One week from today is Small Business Saturday. If you own a home – based business or other local, small business, it is your time to shine. Whether or not you own and operate a small business, it is your time to shop and to show small businesses everywhere that you care about them.
Whether shopping “small” entails a trip downtown to your favorite local wine merchant to pick up some bottles of holiday cheer or snapping up adorable handmade crochet hats and wooden toys on Etsy for the good little boys and girls that you know, you are making a difference. Your purchases keep these small and home – based businesses in business, creating jobs and supporting families.
Shopping at small businesses benefits you, too. If you have ever experienced a customer service hassle with a large retailer (and who hasn’t), you are sure to appreciate the personalized service that small businesses provide. Often, the business owner will address your concern directly, and since they are the owner they have the authority to work with you to find a solution that meets your needs.
If helping to create jobs and support families and shopping somewhere where the customer service is fabulous are not enough to convince you to shop “small”, consider the following additional reason. Expert help and guidance are part and parcel of shopping “small”. Small businesses are usually focused on providing a fairly specific product or service, and the owners and employees know a great deal about what they are selling. They can help you to decide whether the items that they sell meet your specific needs, and can often point you in the direction of something that can if what they have does not fit the bill. Many times, if you don’t see what you want in the store, they can get it for you. If the items are hand made, you can work with the business owner to create something custom for a one of a kind gift that will be treasured forever.
There are plenty of other reasons to shop “small”. What are your favorites?
Photo by gracey on morguefile.com.