Shop Small, Dream Big: The Power of Supporting Small Businesses

In a rapidly evolving digital age where mega-corporations often overshadow the quaint charm of local artisans, the 'Shop Small' movement emerges as a beacon of hope. This initiative encapsulates our yearning for authentic, personal experiences and reignites the essence of community-centric commerce.

Journey with us as we delve into the transformative power of supporting smaller businesses, and the profound impact on our communities, economies, and the fabric of our societies. Here, we focus on the importance of being personal in everything we do. We’ve changed our attitudes in so many ways and have become aware of our mortality. This includes the way we go shopping and how we operate in a business.

What Shop Small Means

Of course, there was a reason for Shop Small. We had to change how we worked because we were isolated during the pandemic. To make a living in a world where people couldn’t come face to face involved becoming more personal, looking for ways to communicate that involved staying at home, and offering products that weren't important before then.

Many smaller businesses took advantage and emerged to cater to our needs, which had changed phenomenally. They found niches we didn’t even know existed and started to make their mark.
Even when we ventured out again and used cash, small businesses catered to the community's needs. The reason? People wanted to assist the little businesses in their communities, and it was also easier to interact with those who operated close by.

Why Support Small Businesses?

These little businesses, both long-term existing companies and new ones are just like your small establishment. They need assistance. This has become so important that the Shop Small global initiative is doing its utmost to keep these businesses afloat despite worldwide financial uncertainty.

Our sister company, maake, started as a small business, so we completely understand the pros and cons of being one. That’s why we believe so strongly in Shop Small. We focus on providing ‘no minimum’ orders, so customers can order from as little as a 20x20cm sample to 1000m+ based on their needs. Their focus on social responsibility emphasises ‘Shop Small’. Here, we discuss why supporting smaller businesses is important to us, our community, future generations, and the UK economy. We also provide several ideas to help you grow your little company.

An American Express Card Initiative

Believe it or not, the concept started long before 2020 and Lockdown. American Express launched it globally a decade ago.

The aim? To assist small businesses on an event called "Small Company Saturday" – the Saturday after Thanksgiving (this was between Black Friday (the last Friday in November) and Cyber Monday (the Monday following this). It was a way of promoting American Express cards, but it did so much more.

This initiative was created to make it easier for customers to purchase items at special prices during the holiday season using their American Express and other credit cards. These days Shop Small Amex UK celebrates local businesses to help communities thrive by using their cards. Of course, they use debit cards, too.

Why Buying Local is the Way Forward

Be committed to supporting small and medium-sized businesses. When you use the Shop Small initiative and shop at smaller stores, you’re being good to your local community. And as maake is still a small company, they like to help other small UK businesses, by providing them with opportunities they wouldn’t usually have. How they pay isn’t important to us: the fact that they shop with us makes the difference, no matter whether they use debit cards, credit cards, or cash.

Follow Their Lead

At maake, they do things differently. They focus on seeing happy, successful entrepreneurs making a positive impact in the textile industry – for clothing, interior design, homeware and any other fabric product:
• They only use local, sustainably-minded fabric manufacturers to provide us with fabric for customers to print on. Or you can provide your own.
• Their on-demand sustainable printing is fast. It takes two to five days from ordering to receiving your confirmation. That’s what shopping this way is all about. Also, free shipping costs are less than if you purchase from an overseas company.
• They print only exactly what the customer needs. No more. This way, they help you to be sustainable and are being sustainable ourselves.
• Personalised customer service is another major focus. This includes artistic and technical assistance from an expert team.

Why Shop Small?

Every small business has its work cut out for them. It’s hard to secure finance to start a company, and when your business has started, you need cash flow to survive. With the current recession, life isn’t easy if you’re a smaller company.

For those who need assistance, the Federation of Small Businesses (FSB) offers a service (at a fee) where they back self-employed small UK business owners and independent entrepreneurs. They help these small business owners start, run, and grow their small businesses in every part of the UK.

Help Local Businesses Thrive

Here is a list of some important reasons to ensure small businesses keep on thriving:

1. Entrepreneurship Inspires Others

Little companies that started at home inspire others to do the same thing. It makes sense: when you buy from a local company or supplier, the money you spend to shop stays in your community and helps it grow. And the distance you travel to the store is minimal, saving costs, too.

The more small businesses thrive, the more positive their impact is on the economy.

How does this work? Say you own a small company and use only locally made products to survive. You only ‘shop local’. You don’t need to travel far to get whatever product or service you need. And your customers don’t need to travel far, either.

This means that everything your company uses comes from local producers and service providers (couriers, designers, and other market specialists). By doing this, you’re ensuring that the entire community is busy and making a profit.

2. Creating Jobs in the Community

By using local suppliers, you create more jobs in the area. This helps your own company as well as other businesses. You’re helping to strengthen the community and its businesses and encouraging entrepreneurship.

3. Local Businesses Are Often Sustainable

This isn’t always the case, but local businesses are often more sustainable. After all, it’s easier and faster to service customers in your area and ensure products are fresh. Also, this initiative means you’re purchasing from businesses that make their products locally, in small batches. They also use more sustainable and ethical manufacturing methods than larger suppliers.

4. They Offer a Personal Touch

By the very nature of their little company, small business owners give their customers a far more personal touch. Their customers are important to them, and they tend to have a more personal relationship with them. This is particularly evident if you’re running a hotel or restaurant.

Knowing the owner of a little company personally makes a huge difference. Entrepreneurs believe every customer is important, so they offer personal service. Smaller businesses also often offer more unique products and experiences, which is another big plus.

5. Exclusivity on a Smaller Scale

When you Shop Small there’s another advantage: the small business can provide unique products compared to larger ones. You know your community and what they want and need, and you provide it.
In contrast, larger businesses that cater to wider audiences don't know their particular audience that well. They cannot provide them with that unique, exclusive touch.

Support Small Businesses

If you own a small- to medium-sized company, you know how to help other companies thrive. Here are some ways you can use the Shop Small concept…

• Assist those supporting you, and find news about little businesses in your area, from new coffee shops to smallholdings with produce. It doesn’t matter whether you pay with business cards or cash.
• By word of mouth is a speedy way for little businesses to grow. Be sure to share new finds on Social Media and in your group of friends and colleagues, so that others can shop with cards or cash at these smaller businesses, too. You’re giving these company owners a gift – your recommendation.
• Shop local (smaller shops or businesses) when you use a card. As a smaller local corporate owner, you know the importance of supporting others. Buy from them online or in person with cards or cash – assist them in every way.
• American Express Card has a Little Blue Book of Sharing that lists Amex Shop Small UK locations, and many independent little businesses where you can use the American Express card for points in the UK and assist them. None of these businesses and shops refuse any card, so you can also ‘shop local’ with cash or any credit or debit card.

There’s an Amex Shop Small Map of local businesses, too. And you don’t have to use cards when you shop at these stores; you can use cash.

Watch out for various special offers, some offering special offers to American Express card holders.

Keep Your Customers Happy

Here’s how to make people Shop Small:
• Offer your customers the best personal service possible in your shops. Ensure you are their preferred choice, rather than a larger company in the same industry. You’ll know if this is true by their reviews!
• Keep ordering and delivering your products from your shops simply, quickly, and efficiently – and watch the positive reviews roll in!
• Have an online store (look at Etsy for inspiration) where customers can buy a product or gift via card or EFT and purchase 24/7.
• Ensure your website is user-friendly, professional – and beautiful.
• Regularly communicate with your customers via email or Social Media. Make each message special, information that is a personal gift.
• Remind customers to tell their friends about your excellent products and services.
• In a global era, the decision to Shop Small is more than consent about a transaction; it's a commitment to community, sustainability, and the individuals who pour their heart and soul into what they create. As we move forward, let's not forget the information about the vibrant tapestry of smaller businesses that define our community landscapes. By choosing to assist them, we're not only giving them an invaluable gift, we’re investing in quality and authenticity, and shaping a brighter, more connected future for all. At maake, we champion this Shop Small ethos daily and invite you to celebrate the little wonders around us. Each is a gift that keeps on giving.