How to Support Local Small Businesses During a Crisis

The small business community is particularly vulnerable to the challenges we are all currently facing. As a 4th generation entrepreneur and 14+ year small business coach, I * IMPLORE * you: in the days, weeks, and months to come, be intentional and proactive about supporting your local businesses.

Here’s how:

• Buy from the open shops.
• Order from them online.
• Send a gift to a family member or a friend.
• Purchase a gift certificate to use later.
• If you need something, ask a small business FIRST, before you order from a big brand. (No diss to those companies… Just sayin’! )
• Write a review of your favorite business. Post the review on one of their social profiles and/or Yelp, GoogleMyBusiness, Amazon and other relevant sites.
• Create a testimonial for the business. A video would be awesome, but a written testimonial works too. Send the testimonial to the business owner so they can use it to market their products and services.
• Share your favorite small businesses with your network via email or social media. Your friends and family will appreciate you sharing valuable resources for items they need and want.

Take action on these tips. Encourage your loved ones to do the same. Every SINGLE dollar you spend at a small business directly supports a hard-working entrepreneur, their team, and their family.?

If you’re a professional working in procurement, sourcing, or supplier diversity or who otherwise has the authority to purchase products and services for your company, here are some tips for how you can support small businesses:

• Look for ways to create an opportunity for a small and or diverse-owned business.
• Advocate for your managers and colleagues to invest in the small business community NOW when we need your help the most.
• Reach out to vendors who are already in your supply chain to ask how you can support them.
• Ask us about the full suite of products and services we offer. (Hint: Most of us have a LOT more capabilities than you realize – that you’re missing out on.)
• Buy now the products and services you will need in 3-6 months.
• Negotiate on their behalf to offer the quickest payment terms possible. (HINT: Net90 is REALLY challenging to manage right now. “Due on Receipt” or Net15 will make the biggest difference.)
• Pay for products and services with a credit card to help small businesses maintain positive cash flow. ?

On Sunday, after Wil and I braved a trip to the grocery store, we stopped by our beloved Arizmendi Bakery and Pizzeria in Emeryville to grab some pizza and snacks for lunch. We wanted to let them know we appreciated them being open and serving our little neighborhood. It was a simple $25 meal, but the team was so grateful for our support.?

In these unprecedented times, each of us is trying to navigate self-care, family responsibilities and doing what we need to do professionally. Rest assured, this health crisis won’t last forever. Stressful though it will be, we’ll survive if we stay CALM, focus on what we CAN do (instead of what we can’t), and offer a helping hand as often as we possibly can.

If I can do anything to support you, please just reach out and let me know. You can reach me here on LinkedIn or by phone at 510.601.0470.