N E W S
A U G U S T 14
L E H A V R E
Show up for Small Businesses
FIVE SIMPLE WAYS TO SUPPORT LOCALLY OWNED BUSINESSES
(BPT)–Small businesses are the backbone of the
economy. Whether in a busy city or a sleepy suburb,
we depend on the many beloved local shops
and services that contribute to the vibrancy of our
neighborhoods. Where we shop matters, and now
more than ever small businesses need our support
as they recover and rebuild from the effects of the
pandemic.
Small businesses will play a vital role in helping
communities around the world get back on their feet.
They account for more than half of global employment,
and COVID-19 has hit them hard. As a result
of the pandemic, 43% of small businesses say they
only have money to last six months. Women- and
minority-owned businesses have been hit especially
hard.
The pandemic has changed the way we shop, work
and live–rapidly increasing digital commerce including
online shopping, delivery services and curbside
pick-up. For small businesses to meet these new
essential expectations, they must adopt digital tools
across their consumer experiences and back-office
operations.
As a long time champion of small businesses,
Visa is committing to help 50 million small
businesses around the world enhance their digital
offerings as they begin to reopen and rebuild. This
includes the easy-to-adopt contactless payment
technology that has become as much a part of the
safe shopping experience in stores as face masks,
hand sanitizer and glass screens, and ecommerce
technology online.
As individuals, we all play a vital role in supporting
the success of locally owned businesses to help our
communities thrive. Every effort adds up, so consider
these five simple things you can do to support local
small businesses:
Make shopping locally a habit
Exploring neighborhood businesses is not only
good for the economy, it can make you feel like a
real part of your community. Make a daily effort to
shop from small businesses for your needs–you’ll
likely discover new locally sourced goods, and
service providers who cater directly to local taste.
From food and clothing to haircuts and car repair,
there are many small business owners who would
love the opportunity to help you. Use the Back to
Business search tool at usa.visa.com to quickly
search for local businesses that can help with your
needs.
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e-mail: editorial@qns.com
14 LEHAVRE COURIER | AUGUST 2020 | WWW.QNS.COM
PUBLISHER & EDITOR Victoria Schneps-Yunis
ASSOCIATE PUBLISHER Joshua A. Schneps
EDITOR IN CHIEF Jill Davis
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“We’re All About You”
Pay it forward with a gift card
Supporting small business owners now is critical
for small business owners. Buy gift cards for neighbors,
friends and family as a thoughtful gesture to
brighten their day, or just for yourself for future
use. It a great way to support local merchants with a
revenue stream while they’re operating under limited
circumstances–keeping their doors open and workers
employed.
Become part of the community
on social
Social media platforms have become more than
a marketing tool for small businesses–they are
vibrant digital communities and can be as unique
an experience as walking around Main Street.
Sure, you can help grow a small business’s online
presence by liking them on social media. And
leave them a positive online review so others who
might shop there feel confident they’ll have an
excellent experience. Even if they don’t have a
social media page, you can mention them in your
posts to remind your network of your favorite
local businesses. But you can also get involved:
Yoga studios, wine shops and taprooms, local craft
centers and more are all offering virtual experiences
and online transactions that keep one-to-one
connections alive.
Get it curbside, or on your porch
Although social distancing has changed the way
some small businesses can work, many are going
above and beyond to meet customer needs. Ask about
options like curbside pickup or touch-free delivery,
which are becoming another indispensable part of
our new normal. Buy online-pickup, in-store orders
including curbside, jumped 87% year over year
by late March, according to Adobe Analytics. And
as shops re-open brick-and-mortar locations, many
owners are integrating social distancing, increased
cleaning and reconfiguring in-store layouts to help
keep customers and employees healthy.
Purchase with purpose
By choosing to make a purchase from a small
business, you help support an entrepreneur’s dream
and help them get through extraordinary times.
You’ll also find that many small businesses in your
community are reaching out to help others during the
pandemic–whether it’s a restaurant donating food to
front line workers, or a local distillery making hand
sanitizer for the neighborhood.
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