Support local businesses

We hear it all the time, “shop local,” “support small businesses!” But other than actually buying a few things here and there, do we truly support our local businesses to the fullest?

With the holidays right around the corner, we’re sure to see and hear more about shopping local. But what else can we do to help the small businesses in our town thrive?

It’s nothing for us to recommend a local business to an individual, or give a good review. Talking positively about the businesses in our town will only help them.

All too often we hear the bad. Everyone is so quick to spew the negativity on social media or gossip to anyone who will listen.

These businesses are locals’ livelihoods. For some, it’s all they have and it’s no secret that the past few years have been hard on us all.

Finding people to work is just the start of problems for these businesses. So, it’s in no way helpful for any of us to go into a place of business without an understanding of the current economic state and demand to be waited on hand and foot while clearly observing the understaffed state of the business and having no empathy.

According to www.hostinger.com/tutorials/small-business-statistics, 22% of small businesses fail within the first year and that percentage increases to 50% by the fifth year.

Have patience and compassion. We’re all trying to get by. We all want our local businesses to succeed and our town to thrive. I encourage each individual, whenever possible, to shop local and put your dollars back into our town.