How Can I Help My Favorite Businesses?

How can I help my favorite business?  This is a question on many minds during this difficult time but with so many experiencing financial uncertainty, what can you really do to make a difference?

The answer may not be as difficult as you think.  Small gestures can mean the most to those in crisis.  Do you have a regular hair stylist, barber or massage therapist?  They are not able to work right now and have suddenly, over night lost their income.  You may think, "well, I will go back to them when this is over."  That's great to maintain your loyalty but they also need your support right now so if you can, maybe mail them a check for what your regular appointment would have been.  

Doctors, nurses and hospital staff are risking their lives and working hard every day taking care of our loved ones.  They literally risk their health and life, sacrificing time with their own family, for ours.  They may not need our financial support but how about ordering a sandwich tray, cupcakes or cookie tray to be delivered to your local hospital ER?  Not only will you be doing something great for them, you can order it from a locally owned deli or treat shop and you're helping them pay their bills too so it's a double bonus!

Maybe you have found yourself in an unfortunate situation and just can't do anything to financially help.  That's okay!  There's still amazing things you can do.  Most of us are staying in our homes these days and have plenty of spare time on our hands.  In all likelihood, your busy surfing the web anyway so while you're there, why not stop by Google, Yelp, BBB or a business Facebook page and take a minute to leave a review about a great experience you had with a company.  Good reviews on these sites are invaluable to small businesses and they cost absolutely nothing to leave making them a true win, win for everyone!

These are just a few of the many things you can do for your favorite independent business during these difficult times and not only will you make them smile a little, it will make you feel good, too!  Until next time, happy button making! 

By Brighid Brown, Director of Blogging and All Things Cool at ABM