Supporting Small Businesses This Holiday Season
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This holiday season, more than ever, it's so important for us to learn ways we can support our small, local businesses. With the pandemic and decrease in in-person shopping, small businesses are having to quickly switch to new ways of marketing, selling, and reaching customers. As a new small business owner, I now understand first-hand how difficult all of these tasks can be.
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This time last year, I liked the idea of shopping small for all of my family and friend's holiday gifts. But it was easier to just go to Target and buy everything all at once. But how valuable was this gift that had no originality? A gift that every other person would also be gifting to a loved one.
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So I wanted to share how you can support small businesses (even without shopping), not just because I can relate as a new business owner, but because these are difficult times, and entrepreneurs, designers, artists, bakers, etc. need us.
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Make a Local &/or Small Business Your First Stop
Before going to your nearest big box store, search Google or Yelp to see if your businesses have what you're looking for! I was in search of Barack Obama's latest book, and managed to find one at my locally owned book store!
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Communicate Your Specific Needs
If there is a local business in your area that you'd love to shop, but doesn't always have what you're looking for, communicate that to them. More often than not, they will appreciate the suggestions or feedback. If you're in search of vegan options from your local bakery, let them know. There may be more customers out there with the same requests. This information could also help that business create a strategy to accommodate their customer base's needs.
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Follow & Share on Social Media
Most businesses are on social media these days. Some businesses are only active social media and don't have a brick-and-mortar. Even if you aren't able to shop, following a business on social media and sharing their page with friends and family can mean a new customer or sale that they wouldn't have made otherwise.
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Buy Presents & Gift Cards from Local/Small Businesses
Instead of ordering a batch of meaningless gifts from Amazon, check out the local shops, most likely in the downtown area of your town. And if you're not sure what to get that special someone, see if that small business offers gift cards or certificates. Trust me, a gift card from that cute local spa is much more meaningful than a gift card to Applebee's you picked up at the gas station..
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There are so many reasons to shop local &/or small this holiday season, but even more ways to support them without even having to spend much or at all.
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Thank you to everyone that has supported Wallflower & Co in any way since launch. It mean so much!
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Have a great holiday season!
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Christina