[Cover image: Aerial view of Main Street, Wolfeboro, NH. © John Gisis. Used with permission.]
I'm from a small (actually downright mini) New Hampshire town consisting of 27 miles of road, 400 people, about half as many cows, horses and other livestock. My hometown abutted a slightly more well-known town of Wolfeboro, which boasts the title of Oldest Summer Resort in America, and where I spent the majority of my formative years attending school, working in the summer, and walking around downtown.
The thing about small towns is they are built on small businesses.
There were no big brand names in this small town (save for Dunkin, and what a ruckus that building permit caused!). I grew up shopping on Main Street: lunch at Huck's Hoagies, an espresso from Lydia's cafe, a sweet treat from the Yum Yum Shop, and so many books from The Country Bookseller.
Fast forward 20 years, and as a (very) small business owner myself, I can tell you that making a sale or getting a custom order is the coolest thing ever. Someone trusts me to make a product that will adorn a couch, chair, or bed for years to come. I love picking out the colors and pattern that I think will perfectly match someone's personality. It literally warms my heart to hear praise from a satisfied customer.
As of 2020, there were more than 31.7 million small businesses in America employing 47% of U.S. workers
(U.S. Small Business Administration, 2020 Small Business Profile). So every time you shop small, it has a big impact on many lives.
This holiday season, I checked in with a few of my fellow small business owner friends to see what your patronage means to them.
Kelly Gelinas, owner of The Rosy Ladybug Shop, started sewing high-quality masks two years ago for friends and family. As the demand for masks waned, she branched out to create a large assortment of custom hand-sewn items, including purses, bags, cup cozies, phone stands, and so much more.
"When someone supports my small business it literally makes me want to do a happy dance. I love creating beautiful and unique pieces to accent a person's personality. When I hear the joy from my customers, it is just the most amazing feeling. It is hard work but it makes my heart happy."
One of my favorite items is the Hanging Car Trash bin. It hangs off the back of the passenger seat – and isn't just for trash. My niece uses it to hold her drinks and snacks while we're on the road. Kelly also makes custom orders – she made an adorable set of aprons for my apprentice and I.
Kelly's Etsy shop allows her to sell her items far and wide, and a custom order is as simple as a Facebook message. Check out her products at www.therosyladybugshop.etsy.com.
For Katlyn L'talien, opening a photography studio allowed her to continue to be a stay-at-home mom while turning a 14-year side hustle into a full-time business endeavor when she opened a commercial studio space.
"Building a successful business has come with ups and downs but the personal triumphs it has brought me far outweighs any of the challenges. I mean, I did it! I am doing it! But, I would be nothing without the support of my clients. I think the best feeling in the world to a small business owner is how many clients are truly there to support YOU."
Katlyn specializes in photographing families and newborns in the Weare, NH area. While a photoshoot might not seem like a Christmas present, Katlyn offers Gift Cards allowing the purchaser to gift her services – a memory that lasts forever.
You can check out her work at katlynashleyphotography.com, or search for a local photographer in your area.
Another service that makes a great Christmas gift is residential cleaning services. Selena Gauthier recently opened SG Stellar Services LLC, a cleaning business operating in the Ormond Beach, FL area. She offers the ability to gift a cleaning to someone else, like two sisters who recently purchased biweekly cleanings for their grandmother as a Christmas gift.
Seriously, I don't think there's a woman out there who wouldn't LOVE an extra pair of hands to scrub the toilet and wash the dishes. It's almost as amazing as a spa day. In fact, go ahead and buy your mom a Cleaning Service and Spa Day Gift Card, and I promise, you will be Child of the Year.
You can find Selena on Facebook at SG Stellar Services LLC.
After attending a friend's party and falling in love with the product, Josilyn Adams became a Thirty-One consultant in February of this year. She has found unbelievable success sharing her love of the product through virtual home parties, hitting her highest sales ever in the month of October. Most recently, she joined the company's Accelerate program, which will teach her advanced techniques to further grow and expand her business. The home-based business model provides Josilyn the flexibility she needs as a mom and the ability to contribute more to her family monetarily than she did working full-time.
Josilyn credits her success to her customers. "I work hard, but I would not be here today without my VIP group. They show up, they like my posts, they interact with me and each other, and they participate in group activities that drive sales and parties. They knock my socks off!"
I see so many frenzied shoppers every year at Big Box stores, searching for "things" to put under the tree. This year, I encourage you to skip the lines at big retailers and visit the store fronts on Main Street, purchase gift certificates from family-owned businesses, and search for the perfect gift online at Etsy, instead of Amazon.
You can also support small businesses year-round without spending a dime. 86% of small businesses use Facebook for advertising as their leading social media platform, so every like, comment, share and recommendation helps grow their audience and can lead to more sales and growth (https://www.semrush.com/blog/small-business-stats).
Katlyn sums it up perfectly: "Not everyone buys local, so when you do, remem ber my story. Remember how appreciative I am and grateful to do what I love and love what I do."
Never doubt that your small business purchase makes a big impact!