Life is never easy for small business owners, but it’s been particularly challenging in the last year-and-a-half.
They’ve felt the pinch associated with the sliding oil prices. It’s not just energy sector companies that have been hit hard; when the energy sector takes a hit, everybody feels the pinch.
It’s why we have to make sure we support our local businesses now more than ever.
The Estevan Chamber of Commerce has launched its Shop Local Campaign in an effort to get people to support local businesses. It’s a strong initiative that reminds the public of the contributions that small businesses make to the city.
The employees at Southeast Lifestyles and the Estevan Mercury recognize the value of small businesses, too. It’s why we’ve launched a shop local campaign that will spotlight many of the businesses this city has to offer.
Estevan and other communities in the southeast are blessed to have such a wide variety of small businesses to choose from. There are very few things that you can’t find at one of our retailers.
They not only offer valuable products and services, but they provide much-needed local employment. How many people found their first job at a small business? How many others found a job at a small business that they stayed with for years?
How many gifts were purchased at small businesses that were cherished for a lifetime?
How many people have been able to fulfill their dream of entrepreneurship because they opened a small business?
And how many small businesses remained part of a community for generations, while meeting the needs of their customers year in, year out?
Small businesses also offer much-needed donations to events and organizations in the community. A lot of small businesses pledged money to the campaigns for Affinity Place and the new Estevan Regional Nursing home. Others are strong supporters of the upcoming Crescent Point Energy Western Canada Cup or the 2016 Saskatchewan Summer Games.
And then there are the small businesses who sponsor community events and annual fundraisers, or who contribute to local non-profit organizations by providing the means or funds to offer new or existing programs.
We could go on and on about the need to support small businesses in our communities.
Or we can try to paint a picture about a community that doesn’t have small businesses. It’s pretty bleak. Imagine the hole that would be created if there weren’t businesses to offer employment, products or services. Imagine if there weren’t small businesses around to provide inspiration to budding entrepreneurs.
Imagine all that we would lose if the small businesses weren’t in place to sponsor community events and organizations.
A community without small businesses would be a dying shell of a community.
And it’s why we need to shop local and support our local businesses.
