Locally Owned and Operated

Posted by on Nov 11, 2011 in Business Structure, Featured | 63 comments

Those are some of my favorite words to see when I enter a small business in my community.  I know that when I visit a business that is owned and operated locally that I am supporting my local economy, and that is something to feel good about.  I feel more comfortable being in a place that is dedicated to not only providing me with what I am looking for, but also takes an interest in me as a person and member of the local community.  The economy has put a damper on all types of small businesses, and if you own a small business you might not be reaching out to your community in the right way to keep business strong.  So build up your business by taking advantage of the fact that local residents want local businesses to make it in the long run.

Give the locals a discount.  One of my favorite local shops gives all those who ‘Like’ the business’ Facebook page a small percentage off of certain items once a month.  When you offer this kind of discount to your local shoppers, they will likely spread the news and help your business gain new customers.

Make sure that your customers know that you want the local economy to succeed.  Many of the business owners that I know are excited to support other local businesses.  I love seeing this, and so do customers.  Let your customers know that you are just as interested in seeing others succeed and do well in the area as you are yourself.

Join the local small business association and/or chamber of commerce.  By doing that you can get some advertising that might be useful in getting more people in your doors and supporting you.

These ideas are just some that I have seen used, and they really are effective if you are looking to grow your small business.