It’s a scary time. There’s no denying it. The whirlwind that is COVID19 has triggered unprecedented circumstances and uncertainty is always scary.
Some people, particularly those in the most vulnerable age brackets, are of course fearing for their health.
What stands to have potentially even wider-reaching impacts, however, is people’s fear of losing their incomes, businesses and their homes.
It’s a ferocious spiral. Our fear of financial insecurity only leads to greater financial insecurity.
Why we MUST support small businesses
For a small business, every lost sale hurts. For every purchase you don’t make from a small business owner, there’s a purchase that they too can no longer afford to make.
And while some businesses have had no choice but to shut shop, at least for the time being, others are open but taking huge losses.
These businesses will feel the immediate effects, but if we don’t continue to support small businesses where we can, it’s only a matter of time before the effects are felt by us all.
So what can you do?
How to support small business safely
It’s up to all of us to keep the economy as healthy as we can but nobody wants to contribute to the pandemic either.
Here are a few ways that you can help all of us avoid a recession.
Shop small
Your local baker, butcher, fruit market and delis need your support as much as ever.
If convenience is a high priority for you, start ordering from a local fruit and veg delivery service like Healthy Harvest, Seeking Fresh, The Market Run, Tina and Nicole Scanlon We promise you won’t look back!
There are also businesses that make and/or deliver family meals like A Plated Affair and The Factory by Black Olive.
Remember to reschedule
If you had a holiday, party or (heaven forbid) a wedding planned, first off, we’re so sorry this happened to you when you’d no doubt been planning and looking forward to your occasion for some time. Whatever you do though, please don’t simply cancel.
Like all us mums know, this too shall pass. Please simply postpone your event to a later date and if it’s financially viable for you to leave a deposit, it could be making a mammoth difference to a struggling small business owner.
Try takeaway
With people being advised to avoid crowds of any kind, it’s no secret that restaurants are among those businesses already hurting financially. Just because we can’t go out, though, doesn’t mean we can’t fine dine (or that we want to cook all the time!)
Now that cafes and restaurants have been asked to close, many, like Jensens, Cove bar and Grill and Bella Cibo are offering new takeaway menus and contact-free delivery. You can even call ahead with your coffee order to cafes like Mr Paisleys so that you’ll be quickly in and out and still get to enjoy the best coffee around. Their livelihoods will rely on people continuing to buy from them even though you can’t eat in so if you’re in a position to do so please support our local restaurants by getting home delivery.
Vouch for them
Don’t forget you can also buy gift vouchers today that can be given to others or saved for you to use down the track.
In addition to any local restaurants, you can purchase gift vouchers for experiences like:
- Massages/Day spa treatments like Sandra Fraser Massage Therapy, Beauty and Balance, Beauty and the Bubz or Seabeauty Medispa
- Art classes from local artists like Kevin McKay and Lenore from Graphiq Design
- Cooking classes from Sutherland Shire Cooking School or The Village Cooks
- Professional photography sessions from local photographers like Sasha Faint, Jennifer Ann, Karen Allamby, James White, Kylie Fisk or any of the other Sutherland-Shire based talented photographers listed in our directory.
Plan ahead
It may seem like an unusual time to begin planning for something big, but if you do have a big occasion coming up or you’d been thinking about booking a holiday then you could be making a big saving in the long run by planning ahead. Along with some amazing discounts, you’ll be guaranteed to get dedicated service and something to look forward to once this crisis is behind us.
Get in touch with local companies who can help you put a plan in place such as:
- Angel’s TeePees, Little Pip’s parties or Events by Rachel about hosting and styling your home for an event
- Bec Bakes or Mint Cakes and Party Supplies or Moo Cakes for your cakes and sweets
- Serene Hair and Makeup, Debbie’s Family and Beauty Hair Studio, Sonia Cosic Makeup or any of these Sutherland-Shire based hair and beauty services for your beauty needs
Placing even a small deposit could make a big difference in the current climate.
Get gifting
Save yourself the risk and hassle of heading to the shops and use this opportunity to buy from the little guys who are mainly (and sometimes exclusively) online. There are so many gorgeous online boutiques and gift shops filled with local, lovingly-made wares. Take advantage of the sales and buy birthday and Christmas presents while there are bargains to be had.
If you have a friend who has just become a new mum (and isn’t allowed visitors!) you can often have online purchases gift-wrapped and sent directly to avoid posing any health risk. Not sure where to start?
Try:
- Banabae or Cutesy Wootsy for baby blankets, stunning wraps, cot sheets and nursery decor
- Janis and Friends or Mindful and Co for jewellery, clothing and homewares
- Maiden Avenue or Kindred Souls for clothing
- Hutwoods for the most divine woodwick candles, home fragrances and bath and body products
- Or any of these Sutherland-shire based small businesses for great gift ideas.
Keep up your classes (online)
If you’ve been taking a class, you may have an option to continue that class online. Maintaining your hobbies and fitness will be vital for both your physical and mental health and should be continued wherever possible. Doing so will also ensure that your teachers continue to have an income and that they too can contribute to the growth of the economy.
Another option is one-to-one classes with a PT or instructor like Shan from Shan’s Private Pilates Studio.
By supporting local businesses we can help ensure that everybody is not hurt by a virus we won’t all get. Let’s pull ourselves through it by embracing community spirit and having each others backs until the storm passes. Because it will.
By supporting small, you support us all.
#supportsmallsupportusall
