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Lately, as I've been moving about town in my regular routine, it's been very obvious to me that there has been a dramatic drop-off in commerce. Everywhere seems slow - the post office, the office supply store, the gas station, and of course the small local businesses. I own a business myself, a cocktail lounge, and it appears our revenue has dropped by about 1/3 in a single month's time. It's a very nerve wracking time to be operating any kind of business. It seems that each week I hear of another shop, restaurant or bar that has made the difficult decision to close down, that they could no longer justify waiting for commerce to return.
Facing the sadness of friends and neighbors shutting their doors, it occurs to me that, if we truly value our local businesses, we need to return to the marketplace. Yes, many of us are in worse financial shape than we were even 6 months ago, and the uncertainty of the future makes a heady case for frugal living in tough times. As we pull back and mind our spending, however, we are in danger of losing well loved local businesses, many of which form the identity of our communities.
I write to you with a simple plea. While you may not be able to afford to spend as you used to, please resist the temptation to stop frequenting the businesses you love. Buy one drink, maybe an appetizer or a cup of coffee and a dessert. Visit your local bike store and spend a few bucks. Drop buy your favorite record store and buy something small. Pick up book, a pair of earrings or a toy for the cat. In this economic climate every little sale helps in a big way.
However you can, whenever you can, please support your local businesses. Eventually this will all pass, and it would be a shame if your favorite place were gone when we get back to normal. Every little bit helps.
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