Within the CSRD Regional District we are fortunate to boast the success of hundreds of different small businesses. From cafés and bistros to boutiques, salons, health practices, and more, there is a variety of products and services for us to explore. These booming small businesses are what build up our bright communities; playing incredibly important roles in nurturing our local economy, providing jobs to residents, and using profits to support our local neighborhoods and communities.
However, running a small business is no walk in the park and local entrepreneurs may be met with many challenges from time to time such as: slow seasons, competition, lack of resources, poor service/product performances, and understaffing. These challenges can often disrupt the success of a business, making it hard to maintain positive reputations and stay ahead of larger or online competitors. That’s why it’s so important that residents and visitors go above and beyond to help small businesses overcome these challenges in whichever ways we can and ultimately share in their success…
How to Support Small BusinessesYou may be surprised to find that there are actually many different avenues that we can take to support small businesses and uplift our local entrepreneurs without spending a ton of money.
Word of mouth is one of the best ways to support a small business. A word-of-mouth referral is like a golden ticket to hardworking entrepreneurs. This helps ensure that more people know of local brands, know the quality of their product/services, and therefore encourages others to seek them out, in person or even online. If your friends and family know you support a brand, they might too, or you may just get some gifts from your favourite local stores.
Looking out for local businesses online is another great way to promote them. Liking, commenting on, or sharing a brand’s social media content can help it gain more traction. This can help other potential customers to find them online and help the brand build a following. Plus leaving an encouraging comment could make that business owner’s day!
Reviews are the digital version of the golden ticket. By leaving a review you have the opportunity to tell anyone and everyone what you like about a brand and their products or services. This is a great place to give extra insight into the quality of items or the brand’s work. Take time to share some of the great things that maybe the brand couldn’t share itself, like the fit, feel, use, and overall experience. Helping a brand achieve those 5-star ratings will feed their reputation, reliability, and help get them noticed by future consumers.
Subscribing to a local brand’s newsletter is another great way to get involved with a local business. This lets local businesses know that you’re a part of their community and a fan of their brand. Plus, it’s an easy way to stay up to date with them on events, promotions, new products/services, and special announcements.
The most obvious way to give support to a small business is to shop their products and services when you can. Take advantage of the stores you have in front of you and shop for later occasions. Purchasing gifts is a great way to share a local brand with someone else, and personally shopping the gift in store will make it more meaningful. Try and avoid resorting to big brands or online purchases out of convenience and instead shop your local stores, reminding yourself that you’re supporting someone’s dream and not to mention saving on shipping waste and fees. And if you have the means, TIP! Even though it is not always necessary, a tip in the pocket of a local hard worker will repay itself over and over throughout your community.
The most obvious way to give support to a small business is to shop their products and services when you can. Take advantage of the stores you have in front of you and shop for later occasions. Purchasing gifts is a great way to share a local brand with someone else, and personally shopping the gift in store will make it more meaningful. Try and avoid resorting to big brands or online purchases out of convenience and instead shop your local stores, reminding yourself that you’re supporting someone’s dream and not to mention saving on shipping waste and fees. And if you have the means, TIP! Even though it is not always necessary, a tip in the pocket of a local hard worker will repay itself over and over throughout your community.
Give a pat on the back to the hard-working entrepreneurs you know. A small form of encouragement from “I love your store/work” to “You’re doing a great job” can help fuel a dream and push business owners to keep conquering through challenges. At SEDS we’re passionate about supporting our local entrepreneurs with various opportunities whether it is through sparking casual ways for them to connect on business matters, or with roundtable talks, providing connections and resources, or through mentorship programs.
We know the value that small businesses bring to the Shuswap communities, and we are passionate about continuing their development. We encourage you to commit to doing at least one of these things for a small business near you, and let’s all work together to share in their success!
#ShuswapGrown #ShopShuswap
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