According to the National Retail Federation, an estimated 90% of all U.S. retail companies employ 100 or fewer people. As the holidays are approaching, these small businesses are counting on support more than ever to stay afloat. Here are a few ways you can do as an individual customer/consumer to help your favorite local business(es).

Buy Gift Cards

One great way to support small businesses is by purchasing gift cards. Whether you shop at local retail stores, restaurants, boutiques, or pet supply shops, gift cards are an excellent idea for family and friends – or yourself (wink-wink). As a bonus, many small businesses now have the option for customers to purchase gift cards in-store and online.

Leave Positive Reviews

This act is simple yet impactful for small businesses as they rely heavily on word-of-mouth. They don’t have widespread brand awareness like big corporations or chain stores/restaurants, so they need customers to leave feedback. It’s also free for you and only takes a few minutes to complete, and small business owners greatly appreciate the extra step.

Share on Social Media

Social media can be a huge helping hand to local businesses, and there are multiple ways to go about it, such as:

Liking, sharing, and/or retweeting their posts
Post about a business’s product or service on your own social media profiles
Start a conversation and comment

Doing one or all of these things helps the business’s product or service reach more people, showcases their talent and hard work, and can lead to more sales.

Sign Up

One of the best ways to stay up-to-date and in touch with your favorite places is to subscribe to their newsletter or email list. This lets them know you enjoy what they have to offer and want to hear more, and lets them know that others support them. Plus, this is often where businesses first announce new products or services, upcoming sales, and showcase more about themselves.

To view a directory of Addison’s restaurants, bars, and cafes, click HERE.

To view a directory of Addison’s retail stores, click HERE.

To view a directory of Addison’s art and entertainment scene, click HERE.