Ways YOU can help small business:

Work from home.  Self-quarantine.  Cancelled events and sports.  Social distancing may may help mitigate the spread of COVID-19, but it also threatens to devastate small business. 

The drop in foot traffic and a reluctance to go out will leave shops and restaurants empty.  Here are a few ways that you can help:

1. Keep your membership or subscription active - it may tempting to freeze or cancel but memberships are the lifeblood of so many businesses.  If they have been good to you and you can afford it, return the favour and support hem during this stressful time.  Cancellations directly affect whether a business can pay rent, utilities, payroll, etc. and ultimately stay in business.
2. Subscribe to the local paper - enjoy your morning coffee while you read the local paper that is delivered to your door.
3. Ask about online or virtual options - find out if you can have your meetings or appointments done via phone, Skype or Facetime.
4. Give a positive review & share your love for local - Write a positive review for a business you enjoy frequenting and share their content.  Many businesses will be scaling back on marketing and would appreciate the support.
5. Buy gift cards - See if you can buy a gift card from your favourite small business over the phone or online.  Need a gift for a special friend, call one our downtown gift shops and purchase a gift card and ask the shop to pop it in the mail to your friend.  Everyone loves to receive mail.
6. Remember to tip & make it a good one - do you enjoy having package and food deliver to your door?  Show some gratitude to those that are doing all the legwork for you, it sounds like a small things, but every little bit helps.
7. Practice patience & understanding - Understand that scaled-back services, depleted supplies or closures are tough on everyone.  Seek to understand before you judge.  Every team member, every business owner, and every business is facing their own challenges while also trying to serve you.