Everyone is doing their part to mitigate the spread of the Coronavirus pandemic leading to social distancing, canceling events and staying at home. These actions are necessary but also threaten small businesses due to the loss of foot traffic. And in the US, small businesses are a big deal.
According to the U.S. Small Business Association, there are approximately 32.5 million small businesses in the U.S. – which is 99.9% of all U.S. businesses – employing 58.9 million people. After decades of domination from big box stores and retail chains, it seems a shift is moving towards shopping locally, and now more than ever people want to know how they can help their favorite independent shops.
Here are some ways that individuals (if they have the means) can help their favorite small businesses stay afloat during the crisis.
Merch Sales
People may not be able to visit their favorite businesses right now but buying logoed apparel and other promos from an online shop still equals support for their favorite business.
As a promo distributor, you can even help clients get set up with items that translate to enjoying their services at home. For example – a pet groomer can sell dog brushes, nail clippers and pet accessories while a gym can sell jump ropes, exercise bands and running safety lights to promote staying healthy while practicing social distancing.
Gift Cards
Buying gift cards for your favorite retail shop, hometown market or local theater immediately puts cash into that business. In fact, that’s what Luz Urrutia, CEO of nonprofit microlender the Opportunity Fund, has done. “I just bought gift cards to every one of the [local] restaurants that I love. They get their cash today. And I’ll be able to use it later.”
Order In
Many independently owned restaurants are getting on delivery platforms like Uber Eats or Door Dash for the first time. This is a great opportunity for them to keep money flowing into the business to make up for the loss of visitors to their brick and mortar locations. Even better, some of these services are even waiving delivery fees for locally-owned businesses during the crisis. Including a promo magnet is a great way to keep contact info at-the-ready for the next order. Giveaway writing instruments keep the number of hands on the pens used to sign receipts at a minimum while also promoting these businesses. 
These are unprecedented times, and the BIC Graphic NA Team is here to help. All our sites are up and running, and you can place online orders any time at the all-new bicgraphic.com. Read this statement from our CEO to learn more about the ways we are supporting our People, Customers and Partners during this difficult situation.
3 thoughts on “How You Can Help Small Businesses Right Now”