Let's Celebrate Small Business Week...All Year Long

For over 50 years, small business owners are celebrated during National Small Business Week. It's typically the first week in May (this year it's May 5-11) - and as this years SBW comes to a close, the question I ask is: Are you doing all you can to support your local/small businesses?

Most people will answer a resounding - "Yes! I support my local businesses whenever I can!"

And most of the time, I believe you. But, in reality, it's not always the case...

I should know, I've been managing a small business in Downtown Summit for well over a decade and in case your wondering - the local businesses talk to each other. Now, don't get me wrong we don't talk about people specifically, we talk about general things. As in - "Hi Jane! How's it going? How have sales been? Slow? Yeah, me too." We also discuss how and what things drive our business any particular time of year - Is school out this week? Is there a delayed opening? Are there any plays, sporting events happening this month? Any holidays coming up? Believe it or not, we have become "Small Business Forecasters"...Kind of like a Weather Forecasters, but we tend to be more accurate about sales lulls way more often than meteorologists get the weather right.

It takes a lot to get our Forecasts - Sometimes it takes years to figure out just how to staff correctly certain times of year. That's why we're so passionate about our business, because we put our literal blood, sweat and tears into each day we open our shops. So when we hear it's "Small Business Week" - we respond...EVERY WEEK SHOULD BE SMALL BUSINESS WEEK! (sorry for the yelling, but as I said, passionate)

Now, I can sit here and throw all kinds of statistics at you, such as:

-Small businesses employ local workers - i.e. your neighbors, friends, the kid next door home from college for the summer.

-When a small business thrives, that means more money goes to the local government via tax monies - Police, Fire, Schools, etc.

-When you have a booming Downtown District, it makes the town more desirable and property values soar.

-For every $100 you spend locally, roughly $68 goes back into your local economy.

But I'd much rather give you the skinny on what your local business would LOVE for you to do to support them all year round ...

-Does the local pizza joint sponsor your kids little league team? Then go get a few slices after the game and show that owner you appreciate their sponsorship. I hear they get a huge kick out of seeing the kids in uniform with their business name on the back. It reaffirms that they chose their advertising budget wisely.

-Did you have a great meal at a local restaurant? Tell people about it! Every one of us literally has a computer in their hands - All. The. Time. There's no reason why you shouldn't give a shout out on social media or an online review. It takes a few minutes and the impact that has on a small business is enormous.

-Or...just share their posts online. Remember, most small business are doing their own social media (in addition to all the other hats they wear) - if you share their posts, you just helped them reach many more people - by just a click of a button.

-And finally, Support Those Who Support You. Always remember who supported your teams, plays, silent auctions, tricky trays or carnivals. Maybe they purchased an ad or donated a basket or gift card...whatever it was, remember them. They care so much about our community that they want to support it.

As a small business, it's difficult when you get a lot of request for donations - Although when we see you walking through our doors to support us back, it really means the world to us.