During times of crisis, we may feel like we have little to no control over things. One thing we do have a say in is what businesses will thrive coming out of this pandemic. Do we want the Amazons and Big Box stores of the world to hold the monopoly over businesses or do we want small businesses to have a chance not only survive but thrive? There is so much we can do to help our own communities. In this episode, we break down why it's so important to support small businesses and our local economies now and how to do so. The action we take now will be written in history. What do you want history to say about us?
In episode 35, we give some tips on how to help small and local businesses during quarantine. We share some of those in this blog post but if you'd like to listen to the full episode, find us on Apple Podcasts (The Wakened Podcast) or click here.
S H O P S M A L L F I R S T
Whether its online or in your local community, try shopping from a small business first before shopping at a big box store. Many brick and mortars have pivoted to offering flexible pick-up or delivery services.
G E T C R E A T I V E W I T H P U R C H A S E S
You could of course buy a physical good or service but you might not be able to make use of those right now so if that's the case, opt for a gift card! You can keep it for yourself to use at a later time or gift it to a friend who might need something right now. Either way, this is a great option because what businesses really need right now is cash flow.
S H A R E O N S O C I A L M E D I A
We've mentioned this before, but this is a totally free way to support a business! Show them some love and share them on your instagram, twitter, pinterest or whatever platform you use.
L E A V E A R E V I E W
This is another free one. We usually don't have time and often forget to leave positive reviews for businesses or establishments we love. But now is a great time to do so!
G I V E A G O O D T I P
Restaurant workers, baristas and those in the service industry live off tips generally. And with the current state of things, many have had their hours significantly reduced. So if you're in the financial position to do so, the next time you order a meal for pick up or delivery, leave a generous tip.
S K I P T H E R E F U N D
If you had tickets for an upcoming concert this summer that got cancelled, maybe hold off on asking for a refund. This about writing off your lost money as a donation instead of asking for your money back. This is a way to support local venders and artists stay afloat.
S C H E D U L E A S E R V I C E
See if you can schedule a service for later. Whether that's work for a cleaner, plumber, contractor, painter, gardener or salon. Just knowing that work is coming their way can alleviate some of their anxiety and make a difference in helping them weather this storm.
Some of these tips and more can be found in this article.