Shopping on Small Business Saturday? Spread Good Cheer by Supporting Small

‘Tis the season of e-commerce!?

At FedEx, we are now in the midst of what we call our “Peak” season.?It’s our busiest time of the year as Canadians leverage online shopping to alleviate the stress of the holiday season.?Millions of holiday purchases will cross our sorting belts, be loaded into our trucks, and delivered to homes across Canada.?Just knowing that a package we deliver could genuinely make someone’s holidays special keeps us motivated even when we’re at our busiest. Simply put, it’s why we do what we do.

As impacts from the pandemic are still affecting everyday life, Canadians are focused on having their holiday to-do lists wrapped up as early as possible and many will continue to shop online as they did last year.?These factors could equal to added pressure on retailers, particularly on small business owners who are continuously perfecting their operations to meet retail’s ‘new normal’ that includes a continued focus on COVID protocols and services like curb-side pick-up as well as dealing with staffing and supply-related challenges .

Small Business Saturday, which is coming up this weekend, offers consumers an opportunity to help small businesses owners, and there are easy things we can all do to ensure that SMBs, the backbone of Canada’s economy, are better able to navigate the most critical shopping period of the year.

1.????Be patient.

Our research projects that nine out of every ten people reading this post have or will be buying gifts for the holidays this year.?Many of you will go to the store to make your purchases; others will do so online.?Either way, please understand that many small businesses are having difficulties finding staff while managing global supply chain challenges and inventory shortages.??As Sue-Rose Read, owner of the baby-essentials brand OneBerrie Innovations, stated, “We hope our customers can practice patience with us during this time. There’s such a shortage of supplies, and the time frame for those supplies is long – a six-month wait, whereas before, it was three or four months.”

Understand that there will be line-ups and we may be asked to wait longer than usual. Some items will be out of stock.?These businesses care as much about making your holidays a success as you do.?Just lend them some latitude as they contend with circumstances beyond their control.?Your patience will be rewarded with options you never considered and the gratitude of a hard-working entrepreneur.

2.???Support through Social Media

You can help small businesses without spending a dime.?The small businesses we spoke with unanimously agreed that - ?word-of-mouth is key to their success and nothing spreads a message like social media.

“When customers share their experience with us through their social media channels or by writing reviews, they are exposing our business to their networks of friends and family, creating a new pool of potential customers for us,” shares Jillian Anderson from Two Sisters Naturals, maker of natural home and body products. “Social media engagements about or with a small business’ social platforms are worth their weight in gold.?It is an easy and cost-effective way to introduce our brand to people who wouldn’t necessarily know about us.”

I couldn’t agree more with Jillian.?The tools we have to prop up a business are not found just in our wallets but also on our phones and laptops.?A quick like, share or even a friendly “shout-out” will go a long way.

3.????Support Across Canada

Small businesses exist in every community across Canada. But have you ever bought something directly from a small business that was located outside your province??If not, why not try doing so this year??Jodie Webb, the owner of a modern furniture company based in Victoria, B.C., Autonomous Furniture, shared the reminder that the world is your marketplace with the power of e-commerce and that there are thousands of small businesses across Canada worth exploring.

“It makes me incredibly happy to see more Canadian customers shop at businesses across the country.” Whether a small business is located down the street from you or is three time zones away, they will do what they can to make your holiday shopping easy and enjoyable.”

Sandwiched between Black Friday and Cyber Monday, Small Business Saturday is a great reminder to show support for the businesses across Canada that keep our economy going. So whether you’re looking for the perfect gift for a loved one or a pick-me-up for yourself, consider supporting small businesses from coast-to-coast-to coast. ??

Just remember, be patient, share your experiences, and explore!?Your help can go a long way toward making this year a success for these hard-working business owners. Helping them navigate this holiday season will not only?help spread some holiday cheer but will also help keep our economy going in the right direction.