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Supporting Small Business

September 19, 2023

October is Small Business Month, a time to celebrate, support and spread the word about your favourite small businesses (over and above what you’re probably already doing)! Supporting your favourite SMBs doesn’t mean you have to spend money, there are many non-monetary ways to show your support.

We asked the experts, Karlee Raiwet, owner of The Alternative Refillery and Zero Waste Market and Tanna Dietrich, owner of Balloon Bar YQR in Regina how consumers can best support local businesses like theirs, not just during October, but all year round:

  • Write a Google review.Did you know: 60% of Canadian consumers cite search engines as their top source of pre-purchase information.[1]
  • Engage on social media by liking, tagging and sharing.
  • Show your appreciation for them. Let the owner know if it’s your favourite store or what you love about it. The positive impacts local businesses have on our communities can sometimes be forgotten in the daily grind, it’s nice to remind them.
  • Tell a friend or family member about the store.
  • Look local before shopping online.

Hot Tip: thanks to the pandemic, many small businesses had to get online if they weren’t already. If you’re a primarily online shopper, check local websites first.

  • Keep small businesses in mind when planning events.
  • Sign up for email campaigns to stay in the loop about promotions, special events and ways to show your support.

Showing your support for a local business can be quick and easy and doesn’t have to involve a purchase. Sharing your experiences, if they are wonderful or if there’s room for improvement, online or in person, helps small businesses build brand awareness, understand and learn from their audience and customers and can ultimately have an impact on their longevity. Most importantly, when you shop small, local businesses, have questions or leave feedback, be patient. Many small businesses are teams of less than five maintaining inventory, updating their website, being present on social media, responding to feedback, packing and mailing your orders and everything else in between.

Unique, local businesses like The Alternative Refillery and Zero Waste Market and Balloon Bar YQR not only bring valuable products and services to our communities, they support our economy and serve as role-models for other entrepreneurs. They’re the ones who sponsor our children’s teams and provide items for tournaments, silent auctions, and charitable fundraisers. They’re transparent about the highs and lows of owning a small business and provide exceptional, personal customer service, the way only small businesses truly can. Supporting local businesses supports us all.

October is just around the corner. If you’re not thinking about it already, let this list serve as a launch pad for supporting and showing thanks to your favourite local small businesses!

-Paige Sandvold is a Marketing Manager at Directwest.

[1] https://www.pwc.com/ca/en/industries/consumer-markets/consumer-insights-2023-june.html