This year has been different and has taken all of us on an unexpected ride with the outbreak of a global pandemic. Covid-19 has stripped us globally of what we deem “normal” and we’ve had to make adjustments to this new way of life. Many have transitioned to working and learning from home, some still struggle with the many restrictions that have been set in place for our safety and I must admit, basic human encounters will be something we will not take for granted ever again. One of those being our spending habits. This is why I think we need to talk about ways to support local businesses during covid-19.
Ways To Support Local Businesses During Covid-19
Normally your girl is quick with the jokes, but I wanted to take a sober approach when it comes to this particular topic and dedicate this blog to simple ways you can support local small businesses who have been affected by Covid-19.
Small businesses are the backbone of many local communities; they do not only provide income to many but also help communities to raise, raise awareness, and also provided special services for many events. The effect of Covid-19 on small businesses has been severe. Some small businesses similar to Rich Flower Lashes, have had to close down, cease operation, or move to fully digital. Being affected directly by this, I’ve done some research and wanted to share some tips on great ways to support the local businesses during covid-19, especially in this upcoming holiday season.
1. Buying a gift card
The holiday season is knocking at our door. Normally this is one of the busiest times of the year but with Covid-19, finding ways to purchase gifts can be difficult and even frustrating since most of the stores are closed. So instead of dealing with the hassle, I would suggest gifting a gift card from your local small business. You can get gift cards from local boutiques, restaurants, clothing stores, or a particular service that you can purchase now and use in the future. Also, many small businesses offer the option to buy their gift cards online making it easy for you to do it from the comfort of your own home.
2. Shop locally online
With most borders closed and international delivery taking longer than usual to deliver, this would be the perfect opportunity to see if your favorite local business have an online service. I know online shopping might be new for some people, but you never know, you might even find new local businesses that have made the switch to online shopping that you can explore. Your girl is just trying to save you some time and money. Thank me later.
Also, if some of your local small businesses have been blessed to still be open please patronize them for all your essentials and explore socially distanced shopping. I have been doing this and I must say that it is fulfilling to be able to support families around me with my purchases.
3. Take out, curbside or delivery
This particular topic is near and dear to my heart because I have been in the Culinary industry for many years and I know how difficult this must be for restaurants. Owning and succeeding in this industry pre-Covid-19 had its challenges, so I can’t imagine owning a restaurant or cafe at this moment and the challenges that might present. I have noticed that most restaurants have made the switch to either take out, curbside, or delivery.
There is something to say about mom and pops restaurants and how they bring people in the community together and personally, I find that they have the best food. Due to Covid-19, many eateries have implemented contactless drop-off or curbside pickup to reduce contact and safely provide you with your food. I would encourage you to support them in their time of need. Who knows you might run into a new restaurant and will completely fall in love with their food.
The same goes for any small business at also provide these services.
4. Tip
Being in the service industry there are a lot of individuals that rely on tips to boost their pay, a lot of which are struggling right now. So, the next time you order a product or service, if you can, tip a little extra. Every penny goes a long way. Also, if any local businesses near you are offering discounts or free delivery in response to Covid-19, you can take the money that you are saving and add it to your regular tip. The staff at that establishment will appreciate the help. You might get bonus points with Santa for doing a good deed.
5. Leave positive reviews
As a small business owner people’s reception of you is vital for your success. The next best thing that we can do for our local small business is to write a positive review on their page or highly recommend them to your peers. The best part is this act of kindness is completely free and you can also do it from home.
Due to the pandemic, we find that we have a lot of time in our hands. You can take out time to write positive reviews for your favorite local small business near you. Don’t forget to add a photo if you can.
Tip: As small business owners, we should also take this opportunity to make sure you have claimed your business on review sites and that you are taking the time to respond to the reviews.
6. Shout them out
We all know someone who owns a small business or a side hustle that could use some support. You can help them out by sharing their products and services with the world. Most social media platforms have developed tools to make this process easy and you can take advantage of them to share these pages you love via your social media. Or you can go traditional and use good old word of mouth. It may get more eyes on them and who knows they might get a purchase out of it. So, share…share…share! The holiday is about love, spread the love by talking about your favorite businesses online.
We are still adjusting to this new way of life due to all these drastic changes but that should not stop us from living and enjoying our holidays. After you have made sure that you are taking care of yourself and your loved ones, consider a few of these helpful tips to support your local small business this holiday season.
Don’t worry, on the next blog post, I will get back to the jokes!! For now, I’ll live you with a warm and safe holiday wish season!
Love,
Miriam & The Rich Flower Lashes Family
