Why Shop Small for the Holidays?
Small businesses add flavor to our area. There is a sense of adventure when you explore a small business. You never know what beauties you’ll uncover or what scrumptiousness awaits. Sadly, that’s also why a lot of people choose to patronize chains. With chains they know exactly what they’ll get and there’s a lot of comfort in that.
But comfort does come at a price and that price could be our community.
Large employers and chains are vital to our area, but this holiday season we’re asking you to support small business to help ensure they’re around in the coming years.
Here’s why:
7 Reasons to Support Small Business This Holiday Season
1.
Small businesses need you. While SCORE
advises that businesses should keep three to six months of operating reserves,
most small businesses have 27
days’ worth. With inflation, rising costs, hiring issues, and a plethora of
other challenges, that place our small businesses in a precarious position, where
you spend your money this holiday could affect which businesses will be here in
the new year.
2.
It feels good to shop small. Supporting
small business feels good because you can see the impact. The smiles and
gratitude you receive for shopping with a small business feel special. You can
tell you’re making an impact and often they remember you when you return.
3.
Small businesses support your causes.
Small businesses are the first ones you turn to when asking for support for your
beloved causes from your kids sports to your favorite nonprofits. Their
sponsorships improve the quality of life in the area. But they can’t sponsor your
causes if they’re not in business.
4.
Small businesses answer your questions.
Chatbots are great but they are programmed to respond literally to your questions.
They do not anticipate needs or ask follow-up questions like small business
owners and employees do. Sometimes the conversation that comes from speaking
with small business professionals lead to other opportunities, interests, and
stories. That’s less likely to happen with a chatbot or large-scale online retailer.
5.
Small businesses give you an experience. Shopping
small is about the experience and holiday shopping provides some of the biggest
highlights of the year with seasonal aromas, delightful demos, delicious
tastes, and happy melodies. Twinkle lights make everything more festive. Even
an amazing website can’t provide the same tantalizing shopping experience an
in-person trip to your favorite small business can.
6.
Small businesses rely on your holiday
spending. As many as 20% of small businesses rely on holiday sales to
offset slower times during the year. If you don’t buy local during the
holidays, it affects their future.
7. You can be a gift-giving wizard. Times are tight right now and many of us are cutting back on what we’re spending this year so that we can cover rising costs in essentials. While it’s natural to look for the cheapest gift possible during these times, you don’t want to forgo the holiday smiles from the perfect gift just to stay in your budget. Many small businesses provide unique, thoughtful items that you can’t get in many places. You can spend less but give your special someone something that they’ll cherish.
Shopping small this holiday season is a big deal. These past
few years have been hard on local businesses. With smaller operating reserves,
rising costs and lower sales, they need you this year. And if you enjoy those
small businesses, you know where you need to put your holiday dollars.
Christina Metcalf is a writer/ghostwriter who believes in the power of
story. She works with small businesses, chambers of commerce, and business
professionals who want to make an impression and grow a loyal customer/member
base. She loves road trips, hates exclamation points, and believes the world
would be a better place if we all had our own theme song that played when we
entered the room. What would yours be?
_______________________________________
Twitter: @christinagsmith
Facebook:
@tellyourstorygetemtalking
LinkedIn: @christinagsmith