearby business over a retail giant raking in billions.
(See the study here): https://www....ies-covid-19/
ORDER IN (Locally)
Consider local restaurants over chains right now. The Applebees, Red Lobsters, and Chilis of the world might still need your business, but the little guys need it more. Ask friends for recommendations if you don't normally eat at non-chain restaurants. And fear not — ordering food for takeout or delivery has been rated a relatively low-risk activity.
BE A BIG TIPPER
If you can afford it right now, try to tip liberally, and not just at restaurants. Tip your grocery delivery person or the person who brings the groceries to your car if you're doing a pickup order (you might have to be insistent as some stores have policies that make workers decline a few times before accepting). Tip that hardworking guy or gal bringing your growlers of beer to your car window. Tip your landscapers. You get the picture. Investing in the financial health of local workers helps everyone, including small-business owners.
RECOMMEND OTHER RESOURCES
here are some other resources out there that your local small businesses might not know about. For example, Mercato is a service that can help struggling small grocers, and Fisherman is a site offering pandemic-related support for restaurants in a few ways: matching customers with local restaurants they might not know about; letting people refer local restaurants who might need extra support; and a donation fund for "service workers bearing the brunt of the economic crisis caused by coronavirus." Sites like Graffito have a list of COVID-19-related resources (scroll down on the page) that might be helpful, too.
(Mercato): https://www.....com/merchant
(Fisherman): https://gofi...-restaurants/
(Graffito): https://graf...com/covid-19/
CHECK FOR LOCAL SOCIAL MEDIA GROUPS
Many municipalities have set up social media groups to help small businesses get the word out about what they're offering, when they're open, what health and safety measures they have in place, and the like. Take, for example, Facebook group "Broomfield-Area Business Strong," in Colorado, where local businesses from restaurants and retail to tree-care companies and local photographers post about specials, discounts, and more.
THINK OUTSIDE THE BOX
Try to think outside the realm of your usual small business haunts, or outside the realm of what services might be available from your favorites. An example? Sure, you might not be going to the salon for some time, but your salon could be offering at-home hair-color kits you didn't know about. Similarly, a lot of local liquor stores are selling hand sanitizers brewed up by local distilleries.
CONSIDER CURBSIDE
That business that you assumed was fully closed might be offering curbside services right now and desperately need your business. These include retail, restaurants, breweries, and the like. Before you write off a business as one you can't help, be sure you know the particulars.
SING SOME PRAISES
There is no better time than right now to jump online via Yelp, Facebook, Google, and other sites to write a glowing review about great service you received, stellar sanitation protocols you witnessed, or just to give kudos to a longtime favorite. Similarly, recommend places you've enjoyed to friends and family.
It costs nothing and can help a great deal!
OFFER YOUR TALENTS
If you've got the time on your hands and can afford to take on some unpaid work, use your own professional talents to help the small businesses in your community. Web designers can help build e-commerce sites for small retail shops; graphic designers can help build branding material for local restaurants and breweries; accountants and CPAs can take on a pro-bono client or two. It's great professional karma that will likely come back to benefit you one of these days.
Help A Local Bartender
Missing your favorite local barkeep? Not even sure if he or she still has a job? You can still donate to the Bartender Emergency Assistance Program (BEAP) set up by the USBG — United States Bartenders' Guild — National Charity Foundation, and there is more information on this organization's COVID-19 response here (including a donation link):
https://www....d-19-response
Help A Service Worker
Like the BEAP fund, the One Fair Wage Emergency Fund has been set up to help restaurant workers, gig workers, and other hourly workers who "are facing unprecedented economic hardship from the coronavirus crisis." Donating to funds like these could help small businesses in your area keep good employees.
https://ofwe...gencyfund.org
Don’t Use Third Party Delivery Services
While we're on the subject of ordering delivery for dinner, try to eschew sites like Doordash, GrubHub, and the like. As noted in Cheapism's "The One Thing Restaurants Wish You Would Do Before Ordering Delivery," there can be massive fees that eat into profits. Find restaurants with their own delivery drivers, or get out of the house for a bit and order takeout.
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