“And I couldn’t help but wonder…what can others do to support their local businesses?”
“Your order has arrived.” YES! I patiently wait for my courier to drop my order on the doorstep (contactless delivery, duh). It’s a Saturday evening in quarantine, and I’m gearing up for a big night: Netflix and a food and booze delivery from Capo Deli, a local favorite of mine. As I settle into my couch and sift through the endless content options, I reflect on my new life. On a normal Saturday night, I would be getting ready for a night out with friends, listening to music and having a drink while I put on my makeup and pick out my outfit. I consider what else I might be doing on a Saturday in “normal times” – going to Big Bear, one of my beloved local coffee shops, hitting Union Market to cruise Politics and Prose for a new read, or finding my way inside a random hole-in-the-wall bar that I would soon call “my favorite.” Then it dawned on me. You see, it took a global pandemic for me to realize that my main hobby is patronizing local businesses, aka GOING OUT.
For now, I am at peace with my recent realization, especially when I consider the fact that I am lucky enough to continue to afford to support my favorite local businesses. In “normal times” I frequent neighborhood spots as often as I can, but during quarantine, I do my best to continue to support my favorite local businesses, even if that means paying a little more or waiting a little longer to get my item(s). I realized early on in this quarantined world that the businesses you support during this time are the businesses that will be around after this passes.
Now, I get how I could sound holier than thou here. You might be thinking, “Oh good for you, you have a job and can afford to support small businesses in your area.” It’s true, I do have the privilege of flexing my small business support muscle thanks to an endless supply of delivery apps on my phone and a vibrant, local community of entrepreneurs that are, thankfully, still safely operating. But you can do it too! Check out some of these tips and resources below to support small businesses in your area during #SmallBusinessWeek2020!
- QUICK – Follow those brands!
- One of the main ways I stay up to date on what my favorite bar or restaurant is doing is by following them on social media (Instagram and Twitter are my favorites). Bars and restaurants are getting creative with care packages, marketplace items, and food and booze bundles, and if you blink you might miss the latest. Following, liking, sharing, commenting, and messaging with local businesses gives me a quick and easy way to support my neighborhood faves. How else do you think I would have been able to secure this sweet care package from DC’s Showtime Lounge?
- Hot Tip: Sharing a post on your page or story, even if you aren’t buying right now, can be a great way to support local biz without spending a thing!
- Use tools that connect you to your local favorites!
- Member companies Canned Spinach and SixPlus have created features for hungry people in cities across the United States. Canned Spinach recently rolled out the “Stay In Cincy” tool that will help consumers stay up-to-date on small business specials and experiences in order to better support their local establishments during this time. In an effort to support their community of SixPlus Venue Partners, SixPlus added a section to their website that highlights specific restaurants to support and their respective COVID initiatives. Don’t see your city? That’s OK. There are plenty of local options, like North Carolina’s “Support Local Or Else” website that has created a network where people can engage local businesses remotely.
- Take a (remote) class!
- Everyone seems to be guilting themselves into doing something productive this quarantine. Whether it’s getting in shape, learning to knit, or reorganizing THAT closet, it’s hard to dodge the constant barrage of “before and after” pics or screenshots of the path and distance your sister’s ex-boyfriend’s cousin ran this morning. Well, now it’s your time to one up all of them and do something that’s actually cool (and helpful to your local economy)! Along with a ton of other organizations across the country, member company Vēmos is connecting skilled mixologists, bakers, chefs, dance instructors – basically any professional with a fun, teachable skill – with the public. Learn how to make your favorite cocktail or finally nail that charcuterie board presentation all from the comfort of your own home! Note: While some of these classes are free, many have a virtual tip jar to say “thanks” – consider using that if you can.
How are you supporting your favorite small biz? Let us know at @actmembers!