Stay at home orders, self quarantine, and essentially a total transformation of our daily lives are just the least of the effects the COVID-19 pandemic has sprung upon us.
While governments urge for people to stay home and maintain their social distance, these necessary but drastic measures are affecting small businesses in an unprecedented way. Staying home and the closure of bars and restaurants considered “non-essential” means these businesses losing out on income.
Government bailouts have been discussed for the multibillion dollar industries of airlines and cruises, but nothing of the sort has been mentioned for restaurants or retail. These stay-at-home orders and advised self-quarantines have perhaps hit the service industry the hardest, as these workers only earn money for the hours they work, which means many of them cannot afford to stay home, despite being advised otherwise. Owners and employees are both being affected greatly.
Major retailers like Reformation, Urban Outfitters, Bloomingdales, Zara and Sephora have closed all their stores but remain fully functioning online. However, it is the smaller brands and local businesses that are being hit the hardest at this time. Small businesses often rely on the operation of their brick-and-mortar stores or may not have the resources, whether financial or staff-related, to survive the decline and change in business patterns.
So how can we still support small businesses during these uncertain times? Local restaurants should still be open for takeout and delivery! Just because you can’t dine in doesn’t mean you shouldn’t still order. Many small businesses also have online stores for you to order from. And remember if you do order a product online, be patient and understanding of any shipping or order delays.
Another easy way is to buy a gift card at any of these establishments, so you can use it later when things calm down, but you’re still helping the business maintain a consistent cash flow. The same goes for hair salons, spas, boutiques, and nail salons.
If you happen to be one of the fortunate people who are still getting paid to work from home, please don’t cancel your regular payments—after all, these are incomes that people’s livelihoods rely on! Pay the housekeeper even if she can’t come. Don’t cancel your gym membership if it’s an expense you were already planning on, especially small family owned studios. Also, tip generously to any workers you may continue to employ! If you’re still ordering takeout or delivery, try to leave a hefty tip as it’s some of the few income these employees are getting.
If you can’t afford to spend anything, you can still help small businesses. Simply sharing your favorite pieces from an independent boutique or sharing a list of your favorite local restaurants, can bring awareness to more people about these businesses. Try to engage with the businesses, whether it’s following them on social media or their email newsletter, and allow yourself to become more familiar with the brand.
Just remember, we’re all in this together.
