Photo by Tim Mossholder on Unsplash
It’s my favorite time of the year, Peeps. Pumpkin pie, yummy turkey, friends and family gathered for a big meal, but you know what bothers me every year? The fact that everyone seems to need to go shopping on Thanksgiving evening! To be completely honest with you, I’m not a huge fan of the hype of Black Friday shopping. I like to thoughtfully select each gift I give, and I really like to shop locally! Small Business Saturday is the best day of this wild weekend of shopping. There are so many great small businesses scattered throughout our area. All of them are fantastic choices to find those perfect gifts for your loved ones. Speaking of that, I really need to figure out what I’m getting Opal and Oscar for Christmas! They’re always so tough to shop for!
Why Shop Small?
Many of our customers are small businesses that support the community they are located in and Office Peeps is the same. We go to homecoming parades and home games. Our kids attend the local schools. We run into each other at the grocery store while shopping for our families. And at the end of the day, we all want to see our communities thrive and grow. When we support our local businesses, we are investing in our towns and are building a future for our kids. We can help support our communities by shopping at our locally owned businesses and what better time to do this than on Small Business Saturday.
Ways to Support Your Local Small Businesses
Shop With Them!
Well, my pop, Opie Sr., always said “Put your money where your mouth is!” Shopping at small businesses is the easiest way to show your support. Now, we know you won’t find EVERYTHING you are looking for at small businesses, but you can find a lot more than you would think. For instance, did you know that Office Peeps is an amazing place to find commercial Keurigs for those coffee people in your life. We are a dealer for commercially made Keurigs designed to withstand the near constant use hardcore coffee drinkers with put them through. If you buy one at a big box store, you are buying a ‘residential’ Keurig with plastic parts. Now I have to tell you about our coffee selection… (hint: it’s heaven for the coffee lover!) Okay, maybe next time!
Brag About Them!
Local businesses don’t always have a lot of marketing dollars available. We rely on our customers to spread the word about our awesome customer service or unique products! Some local businesses, like Office Peeps, have been around for a long time and are well known, but many small businesses are still developing their customer base. If you found a hidden gem down the block from you, post about it on Twitter or Instagram! Tell your friends! Write a review on their website! Follow them on Facebook and share their posts. Small businesses love to hear that they are noticed by their customers. Besides if someone as awesome as you like a local business, chances are, your friends will too!
Show Them Love!
In the craziness of life, we can forget to say ‘thank you’ to those that help us. November is a great month to show your favorite businesses just how much you appreciate them! Write a thank-you note to that barista that always seems to get your coffee just right. Or share your favorite cookies with the plumber’s office that helped fix your sump pump last week. Recognition and support can bolster any small business owner’s mood while letting them know that their life’s work is making a difference to others. The world would be a pretty great place if we were to take a few minutes of every day to thank those that work to make our lives easier.
Consider shopping at locally owned businesses this Holiday season, Peeps. Together we can make build up our communities and the businesses that have built them!
Have a Happy and Safe Thanksgiving!
(Remember Office Peeps will be closed Thursday, November 28, and Friday, November 29 for our families to celebrate Thanksgiving).
Office Peeps is proud to support workers and businesses in South Dakota. We’re an office interior design and furniture consultancy. A company that provides, services, and maintains and even custom-builds office machines. A single source for workplace supplies, including janitorial and breakroom, school supplies, and scrapbooking supplies. We are located in various South Dakota cities including, Watertown, Brookings, Huron, and Madison. Call 800.658.3541 or like us on Facebook today.
