Small business owners – friends to the community
“You’ve Got a Friend in Me,” the heartwarming theme from the Toy Story film franchise, isn’t just a catchy tribute to friendship. It also easily applies to the relationships between small business and the communities they serve.
Small businesses are often the foundation of a community. Their passion and commitment to their neighborhood shows up by giving back, creating jobs and by bringing unique character to the area. And, with the opportunity to connect to a larger community through the internet, they often share their local roots with a broader audience.
Small businesses immediately lent a hand to those in need as the impacts of COVID-19 became clear. As recent racial unrest sparked a period of national reflection, they’re at it again.
This shouldn’t be a surprise. Local charities and causes consistently benefit from small business support. Two-thirds of all small businesses give back, according to SCORE, the national network of small business mentors.
Small businesses – anything they can do
Even as they’ve had to make adjustments to their own products, hours or practices, small business owners continue to prioritize those around them.
Many businesses still are making masks and donating the proceeds. Others are either taking stands for racial justice or best COVID-19 practices. One business is featuring its core product in a special box set to bring relief to remote workers – and donating some of the boxes too.
Also, keep up with your favorite small business and their efforts to give back by checking their social media channels and websites for their latest updates. It’s an easy way to support a small business – and a good cause too.
Join the movement and #ShopSmall
Small businesses across the nation are using their products and their voice to make a difference. Not only can they use your support as many work on reopening and recovery but they also welcome your help to amplify their efforts to give back.
Here’s an example of what some businesses are doing. Join in and support their efforts or check out your favorite businesses and #shopsmall.
“Black is Beautiful” is a movement backed by more than 700 breweries.
8-Bit Brewing
Location: Murrieta, CA
Offer: Collaborating on the “Black is Beautiful” Imperial Stout with Weathered Soul Brewing in San Antonio, Tex. Black Is Beautiful is a joint effort among breweries and beer drinkers to raise awareness for the injustices people of color face daily and to raise funds for police brutality reform and legal defenses for those who have been wronged. 8-Bit is not alone – with more than 700 breweries joining the movement, the goal now is to hit 1,000.
#ShopSmall: https://shop.8bitbrewingcompany.com/, https://blackisbeautiful.beer/
Beer Drinkers: Learn how to join the cause, Breweries: Join the cause
Art of Tea
Location: Monterey Park, CA
Offer: Know of co-workers, friends or family working from home and experiencing Zoom fatigue? Art of Tea’s “ReWRK” Kit provides relief and solace through an assortment of delicious teas. Bonus: For every 10 boxes sold, Art of Tea will donate one to a local hospital.
#ShopSmall: https://www.artoftea.com, Get the ReWRK Kit
Blackmarket Bakery
Locations: Costa Mesa and San Diego, CA
Offer: The bakery always puts a pretty face on its cookies, whether for Easter or salutes to mom. Blackmarket’s bakers applied their whimsical style to our new mask-wearing culture (see featured photo) by creating a series of cookies – including happy faces and gingerbread men – with masks. If you know someone who’s mask-resistant, these cookies are sweet and gentle reminders of what to do. There’s also the red-heart cookie with the message, “Spread love, not germs.” Offers mobile orders, but they must be picked up. Cookies are available at any of the locations.
#ShopSmall: https://www.blackmarketbakery.com/
Mike Hess Brewing `
Location: Four in the San Diego, CA region; Walnut Creek, CA
Offer: “Welcome to the new normal, IB,” read a poster hanging from the tent when the brewer hosted a socially distanced block party in Imperial Beach to mark their re-opening for Memorial Day. Another small business, City Tacos, joined in to supply the eats as Mike Hess welcomed back the community in a responsible way. They are also still selling Hand Sanitizer in 4-ounce and 1-gallon bottles.
#ShopSmall: https://www.mikehessbrewing.com, Get hand sanitizer
The message from Rouleur Brewing.
Rouleur Brewing Company
Location: Carlsbad, CA
Offer: In the recent run of their “Dopeur” (Juicy IPA) and “Endo” (West Coast IPA) lines, owner Rawley Macias added a simple message to the creation date on the bottoms of the cans – “#BlackLivesMatter.” The cans are for distribution, so they’re not at the Rouleur tap room. Find them at Trader Joe’s outlets in San Diego County.
#ShopSmall: https://rouleurbrewing.com/
Small Batch
Location: La Mesa, CA
Offer: It’s always great to shop at Small Batch, but if you shop in June, they are giving a a portion of their proceeds to support The Conscious Kid, an organization that partners with other groups to provide access to children’s books by underrepresented authors or that feature diverse stories. You can shop at their recently re-opened store or online.
#ShopSmall: https://www.smallbatchstore.com/
Traveler Surf Club
Location: Malibu and Pacifica, CA
Offer: Started the Traveler Mask Project, with masks for adults and children. Customers can buy in bulk to save money or buy two and they will donate two to those on the front lines. The project has led to nearly 5,500 mask donations so far, for everyone from health care workers to food bank volunteers. Or join the Traveler’s Sew Club to make your own masks to wear or donate
#ShopSmall: https://travelersurfclub.com/collections/fabric-face-masks Join the Sew Club
Young Hickory
Location: San Diego, CA
Offer: Offered patrons “Black Lives Matter” shirts via pre-sale (now closed). After securing support (and a discount) from screenprinter Extra Graphic, raised $1,200 for the San Diego chapter of the NAACP. You can also make a contribution of $15 to donate a pound of coffee to a San Diego hospital.
#ShopSmall: https://www.younghickory.com/ Donate a pound
Thank these small business owners for their good work, step up for local favorites or discover more ways to #shopsmall. Remember to show your support by choosing to #shopsmall. Learn of more small businesses by checking out our weekly #shopsmallsaturday picks on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter. The hashtag #shopsmall, started for Small Business Saturday in November, will lead to more great choices as well!
In case you missed it:
CDC Small Business Finance is a trusted small business lender, award-winning nonprofit and advocate for entrepreneurs. Over more than four decades, we have provided $18 billion in funding to over 11,000 borrowers … and counting. Unlike a traditional lender, we have the flexibility to offer affordable loans to underserved small business owners. Our lending also plays a role in bolstering economic development, and has helped to create or preserve more than 200,000 jobs in California, Arizona and Nevada.
