A bit over a year now since the pandemic of Coronavirus happened. All of us had to come together to fight the spread of this disease. The whole world suffered and watched. Many businesses closed down, while others pivoted, but we can all agree that we want our local small businesses to thrive again. If you are reading this blog, thank you because it means that you want to see a better tomorrow for your local community. We can all decide to make a few choices so that we can bring our small businesses back into the green. I have been fortunate enough to have a business that is online and doesn't need a storefront. Many businesses don't have this luxury and I wanted to write a piece dedicated to just shining a light to all our other businesses out there that are struggling to survive in a world we did not ask for. In my local area Durham Region, we are abundant in artisan work. There is so much talent here that there are endless ways to support this community or whatever community you are part of. Please take these suggestions to heart and implement them so that everyone can strive together for a better future. "Many businesses don't have this luxury and I wanted to write a piece dedicated to just shining a light to all our other businesses out there that are struggling to survive in a world we did not ask for." #1. Support your local bakery If you are one to buy your dessert and bread from the local grocery store, why not pop into a mom and pop bakery instead. These shops are sometimes an authentic cultural bakery or a specialized café. These places are always full of love and laughter because it was opened on pure passion and talent. You can support your local bakery by buying your cakes for special occasions. If you love their content on social media, you can share photos and coupons to friends and family. #2. Support your local restaurants There are so many ways to support your local restaurant. My husband and I like to frequent our favourite ones and rotate our business. Uber Eats, GrubHub, and DoorDash are just some apps that will have many local restaurants and you can support them by buying their food for a night in. Dress up the occassion by having a themed family night with a cultural dish and share the restaurant on social media. Leave a Google review and a Facebook review which will help boost their customer reach. #3. Support your local charities You can donate money to charities but I am suggesting another way of helping both the charities and local economy. Many shelters need things like soap and shampoo. You can buy these personal hygiene products from your local homemade artisan. You can buy sets of soaps, shampoos, and even toothbrushes that will help boost the small business and the families that the charity supports. Want to further your efforts? Ask friends and family to help support your cause too. You'll find that many people will be willing to help a good cause. #4. Support your local meat shop I prefer to buy my meat from locally sourced farms. Bonus if they are grass-fed and free roaming. These local meat shops will also have an abundance of local spices, sauces, and even jams. Our favourite meat shop will have local perogies, eggs, and even bread. To save on costs you can buy in bulk and freeze the meat. You can also support the local meat shop by sharing your dishes on social media and letting friends and family know that you bought locally sourced meat from your local meat shop. #5. Support your local clothing boutique Substitute your seasonal clothing shopping with local shops. There are a variety of local specialty shops you can shop in for whatever season or occasion. You will find that there are children's boutiques, women's boutiques, even children's shoes boutiques. Many of these specialty stores will give you exceptional customer service and extensive knowledge into their products. Many will house locally sourced material and local designers. No matter what you are looking to shop for, there is a local boutique ready to for your business. Shopping Markets: Farmer's Markets What I love about Farmer's Markets is the smell of fresh baked goods and produce. Here you can meet your local farmers. Stock up on seasonal fruits, vegetables, and homemade jams. I ABSOLUTELY am obsessed with homemade jams! Depending on the season, I can find festive ones for fall or Christmas time. Most of the vendors will give you bundle deals if you buy several items. Be sure to bring cash just in case! Flea Markets If you have not gone to a flea market before, they are open on the weekends and hold usually hundreds of different vendors. Here you will see a multitude of different items from purses, candy, and food. I put this on my list because these are small business owners that rent a space to sell their products. Be aware that many of these items may not be locally sourced. If you are conscious about this, you might want to skip flea markets. Vendor Stores Durham Region has a few stores that house hundreds of items from local designers and creators. These stores will sell items that hit a certain criteria so you know that the products are of good quality. The variety in these stores is outstanding ! If I have a budget in mind, I'll go to these stores to buy a variety of gifts of different occasions. For example, since I get invited to many baby showers, I'll buy small items to make several gifts. A few items will include essential oils, homemade baby cloths, or printed onesie. Another example maybe having printed mugs and notebooks for your business owner friends. The ideas are endless and I guarantee that you will find the perfect gift here. Subscription boxes Ok, ok, I know what you are thinking, this is NOT a market but I had to put this deserves to be on the list because it can hold many local products. These are great because each month you will receive different items according to your likes. Since this is a subscription, you will have to pay a monthly membership. In return, you'll receive fabulous quality products each month. Many subscription boxes will have locally sourced products and products of local businesses in whatever niche you are looking for.
