This Christmas, please help Galion Kiwanis make children smile!
With your tax-deductible contributions, the Kiwanis Club of Galion can purchase toys, often at a deep discount thanks to the generosity of local merchants, to provide much joy to needy families during this holiday season.
Contributions can be sent to: Kiwanis Kids Toy Drive C/O Galion Community Foundation P.O. Box 634 Galion, Ohio 44833
Smallbusinesses long have been the heart and soul of local communities. ere is something to be said about being on a rst-name basis with a local restaurateur or another small business owner, as such familiarity o en translates into exemplary service.
According to the U.S. Small Business Administration, small businesses account for 99.9 percent of companies in the country, due in large part to the broad de nition of small businesses (those with fewer than 500 employees). However, the vast majority of businesses in the United States have a sta that’s smaller than 20 workers, according to the Small Business & Entrepreneurship Council. ese rms employ nearly 60 million workers, says the SBA.
Despite the prevalence of small businesses, fewer than 80 percent of entrepreneurial small business ventures make it beyond their rst year, and only around half make it beyond ve years.
Consumers who want to help their favorite small businesses survive can use the holiday season and beyond to set the course for success. Consumers can make a concerted e ort to fuel this important cog in their local economic engines.
• SHOP LOCAL. e concept is simple but e ective. Opting to shop in local stores over larger conglomerates and franchises can help small businesses take root. Before making holiday shopping lists, visit local stores and base gi ideas on items they have in stock. Chances are those gi s will be one-of-a-kind.
• PURCHASE GIFT CARDS/CERTIFICATES. All businesses have slow periods, and post-holidays is o en a time when sales stagnate. Gi cards may bring new customers into local businesses who might otherwise not have patronized them, potentially creating new repeat customers.
• CATER HOLIDAY MEALS AND GATHERINGS. e holiday season is chock-full of entertainment opportunities. Individuals can rely on nearby restaurants and other food and beverage businesses to cater holiday parties. Some businesses also may be willing to discount or donate food for nonpro t group activities, such as church holiday bazaars, school holiday concerts or fundraising fairs.
• MENTION SMALL BUSINESSES ON SOCIAL MEDIA. e holiday season breeds excitement. erefore, when shoppers are in local stores, they can snap pictures of products and over owing shopping bags and post them online while praising local businesses.
• THINK ABOUT SUBSCRIPTION GIFTS. Enrollment in a health club or a massage therapy service are gi s that keep on giving for the recipient, but also help ensure consistent incoming cash for the business providing the service.
When shopping this holiday season, consumers can look to the small, local businesses in their communities that help make towns and cities unique.
