Now is the time for us to focus on our local economy. Now is the time to support small businesses and shop local. At the time of writing, here in Melbourne, we’re in Stage 4 restrictions, and a declared State of Disaster.
This is the time for each of us to utilise this time to explore our local neighbourhood, and start supporting the local business community.
How well do you know your neighbourhood, and the types of businesses that surround you? If you’re perhaps not so familiar with local businesses in your area, then you have a great opportunity to start exploring and make some notes. Plus, it’s also a great opportunity to get out of the house and go for a walk and get some fresh air! I’m not saying that you need to explore every single street, you’re not ‘Karen from Brighton’, but it certainly is a proactive way to inform yourself of the types of businesses around you.
It Can Be As Simple As A Coffee
Let’s use coffee as an example.
A number of cafes have been fortunate to continue trading in a takeaway-only capacity.
- How many cafes exist in a 2km radius from your house?
- Of those cafes, how many of them are open and trading?
Let’s say there are three separate cafes within 2km from your house, and you go out and buy a coffee at least three times each week. You purchasing a coffee from each cafe each week is helping them to sustain their business.
‘But I’m only one person, how much difference could I possibly make?’ I hear you, and it’s very easy to feel as though our small gesture is merely a drop in the ocean, but if you speak to your neighbours, or friends that live locally, and encourage them to do the same, suddenly it becomes a neighbourhood of residents, supporting their own local economy.
The repercussions of a small (and what would ordinarily seem to be insignificant) gesture, can mean the difference between a business staying open, or suffering financial ruin and permanently closing. One small gesture, repeated by a volume of people can ensure a business can stay open, and people can afford to pay bills and put food on the table for their family.
…even if it’s only one coffee.
Some councils have been proactive in terms of creating directories for various local small businesses and promoting them to the residents within their council. My local council contacted me and WORK BY WILMS was added to a local directory listing for local small businesses.
Support Aussie Jobs!
There’s been a surge in people paying attention to the notion of highlighting / promoting supermarket products that are 100% Australian owned and / or 100% Australian made. This has fueled the want and the need for people to start being more aware of where their money is going, and ensuring that they are going to support Aussie businesses and keeping their money in the country.
But what about narrowing down that focus to a smaller scale, and thinking more locally?
- When was the last time you purchased something from a local Farmers Market?
- How many people do you know that have their own small business?
- What have you done to support their business?
As I sit here writing this, I’m making a mental note of how many people I know that also have their own business and are trying to sell their products to ensure their business survives this economic disaster.
This is when you need to be supporting your friends and family and their small businesses. Regardless of whether it’s a high-ticket item or a low-ticket item, they’ll appreciate the gesture.
If you can’t financially support their business, then you can always help to promote their business which is as simple as mentioning them in a conversation with somebody, and costs you nothing. If they’re on social media, engage with their content, whether it’s a like, a share, or tagging somebody you know that might be interested in their business.
Help. Support. Small. Businesses.
Businesses are doing it tough at the moment, but sole traders and small businesses are being hit the hardest and will ultimately suffer the most. For those of you that have never run your own business, you may not understand or appreciate the amount of work, money, stress, sleepless nights and countless hours that are poured into setting up and running a business. For most of us, it’s about having a passion and a drive to create something that we believe in and something that is truly fulfilling.
The saddest part is that unfortunately some businesses and traders will not be able to financially afford to continue with their business. It’s heartbreaking for anybody to have their dreams taken away from them, moreso if it’s because of circumstances that they simply cannot control.
Some business owners see asking for help as a sign of weakness; an acknowledgement and acceptance of failure. It’s seen as an embarrassment when it never should be. So allow me to ask on their behalf – HELP. SUPPORT. SMALL. BUSINESSES.
Support your friends. Support your family. Just do something, because there may not be a business on the other side of this.
-j-