These days, online companies like Amazon are dominating the market, and while shopping there may be convenient at times, it is important that we also support local businesses. By shopping small, we can help the local community and give these brick-and-mortar stores a chance to survive, especially as they continue to try and recover after the catastrophe of COVID-19. But first, consider these essential dos and don’ts of shopping locally.
Do: Engage With the Company Online
Since most businesses struggled during COVID-19, they can use all the positive attention that they can get to return to normalcy. So, if you shop small and you have a great experience, make sure to leave a positive comment or review for that store online.
These days, even the brick-and-mortar stores have an online presence, and to succeed, they need to make impressions and conversions through their social marketing efforts. By liking and sharing their posts and commenting that you had a great experience, your favorite store has a better chance of being “seen” by the algorithm, and their ads can get in front of more eyes.
You can also make a difference by adding some detail to your positive reviews. Many reviewers write something simple like, “Great store!” However, you can instead say what you liked about your experience and how their products met your expectations and improved your quality of life as a result. If you really want to help a small business succeed, then these comments will really resonate with other potential buyers.
Don’t: Have Unrealistic Expectations
When you do purchase from a small business, you must have your expectations in check before you leave a negative review. Although you can depend on the owners and employees at a small business to provide the best service, most simply do not have the vast warehouse or massive team of customer service representatives that major retailers have at their disposal.
With that in mind, while every company is different, many won’t have the resources to provide unlimited product stock or next-day shipping on all of their items. It is not a bad thing. It is just reality. So, you can be a good customer by keeping realistic expectations. Also, remember that although it may not be delivered on the same day, you can be sure that small businesses will only provide the most high-quality products, so you are still sure to have a great experience.
Do: Become a Loyal Customer
If you are satisfied with your shopping experience and you feel they earned your business, consider returning to the small business time after time. Companies truly succeed by retaining their current customer base, and by returning, you show your dedication and do your part to help the store stay alive. Plus, many brick-and-mortar businesses also offer customer loyalty programs that incentivize you to return, and you may even get a special bonus or discount for coming back a certain number of times, so it is a win-win for everyone.
Don’t: Complain About Increased Costs
If you frequent a small business regularly, you may sometimes notice there’s a price increase on some of the products you buy the most. Try not to complain when you notice this change. Realize that small businesses want to keep their customers happy, so they won’t raise their prices out of greed. Instead, it is often a necessity because they need to pay for growing labor costs as well as the price of rent, and they must contend with economic factors like inflation. If things get better and they can lower their prices again, they will likely do so.
Do: Sign Up for Their Email List
Another way that you can help small businesses is by staying connected, which you can do by signing up for their email list. This is a great way to ensure that you are always informed about new sales, discounts, and coupon codes that you could use to save money on your next order.
While that is a great perk, by signing up for emails, you are also helping the business. When the employees at that store can see that more people are signing up for emails, they get the positive reinforcement they need to confirm that their efforts are making a difference and that people want to see more of their products. Sometimes, it is the little things that can make all of the difference.
As you can see, there is a lot that you can do to both help and hurt a small business. Try to practice positive behaviors, and you can make a big difference in your local community.
Beau Peters is a freelance writer from the Pacific Northwest with a passion for purpose-driven business content.
