Tent and Table is proud to be a small party rental business that supplies and supports other small businesses.
It’s our opinion, and the opinion of many others, that small businesses are the lifeblood of the market. Without them, the landscape would be homogeneous, boring, and downright desolate. There would be no personality left in the business world, and no customized treatment for customers.
Long story short, small businesses make the world go round. We make it exciting, and we make shopping fun. And not only is it fun to shop at small, unique businesses, it’s also great for commerce.
The Small Business Administration reports 28 million small businesses operating in the United States - and that is a big deal!
There’s been a special holiday created just for small businesses called “Small Business Saturday.” It falls on the Saturday after Thanksgiving, and on that day shoppers are encouraged to shop at brick-and-mortar stores instead of big-name stores or online-only storefronts. It’s a great way to fuel the small business economy. A day meant just for us!
In this article, you’ll find 11 reasons that you should support small businesses in your community. Let’s get started.
1. Small Businesses Give Back
When you support a small business, you’re supporting your town, city, and neighborhood. The small businesses in your community pay their taxes to the city and county that they’re located in, and those tax dollars support public schools, libraries, parks, roads, and sidewalks.
2. Reduce Your Carbon Footprint
When you shop at a local small business, transportation is not required to get the product that you’re looking for. That makes for less pollution, less congestion, and a smaller carbon footprint overall.
3. They Make An Impact On The Economy
Since 1990, small businesses added 8 million jobs and big businesses eliminated 4 million. The more often you shop at a local store, the more jobs you’re supporting (and creating!) in your community.
4. They Nurture Innovation
Small businesses need to stand out from their competition in order to succeed. To stand out, they must constantly come up with fresh, new ideas - and that makes for innovative, creative business owners.
5. There Is Product Diversity
Small businesses have just as much access to vendors as big businesses do. The only difference is that, if you’re looking for something specific and they don't have it, they are much more likely to take the time and order it for you.
6. They Create A Sense Of Community
The desire for a sense of community is strong in towns and cities of all sizes, and you’re much more likely to get that when you shop at small businesses over big-name stores. Small business owners are more likely to recognize you and become familiar with your habits, and you’ll feel the same about them.
7. They Support The American Dream
The American Dream centers around the belief that all opportunities should be available to every American, no matter their background. Small business owners have pursued this dream and paved the way for other small business owners to do the same. When you shop at small businesses, you’re supporting genuine people who have worked to make their dream come true.
8. It Feels Good
Let’s be honest - products from big-name companies aren’t always great. They aren’t made with the same care that small businesses put into what they do. So, instead of shopping at a major retailer and feeling lackluster with your purchase, shop locally and feel good about what you’re buying and who you’re supporting.
9. They Contribute To Community Identity
Small businesses contribute to the identity of the community that houses them. You’ll often find that small businesses are so grateful for the support of the community that they will give back in the form of participating in events and donating to local nonprofits. There’s no doubt that small businesses are typically a very active presence in the community.
10. They Operate On Authenticity
Small businesses enrich our neighborhoods with unique products that you won’t find anywhere else. They’re run by people - maybe even people you know - not stakeholders or boards. The business is a reflection of the owner themselves, so you’ll always receive an original product that was made with fine details in mind.
11. You Receive Quality Products
The bigger the production, the more difficult it is to complete individual quality checks. The product that you buy from a big-name store might not even be worth what you paid because large business owners don’t have control over what happens in mass productions. Small business owners, on the other hand, have a sense of clarity when it comes to the origin of a product.
Shopping Small
At Tent and Table, we pride ourselves in being a small party rental business that cares about other small businesses. To learn more about what we do or to team up with us, get in touch today!