Supporting Small Business

I essentially grew up in small business and surrounded by small business owners.  Between my mom, dad, and grandma, I have fond memories watching them run a small grocery store, open a hardware store, operate a pharmacy, and manage an invitation/stationary shop.  As a kid and teenager, I helped out and learned how much time and effort goes into running a small business. There are long hours and lots of stress, especially when also balancing a family.

My mom owned an independent grocery store, Leonetti's, in a small town in western Pennsylvania.  Within that same building, my dad ran a pharmacy and then later, after independent pharmacies were being replaced with larger chain pharmacies, opened a hardware store.  I was in the grocery store almost every day, doing anything from stocking shelves to making hoagies to running the cash register.  I had my favorite delivery guys and knew the buying habits of many in the community.  Sometimes I just did my homework there while my parents worked.

I have great summer memories of arriving at the store early, opening the door and bringing in the newspaper bundle and the donut box that were left by the delivery men.  I walked to the post office to get the mail and to the bank to drop off the deposit bag.  Back in these days and in this town, I could do that at a young age without anyone worrying, especially since the walk was short. When I got bored or wanted to watch The Price Is Right or Days of Our Lives, I would walk to my grandparents' house and spend the rest of the day with them.

I watched my parents work long hours and deal with annoying issues such as thieves, break-ins, dishonest workers, and people illegally dumping trash in their trash bins.  I believe there might have been some vandalism at some point also.  My parents also owned several apartments above the store, and renting out and maintaining those units also resulted in quite a bit of drama, repairs, and headaches.

We moved to another town, Neshannock, about 20 miles away, and these businesses were sold.  My Mom later purchased another business, a card and invitation shop, Card Creations (named by me) that did well in our new town.  She had an incredible talent for creating unique wedding and event invitations and verses, and she was needed at the shop pretty much all the time to work with clients.  She loved creating invitations, stamping foiled napkins, working with brides and party planners to bring their vision to life.  She worked long hours to make each piece of their event special. By this time, I was a teenager, so I was not making anything easier on her.  I wanted more of her time (which she gave me plenty of, by the way), and she needed to run her business. It was a juggling act that many women go through, whether they own their own business or work for someone else.

Getting away for vacations as a business owner was tricky, as trusted workers and coverage was needed to keep the business going.  It wasn't always easy to get out on time, as customers lingered and talked well past closing time.  Communities demand attention in the form of donations, participation on boards and committees, and forming ideas for community projects.  I grew up seeing the dedication that went into running a small business and feel proud to have been part of these family-run places.

Here in Virginia Beach, I really enjoy the small businesses.  This is the first place where I am taking an active interest in supporting them. I have my favorites and am still exploring.  There are so many unique places and services, and with social media, I can learn not only about their products and services but also how their founders got their business going and more of their story.  Some have actual storefronts and some are run virtually. 

A few years ago, my mom and I started the tradition of going out shopping on Small Business Saturday, which is the day after Black Friday.  We weren't into Black Friday, so this was our day to shop.  We would gather our list of local places we wanted to visit, get an early start, and then end with lunch.  We always had so much fun, and I’m glad to have those memories. 

Many small businesses are struggling to get through the COVID-19 situation, and I'm rooting for them.  I have been so impressed by many local businesses and how they developed creative solutions to stay open and serve their customers.  I will continue to support as many as I can by visiting and purchasing a product or service or by giving them an online review or a shout-out on a social media post.   

Do you support local businesses?   Awesome if you do!  Let me know about some of your favorite spots. I’d like to ask all readers to go find a couple local places new to you and visit them over the next week (don't forget your mask!).  You might find a new favorite place! If you prefer to stay home, check out local shops that may now have an online store.  Afterward, engage with them on social media or give them a review.  They need us more than ever, and its a great way to support your community.