How can we save small and local businesses?

I recently spent a few hours helping a friend unpack new stock in her small retail business. In this open-closed-open-closed-open reality it’s hard to stay on top of things like deliveries and restocks and changing seasons. Suddenly it’s Spring with a shop full of Winter. This is happening everywhere at the moment as Victoria is in the midst of yet another Covid lockdown.

How can retailers stay ahead of the seasons or trends when they don’t stay open long enough to sell anything? When people just buy it online instead?

I talk a bit in here and in my social media about supporting small and local. I try to not go too hard because I know everyone has different circumstances and it’s not always possible all the time. But I feel a little bit desperate at the moment because there’s been a real shift in the way people shop. The profits posted by the big online retailers tell that story in black & white while the smalls fall deeper into the red.

What can we do?

Over these periods stuck at home, some bad habits have formed. Online shopping from huge multinationals allows you to get exactly what you want delivered conveniently to your door. As an individual that’s super convenient, but as a community, as a society, it’s devastating. 

I would love to see us all change our habits before it’s too late. Change our expectations to fit what’s available nearby instead of walking into a store and walking out because you don’t see the exact thing you want. They have options! Great options - just ask them. There are also locally owned and run businesses online that sell the things you are looking for - you might have to scroll to the next page of Google results to find them, but they are there.

Why is this important?

The main argument for shopping online seems to be “you can buy anything you want cheaper online”. That’s easy when you don’t have the kind of overheads that small business has, like paying rent (local investment), paying staff (local jobs), buying local ingredients (a circle of support).

But here’s a positive way at looking at that extra cost - my husband and I call it the “Warragul tax”* it’s the little bit extra that you pay that gets re-distributed back into the town for the good of everyone. Maybe it means we buy less but I don’t see that as a negative.

Living in a community like mine (*Warragul) I see the links. I see the little row of fairy lights that connect these small businesses to each other, to my family, to your family. I see the certificates hung on the wall from years of support to clubs and kindergartens and charities and fundraisers. That’s real money they are pouring back into the community, not a line item in a big corporate spreadsheet that says “corporate social responsibility”. 

Another argument I hear is that “it’s the future” or small businesses need to “keep up”. I don’t buy that. I don’t think you do either. Community HAS to win over convenience or we are going to find ourselves living a really shit existence, for the reasons I’ve just said and so many more.

When you buy from a small business you might make them cry (and that’s a great thing)

When I started my business I didn’t expect to see so many tears. Sometimes they are of frustration and fear but other times they are of pure gratitude and relief. When you buy from a small business at the moment, they aren’t doing a happy dance (unless they are faking it for a Reel), they are crying with relief that they can pay their staff and their rent and their suppliers. 

Please be the cause of those tears. Now and right up to Christmas and beyond. Don’t hide your dollars away in the bank accounts of people who won’t even notice it. Pop it into the hands of those who will and who will reinvest it back into the community.

It’s estimated that around 68% of money invested locally will stay local. HOW GOOD IS THAT?!

Thanks so much for reading this. I know that if you did, you understand the drive to keep our small businesses alive and that you are part of the solution. I know that if you found this blog post via Google, that you are searching for a way to help so thank you!

Please add your ideas below or get in touch if you want to find out more ways you can help local and small survive beyond this pandemic.

Thanks!

Erika