6 Tips for Supporting Local Businesses

Local businesses are the heart and soul of our great country, but with the recent fires, a virus outbreak and new social distancing laws, most are doing it pretty tough. A lack of customers is the biggest issue facing traders today, with 80 percent seeing a significant reduction in local demand and foot traffic. What can we do then, when our beloved businesses are hurting so badly?

Despite the hardship the nation is facing, we can all help our local businesses stay afloat. How can we help, you may ask? Well, buy local of course! We know this is easier said than done, so we’ve created a list of the best ways you can help keep supporting local businesses, whatever your budget, taste or style!

Check out social media

If you want to help but you aren’t sure where to start, searching social media can be a great way to find businesses to support. Visit Instagram pages such as @buyfromthebush, @emptyesky and @spendwiththem for some inspiration, or check out the hashtags #shoplocalaustralia and #buyfromthebush. There are so many wonderful businesses to choose from, it’s nice to have some help narrowing it down.

Provide good reviews 

Businesses aren’t the only ones doing it tough, so if you’re looking for a way to support without spending money, a review is the way to go. Perhaps you were gifted a handmade necklace from the local jeweller, or once had a great coffee from the little bookshop down the road. Whatever the service or product, a nice review will go a long way to showing the local businesses just how much they are appreciated, and may be the encouragement they need to keep going in such uncertain times.

Buy local business hampers 

Our wonderful regional producers work incredibly hard to provide top quality produce, and we know that many of them have suffered heavy losses the past couple of months. ‘Regional Hampers’ by Edible Blooms is an initiative designed to keep these great producers in the spotlight, creating jobs and spreading their sensational products to customers nation-wide.

The range was initially launched featuring producers from South Australia’s Barossa Valley region, and we are looking to find more producers to partner with in the near future! If you are a regional producer in Australia, head to Edible Blooms ‘Regional Hampers’ here, fill in the information form and we will be in contact. We would love to hear from you!

Shop online and order delivery 

When visiting a business in person isn’t an option, don’t despair! You can now have purchases delivered straight to your door, meaning that eating restaurant quality food on the couch in your pj’s is totally acceptable. Most traders are now offering online shopping and delivery (or are in the process of setting these options up), saving you a trip out of the house and giving you a chance to support local business in the process.

If you’re stuck at home, you may have already spent a while browsing the web in search of purchases to keep boredom at bay. If this is the case, focus on Australian business websites, so you know your impulse purchases are going to support local communities. Win win!

Gift cards 

If you’d prefer to visit a store in person before making a purchase, or if the business isn’t offering services until a later date, consider buying a gift card. This is a lifeline for businesses that have to remain closed or offer limited services during this period, and gives you something exciting to look forward to.

If you aren’t in need of any gift cards for yourself, why not buy them for others? Mother’s Day is just around the corner, and there are plenty of salons, spas and yoga studios that would benefit from you pampering your mum this year. Whilst you’re looking at it, don’t forget to stock up on gift cards for all of those birthdays, anniversaries and milestone celebrations coming up too!

Tip those services!

Tipping culture isn’t as big in Australia as it is in other countries around the world, but we think now is a great time to change that. With businesses struggling to keep casual workers employed, a tip will go a long way to helping these people stay in jobs. Whether it’s a $2 tip to the barista who made your coffee or a $20 tip to the pizza delivery driver, no help will go astray, and any amount will be gratefully accepted by both the businesses and the employees. This is a gift that is guaranteed to make someone’s day.

That concludes our list! With a method to suit every budget, we can all do our bit to help out our local and regional communities when they need it most. We hope you’ve gathered up enough inspiration with these handy tips to help you as you start searching, shopping, and supporting local businesses!