Forbes | By Ty Kiisel
Forbes Post list the following as ways that you can support your local small business. Often, as you do the research through your local sites or your alternative news paper outlets, you will find hidden gems, well worth supporting.
1. Enjoy dinner in a locally owned and operated restaurant: My favorite place to eat is a local Mexican restaurant my wife and I go to every week. The food is great, the service is good, and they recognize that I’m a regular. Local businesses depend on local patrons to keep them in business. They don’t have the media budgets the big chains do and depend on word of mouth to bring traffic in the door. This week, expand your horizons and visit a local restaurant you’ve never been to before.
2. Buy your groceries from a local grocer or the farmer’s market: The few dollars you might spend buying groceries this week from a local business will put the money back into the community and you might be surprised at how good the produce from the farmer’s market will taste.
3. Tell a friend about a favorite local business: With social media it’s easier than ever to tell your friends about your favorite local restaurant, bookstore, or other business. Visit their Facebook page and “Like” their page or even comment about the things you like about them. This week, you might even share the Facebook page of one of your favorite local businesses. Dime City Cycles may not be in Utah where I live, but they’re a Main Street business I follow. If you’re into motorcycles, you might want to check out their Facebook page.
4. Share with your friends and family the important role small businesses play within the national economy: Teaching your children about small business or sharing your thoughts about the American dream with your friends might sound corny, but who knows, you might be encouraging a future entrepreneur and put a spark into the next generation of small business owners.
5. It starts with appreciating small business: The small businesses in your area are what helps keep your community alive and thriving. But it doesn’t stop there. Collectively, small businesses have been the single biggest job creators in the U.S. since the 70s. I think that’s worth appreciating.
I’ve always been impressed with the resilience of Main Street business owners regardless of where their business might be located. By patronizing and sharing your favorite places with your friends, they might be able to celebrate small business week too.
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/06/18/small-business-week_n_3461967.html