National Mom and Pop Business Owners Day is March 29. This is a holiday that celebrates the role of small businesses in our economy.
As solo entrepreneurs or small businesses ourselves we appreciate and want to support all small businesses. I did not realize until I started researching the national day that mom and pop businesses provide almost 70% of all new jobs in the country.
I love supporting the small businesses near me. It is so nice to go into a store and they know who you are and often what you might be looking for. They engage you in conversation. As you support them, they support you and your interests. They make shopping personal.
The Eagle Eye Book Shop is one of those special stores. They have helped launch my book From Vision to Victory and Diane Quintana and my book Filled Up and Overflowing. They also carry our children’s books and our Organize Your Home 10 Minutes at a Time deck of cards. But they also know my grandchildren’s names and what type of books they like. They hold back books for me to come in and look over. They will mail books to my grandchildren or my sister.
Another favorite store of mine is Café Alsace. This is my go-to store for lunch with my friends or taking visiting family out for a meal. You can even practice your French with the owner. The owner, Benedicte Cooper is a native of the Alsace region and once a year she returns home and brings back items for her small gift area and some special wine. When I was a volunteer for the Concerts on the Green committee in Decatur, this café always donated gift cards for the drawings.
And Café Alsace was not the only small business in Decatur that supported Concerts on the Green. I would have a list and go to many of the small businesses and pick up items or gift cards. Small businesses support their community.
Decatur, GA is a town very near me, and I belong to their business association. Every Friday the Decatur Business Association on their Facebook page asks people to share their favorite Decatur businesses. This keeps those businesses in people’s consciousness.
I know that as Professional Organizers we are always supporting each other’s businesses. We share each other’s blogs and celebrations. We will recommend their businesses to our clients or potential clients if we feel their business is a good fit. We interact and get to know each other.
So especially on March 29 as well as other days visit one or more of the small businesses in your area. Buy something. Say thank you. Write a review. Talk about them on social media. Let’s all support one another.
Jonda S. Beattie, Professional Organizer owner of Time Space Organization, and co-owner of Release, Repurpose, Reorganize. She is based in the Metro-Atlanta area. As presenter, award-winning author, as well as a retired special education teacher she uses her listening skills, problem solving skills, knowledge of different learning techniques, ADHD specialty, and paper management skills to help clients tackle the toughest organizational issues. Jonda does hands on organizing and virtual organizing. For more of Jonda’s tips connect with her on Facebook.