Buy Local on Cyber Monday

Cyber Monday as it was first coined in 2005 was a marketing effort to get more consumers to make their purchases online. I'm sure the original marketing team never imagined the amount of online shopping going on in 2020. Black Friday shoppers set records for online sales this year. And the records for Cyber Monday are expected to break once again just a few days later.

While big businesses have thrived during the COVID-19 era, we continue to lose local shops. And many more are just aiming to survive to the new year with the optimism of relief coming from somewhere or something. This holiday season, I challenge each of you to support local businesses. They need it more than you know. And, they are not in a position to offer your biggest sale. Regardless, please support them if you are able.

Hard costs for businesses have gone up for most companies across the United States. As business owners dreadfully look at their P & L, action needs to take place. The businesses that are thriving have reinvented themselves in the marketplace. And others are still hanging their heads wondering when the pain will let up or deciding when the time is right to give up. They not only need their old customers back, but they need new ones.

As many of you know, my wife is Turkish. And one of the local businesses we support is a Middle Eastern food market that carries many products we used to buy while we were in Istanbul. While there is no online check out to buy our food with a no contact pick-up, we get the best customer service every time we purchase our grocery list. Scottsdale needs the Caspian Food Market. And your city needs your local businesses. 

Please show your generosity this holiday season by supporting the businesses that can't offer you the best deal from a Google search. Not only will many of you find some local business gems. You'll also find amazing service and more than likely make a new friend in the process. Local business owners make the extra effort to get to know their customers. Now it's your turn to help and get to know them!

I am partaking in the Cyber Monday games by dropping my price to $2.99 for kindle purchases for the entire week. Purchase the sales or leadership edition now at the lowest price ever offered. While you are purchasing through Amazon, you should also know you are still supporting me as a small business owner!

Thank you!

-Jon Markwardt