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I know my voiceover business is not considered a retail establishment.

Further, I am aware that Small Business Saturday is a promotion focused on local retail establishments like clothing stores, restaurants etc that are not regional or national retail chains (think Target, Wal-Mart or Dick’s Sporting Goods).

So why am I weighing in to support Small Business Saturday?

Because I am a small business.

I am even considered a micro-business (small equals 9 employees or less — I fall 8 short of that max).

I serve my local community as well as national and international clients.

So I have skin in this game.

But to be fair, there are hundreds of thousands more small business who have even MORE skin in the game than me (more employees, separate offices, retail spaces etc).

Small Business Saturday is for them, it’s for me and for all of us (micro & small alike).

The ask of you (as the consumer) is simple: “think local” before you buy.

“Buy local” when you buy.

When you are ready to buy, step back from the .com and mega stores that we all have shopped at and look for the local stores that could sell you the same thing.

While there could be a cost difference…remember when you buy local, you’re basically buying from your NEIGHBOR.

Yes, mega stores employee your neighbors too (and pay taxes too) but when you buy local, more money stays local.

So tomorrow (11/30/24), for your holiday shopping and all year long, “think local” before you buy and “buy local” when you buy.

And if you need voiceover for a commercial, narration, broadcast promo or even live announce, please hire *THIS* small business owner.

Thanks.

 

Tags: small business saturday by peter k. o'connell, your friendly, neighborhood voice-over talent
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Everyone seems pretty up to speed with how badly almost every American small retail business has fared during the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020.

Don’t even get me started on the small Mom & Pop restaurants impacted by the pandemic…too often, that news is like reading the obituaries.

The chain stores are doing OK and the on-line stores are through the roof with amazing sales. I am sincerely pleased for all of them.

But the small retail stores, those that have remained open in our communities thus far (and many have closed up forever) they are about to have something amazing happen to them.

Something amazingly good or amazingly bad. The decision is up to you and me.

I fully respect that many national chains have had sales dry up and they have closed – leaving landlords and employees scrambling for new tenants and new jobs. Those situations certainly negatively impact a local economy. Such closures hurt people and communities.

But situated in an even more precarious position as we head into the critical holiday shopping period are America’s small retail businesses.

You know who they are in your city and towns and suburbs. Maybe you’ve driven by them and always wanted to go in a look around.

I am asking you to please do that and do one more thing. Buy something at that store.

Black Friday, which will also change in 2020, led to a new inititaive some years ago called #localsaturday where shoppers are encouraged to buy from LOCAL merchants the Saturday after Thanksgiving. I’m asking you to please to this…and more

Buy ALL your gifts for your family and friends this holiday season 2020 from your local small businesses.

Online will thrive for all the chains…the local stores NEED YOUR HELP TO STAY OPEN.

Think of your local purchase as being a life giving blood donation to a local neighbor deathly in need of blood.

This holiday, don’t only think of others who you want to buy a gift for…think of the business itself, the LOCAL business where you buy that gift.

Help that local business stay open and help your truly local community THRIVE.

Thanks.

Tags: commentary, community, small business saturday by peter k. o'connell, your friendly, neighborhood voice-over talent
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