Small businesses are the backbone of Memphis. They add a unique character and culture to the place we call home. When we support small businesses, we’re investing in the growth and success of our community. Owning a small business is a lot of work, so it is important for the community to support them where they can. Whether it’s visiting a neighborhood shop, leaving a kind review, or sharing your favorite finds with friends, every small action makes a big impact. If you’re looking for simple yet impactful ways to support local businesses, here are nine meaningful ideas to get you started:
1. Shop Local
The most obvious way you can support a local small business is by shopping local. While shopping at larger retail stores or online companies offers its own conveniences, shopping locally not only generates revenue for that business but also helps sustain local jobs. When you support a local brand through buying their product or service, you are making a dream become a reality for a passionate entrepreneur in our city. Memphis has a plethora of small businesses to support from Dinstuhl’s Fine Candy Company to Boshi Botanicals.
2. Leave a Positive Review
Another way to support local entrepreneurs and their business is to leave a review on Yelp, Google, or other review websites. Reviews help a brand build credibility with its audience ultimately attracting new customers and influencing purchasing decisions. Leaving a review can also increase a small business’s visibility online by allowing them to rank higher in search engine results.
3. Interact with the Business on Social Media
Furthering this idea of online support, interacting with a small business on social media comes in several forms. First, follow or like the brand’s profile. Next, engage with their posts through likes, comments, and shares. Engagement is huge on social media. This helps get their posts, products, and brand in front of more people ultimately aiding in their success. In a similar way, posting about a small business and tagging them also helps support them. Whether you’ve visited a local coffee shop, bought a new product, tried a new workout class, or dined at a new restaurant, sharing about your experience online can be very beneficial to the business. It not only lets them know they’re doing a good job but posting it for your followers to see, increases brand awareness.
4. Recommend A Small Business to a Friend
Many small businesses thrive from word-of-mouth marketing. Simply telling a friend or two that they need to visit a particular small business creates an impact. It’s a cost-effective way for businesses to generate leads and increase their sales. Your friends trust you, so personal recommendations tend to go a long way. Memphis has restaurants and caterers like Curry N’ Jerk, Kinfolk, and Paradox Catering and Consulting that are always perfect for a recommendation.
5. Attend Local Events – Farmers Markets, Holiday Markets, Festivals, Small Biz Saturday
So many small businesses participate in local events. Sometimes they have booths selling their products, their food truck is there, or they’re offering some sort of discount in relation to the event. Attending those events, like holiday markets, festivals, farmer’s markets, or even something like the Chamber’s Small Biz Saturday is a great way to support them.
6. Collaborate with Another Small Business
If you are a small business owner, a great way for you to support other small businesses is by collaborating with them. There are dozens of ways you can collaborate like a social media giveaway, hosting an event together, or selling each other’s products. Collaborating with another small business is a mutually beneficial relationship. You both gain something from the partnership.
7. Include Small Businesses in Your Supplier List
If you buy products or services for your business, consider using small businesses in the area for it. This is a simple way to support a small business by providing them with business, but it also benefits you. You’ll likely have a better relationship with that supplier making it easier to deal with issues and receive better customer service. You’ll know the quality of the goods and services you are paying for. Plus, they often have competitive pricing.
8. Hire a Small Business
If you don’t own or run a business, you can still support small businesses in a similar way. You can hire a small business for a variety of services. Maybe you need a caterer for your event. Choose a local restaurant or caterer to provide that service.
Or perhaps you need help planning a party. Choose a small event planning business to assist you. Similarly, you can rent a venue that is owned and operated by a small business.
9. Buy/Use Merch
Several local businesses don’t have the budget for incredible campaigns that run for months at a time. A great way for them to advertise their business is through merchandise. We see that in the form of stickers, pens, t-shirts, hats and more. Buying and using merchandise from local brands while you’re out and about creates brand recognition and gives them a little bit of free advertising.
This is a non-comprehensive list of ways to support local small businesses. There are so many other ways you can support a small business like subscribing to their email newsletter or offering your skills to them in some form. Regardless of what you choose, it is important to support small businesses because they fuel our local economy. Every small action—from a purchase to a positive review—helps small businesses thrive. By choosing to support them, you’re not just helping a business owner; you’re investing in a stronger, more vibrant community.
One of Memphis’ oldest institutions, dating back to 1838, the Greater Memphis Chamber is a privately funded nonprofit that serves as the region’s lead economic development organization and the “Voice of Memphis Business” on local, state, and national issues. The Chamber’s mission is to drive the Memphis business agenda for Greater Memphis. We do this by relentlessly pursuing prosperity for all — through economic and workforce development, pro-growth advocacy, and by providing support and resources to its investors, which include many of the region’s largest employers.
