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Small business love in tough economic times

Jessica Crawford
Cotton & Co.

(4/2020) These some of the strangest and most uncertain times that any of us have ever lived through. It feels like every time you turn on the news, or open your phone, it’s more bad news. Normally I would write an article on home décor or vintage. But this month, it feels more appropriate to discuss small business. As a small business owner in the community, this is a very shaking time. We’ve been complying with the Governor’s suggestions and mandates, and have closed our doors temporarily as of March 15. That choice was made for the safety of you all, our community, and also the safety of our vendors, staff and families. While that choice was the right choice, it’s come with a weight and a sadness too.

We celebrated our First Birthday on March 15. One year back in business, after we rebranded and opened back up as Cotton & Co in the old mill in Keymar. And then the local economy rapidly changed overnight, that night. You all know that, you’re living it too. So, the question stands, in a time where we are all extra cautious about not only our health and hygiene, but also expenses, what can I do to help my local economy?

There are many ways that you can make a difference to the businesses in your community right now. Many of your favorite small businesses are adapting and evolving right now, and getting inventive to stay afloat during these tough, strange economic times. Gift Certificates are a great way to support a favorite small business. It gives them the monetary boost right now, that they need, without having to physically enter a store. We currently are offering to increase the value of every gift certificate purchased by 10%, as a thank you for supporting small business right now. We can invoice customers electronically, as most businesses are be able to. Keeping you at home, but also enabling you to shop small at the same time.

Many local businesses have taken to the carry out and curbside pickup option. This is a great way to still support your favorite local restaurant. Many businesses have also started delivering their product, either for free with a minimum purchase, or for a nominal delivery fee. We have moved our business temporarily to Facebook. We’ve been creating photo albums, and Live Feeds (live video strolls around the shop), to help customers shop remotely from home. Customers can comment on the photos and albums, or send private messages regarding pricing and ordering. We’re then able to generate an invoice and send it through our secure credit card processor, for customers to pay online. We have arranged designated weekly non-contact pickup times (we bring items to the parking lot, you load into your vehicle). Or we will gladly hold your items until this all passes. Many businesses are adapting the same kind of new, temporary business plan.

There are also various ways that you can support your local businesses that won’t cost you anything. The entire world it seems, is on social media. Small business owners rely on social media, especially Facebook, to connect us to our local communities. Facebook allows us to create and promote events and classes, post photographs and videos, and receive messages. One social media struggle we face, are the underlying algorithms and programming behind these apps and websites. Did you know, that if you follow a business, but don’t engage (like, comment, share posts, etc…) Facebook will stop showing their content to you? If you want to continue to see this page’s content, its important to let the underlying algorithms know that. Take a moment to ‘Like’ a post or leave a comment. Not only will it allow you to continue to see a business’ posts, it will also help spread that post and business page’s reach to other people. Advanced reactions like ‘love’ and ‘wow’ are even better than ‘like,’ in the eyes of the algorithm. Sharing posts is monumental in spreading social media love, and helps others in the community find out about a business you support. Helping small business utilize social media, won’t cost you as the consumer anything, but it helps the small business stay alive and relevant, especially in these tricky times.

We also tend to hit the chain stores to stock up. But right now, these stores have been completely depleted and lacking essentials. There are small grocers (Kennie’s) that you can support, where there are less crowds, and they are maintaining their stock better than the large stores. There are also local farmers markets (Local Homestead Products) that run year round. They tend to be controlling limits on supplies better than the big grocery stores, and again less crowds. And we all know, most of us are in need of some refreshments during a global crisis such as this. Support your local wineries and breweries. Many of them have adapted and changed during this too, with curbside pickup, growlers to go, and even wine delivery to your home (Old Westminster Winery). I suggested a few in parenthesis that our family supports, but there are many others in the area too.

At the end of the day, while this is certainly confusing, concerning and uncertain, it will pass. Stay safe, stay healthy, stay home if you can. And in the words of Maya Angelou, "What I know is that it's going to be better…If it's bad, it might get worse, but I know that it's going to be better. And you have to know that. There's a country song out now, which I wish I'd written, that says, 'Every storm runs out of rain.' I'd make a sign of that if I were you. Put that on your writing pad. No matter how dull and seemingly unpromising life is right now, it's going to change. It's going to be better…"

On the behalf of all small businesses in our community, thank you for your continued support through these challenging times. Follow us on Facebook (Cotton & Co Vintage Boutique) for updates on reopening and online shopping in the interim. We’re also on Instagram (@cottonandcovintageboutique)