While the rest of us have adopted the shelter-in-place and social distancing measures put forth by public health experts, local businesses face the burden of lost income and continuous operating expenses. If you care about your community and the local economy, you don’t have to wait for the lockdown to end to be able to do your part.
Here are three very simple ways you can support your favorite local businesses.
- Order Take-Out and Delivery
Just about every industry is taking a hit from COVID-19, but restaurants and other food businesses are at a uniquely tight spot. They tend to have small margins, a large overhead, and an inventory susceptible to spoilage. The National Restaurant Association reports that 3% of restaurants have already had to close down permanently. More closures are anticipated in the coming days.
Some restaurants have managed a workaround to allow them to safely operate during quarantine by offering take-outs, curbside pickups, and no-contact deliveries. Support them as much as you can. Set aside a couple or more meals a week for ordering in. You’ll be giving yourself a break from cooking and cleaning and helping keep a restaurant afloat. Order directly from the restaurant when able, rather than going through third-party delivery services. And don’t forget to tip!
2. Buy Gift Cards
The most pressing challenge for local businesses right now is cash flow. With the economy at near-standstill and businesses unable to operate at full capacity, if at all, gift cards offer another potential revenue stream. Of course, gift cards have existed long before anyone ever heard of COVID-19. All sorts of businesses offer gift cards for goods or services. But for some local businesses, gift card sales is their only source of income while on lockdown. If you’re looking to give yourself something to look forward to and if you want to help out a struggling local business while you’re at it, consider getting gift cards. They also make great gifts for family and friends. Aside from sales, a gift card purchase is also a vote of confidence for a business. In this time of great anxiety, such a gesture won’t go unappreciated.
3. Share on Social
Small businesses rely heavily on social trust to build their customer base. Now more than ever, your endorsement means a lot. As a consumer, you may not have the opportunity to support a business the way that you used to during this lockdown period, or you may not have the same spending power. However, you can still help by following their social media accounts. It will cost you nothing to retweet or to give a shoutout on Facebook. If you’re happy with a service or a purchase, then let your network know and help other people discover it. You can post a great flat lay of your purchase on Instagram or share a video they posted on YouTube. Every bit of engagement counts. Help get the word out that the business is still open to serve.
These are unprecedented times for us and our community, even more so for small businesses bearing the brunt of Covid-19’s disruptions. However, challenges are not without opportunities. Many businesses have been quick to adapt and come up with creative solutions that, in the long run, will make them more innovative, resilient, and valuable to the community. In the meantime, our continued support matters. Let’s beat this together.
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