8 Ways To Support Local Businesses During COVID-19 Pandemic
Small business owners everywhere are grappling with the impacts of coronavirus. Social distancing is making it hard for customers to visit brick and mortar stores. So, businesses are recording a significant drop in income making them struggle to pay bills and pay salaries for staff. The US federal government is planning a stimulus package in form of direct cash and loans for small businesses. However, it is hard to tell when the package will come and if it will be enough to revive ailing businesses.
Local businesses such as restaurants are on the verge of permanent closure or getting swallowed up by bigger ones. This explains the rising mass unemployment across the country. In the meantime as everyone hopes for the pandemic to go away, you can play a role to support local business owners. Here are some ways you can do this.
Shop online
With physical stores empty, small businesses are struggling to establish a presence online. Making orders is now the order of the day. And, business owners are offering free delivery to woo customers. Others are offering massive discounts that eat into their profits to encourage purchases amidst the cutthroat competition. Consider shopping online from your favorite local businesses to help the owners survive the pandemic. This is the only way to help your favorite local store to remain open even when the pandemic is gone.
Purchase from local stores
Small business owners are the most-hit by the impacts of the pandemic. So, now is a wonderful moment to consider supporting them religiously. Everyone today needs to use basic Personal Protective Equipment (PPE). Ensure to find North American made face masks from a local distributor. Keep in mind that some business owners switched from non-essential commodities to manufacture PPE highly demanded during the pandemic. So, buying from them is a way to be patriotic during these difficult times.
Leave positive reviews
Businesses that operate online badly need good reviews. These give a good impression of the business to potential customers. So, always ensure to say something good about the business after your purchase. You can do this on their Facebook page, website, or recommend them to your friends and family. Liking their Facebook page and sharing their posts also helps.
Do something new online
The lockdown is making everyone bored at the moment. So, it is a great moment to try something new before the pandemic goes away. Therapists, personal trainers, financial planners, and doctors are now offering services online. If you have ever wanted to do yoga or play the piano, you can now do it from the comfort of your home. Supporting these people during this difficult moment will make them be there for you when the world goes back to normal.
Order directly from local businesses
When buying items online, ensure to shop directly from the business, not third-party vendors. This is a wonderful thing as local business owners are struggling to keep their businesses afloat. Your order will keep the business owner operating and maintaining staff salaries. There is always a chance of ordering directly from the business without the use of third party companies that eat into the company’s profits. Doing this ensures that all your money goes directly into the business owner’s pocket.
Don’t cancel
Businesses that are operating today are offering essential commodities and services. If you had booked a non-essential service or product, don’t cancel your order. Canceling is likely to push the business out of operation. Instead of canceling, you can reschedule and use the product in the future when the business normalizes. Doing this is a win-win since you don’t lose the booking fee and the businesses don’t get short of cash.
Don’t request a refund
Now is not a good moment to cancel non-essential services or items you had booked before the pandemic. Canceling now and asking for a refund is not good for a local business owner. With low sales, business owners are financially struggling to remain in operation and pay staff. So, think twice before asking for a full refund. Talk with the business owner about how you can get your order processed in the future or donate your money to a local organization struggling right now.
Go with alternatives
Getting supplies today is not easy since every aspect of life is facing the impact of the pandemic. So, if your favorite local business doesn’t have your preferred product, opt for an alternative. Switching to another bigger business with supplies is not good for entrepreneurs in your community. You can suggest the times you want for the business owner to get supplies or opt for another product offering similar benefits without taking your money elsewhere.
Wrapping up
The coronavirus pandemic has drastically changed our lives today. Support local businesses struggling to grow sales online, give them stellar reviews, and opt for alternatives since supplies are hard today.
Author Bio –
Nancy is a freelance writer, with years of experience, creating content and own a blog. She has written on a diverse topic related to medical, health, fitness, travel and destination. Read her latest article about find North American made face masks.