Tech & Family

Top 8 Reasons to Support Small Business

top 8 reasons to support small businesses blog

In an internet age of nearly instant gratification of our wants & needs what would ever possess us to consider utilizing local services? As ardent supporters of small business, and in support of Small Business Month (May), we’ll happily share why.

How do Small Businesses Help You?

  • Trust. Sadly, the more dependent we become on the internet, the greater target we become for scams. Using local, established businesses drastically reduces that risk. To learn how to protect yourself from scams read our article, What To Do If You’ve Been Hacked.
  • Local businesses make your roads, parks & schools better. Small businesses pay local taxes and the more money they make, the more money goes back into your community.
  • They support other small, local businesses. Big corporations tend not to. According to the AMIBA, “from each dollar spent at a local independent merchant, 2.5 to 3 recirculates in the local economy compared to a dollar spent at chain-owned businesses”.
  • Local businesses care about your community. They support your local sports teams, schools and local charities like food banks & animal shelters.
sunlight through trees in park
  • Small business retailers often carry items you’re not likely to find just anywhere. If you’re looking for unique or handcrafted gifts, look locally. Can’t find what you’re looking for? Look around for local craft & art shows or you can still use the internet to help small businesses in other communities with sites like etsy.
  • Local small businesses provide jobs to local people. According to the U.S. Small Business Administration, small businesses have created 62% of the net new private sector jobs in America.
  • You are valued. Small businesses remember your name. If you experience a problem, as a rule, they care. Their work is an extension of themselves; their name is at stake with every transaction & there is pride in that. You are never just a number. That kind of respect from a large corporation is an exception, not the norm.
reasons to support small businesses

Every, single, customer matters to a small business.

And because of that,

  • Small businesses make you happier. We all know the sense of dread that comes before having to call a large corporation to address a problem; the voice prompt controlled robot that can’t understand where to to direct your call, the untrained service representative, the unavailable management….these are problems you don’t when working with a small business. The people you deal with in small business know their company, their products, and their services inside and out.

Truly personalized service is impossible within the structure of the lumbering beast of big business.

How to Support Small Business

  • Patronize them! Whether it’s finding unique gifts, hiring a local CPA, buying a new toy for your pet friend, or getting your car washed, you’ll be happier with your experience.
  • Spread the word. Tell your friends, family & neighbors. People are more likely to talk about bad experiences than good…buck tradition. Spread good words!
person talking into a tin can phone
  • Like, follow, and most importantly, SHARE on Facebook and other social media platforms.
  • Write five star reviews for local businesses. And play fair! Don’t write a bad review until you have given the owner an opportunity to try to rectify whatever situation you’re experiencing.
  • Make a list of small businesses in your home town and post it on Facebook or your blog.

Where to Find Small Businesses in Your Town

  • Google your local area Chamber of Commerce. If you’re in the Lehigh Valley area, check out the Lehigh Valley Chamber’s website.
  • Google or Bing maps have listings of local businesses. Type in a business that you know in the area, and you’ll see a slew of other businesses listed on the map.
Screenshot of DRC Technologies Northampton, PA on google maps with surrounding businesses
Take a look around the map to discover other businesses you may not have previously known about. But, not everyone is listed on Google Maps or Bing Places, so…
  • Take a walk around town. Get some fresh air, a little exercise, and discover new businesses ready to serve you. In preparation for this post, the owner of DRC Tech and I took a walk. And within just a two block radius of our store, we found over 42 small businesses!

Following are links to the small businesses we discovered:

(in no particular order)

Food & Beverages

breakfast and coffee on a table

Taylor Roasted Coffee House Baked goods, tea & of course, coffee!

Main Street Restaurant Great diner style food at reasonable prices. Featuring breakfast on the weekends.

Santa Fe Taco Co. Mexican Food. Tacos! And mucho, mucho more.

Assante Ristorante Italiano Delicious Italian food made from scratch, wine & online ordering.

J’s Steaks & Subs Hometown favorite for steaks & subs.

Tanczos Beverages – Beer! Voted Best in the Valley Beer Distributor by The Morning Call.

Galyean’s Deli Delight Full deli, party platters, catering and fundraising.

Northampton Seafood Market – Fresh seafood & prepared dishes. Winner of Style Magazine Best in the Valley.

Music, Dance Fitness, Travel & Entertainment

action clapperboard

The Roxy Theatre – New movies & affordable refreshments in a beautiful, historic theater.

Metropolitan Music Academy – Music, voice, & piano lessons, audition preparation & DJ services. 2002 Main St, Northampton, PA

3D Dance Studio – Gymnastics & performing arts. Style magazine Best of the Valley 2018.

Elite MMA – Martial Arts, Meditation, Stretching, Self Defense, Zumba & Fitness Classes for all ages. Free Bully Awareness Training. 2022 Main St, Northampton, PA 18067

Cruise One – Comprehensive Cruise Travel Agency booking to a multitude of destinations. River cruises, Ocean cruises & Specials available.

Health, Wellness

stethescope

Roginsky & Bernardich, DMD’s Dental & Orthodontic services.

Ofrichter Podiatry – Treatment for feet from routine check-ups to treatment for surgery.

Change on Main – Addiction Recovery Support Services, 1830 Main St, Northampton, PA

Kuhn’s Chiropractic – 2121 Main St, Northampton, PA

Child Care

Woman playing with children at daycare

Main Street Scholars – Child care & learning center.

Retail

thrift store

Lulu’s Treasures – Antique, vintage, and jewelry, 1841 Main St, Northampton, PA

Foster Jewelers – Family owned for over 70 years. New jewelry & repair.

Northampton Coin & Jewelry – Family owned. New & estate jewelry & coins, 1918 Center St, Northampton, PA

Computer Repair & IT Services

computer and mouse with stethoscope

DRC Technologies – That’s us! Computer repair, electronics recycling & IT support for business & home.

Hair Salons & Barbers

hair styling tools

Karen’s Kutz – Men & Women’s cuts & colors at reasonable prices. Next door to Tanczos Beverages.

Bella Hair – Cuts, colors, extensions & lashes.

Michelle Steward’s Beauty Salon – Cuts, colors & nails.

cat and dog cuddling in grass

Pet Care

Affordable Pet Center – Wide variety of pet supplies, training courses & shot clinics.

Doggie Styles Salon & Spa – The name says it all…Dog Salon & Spa.

row of homes

Real Estate Agents

Assist to Sell -Full Service/Discounted Commission Realtors – 2018 President’s Award for Excellence

board meeting with computer

Law Offices, Notary, Insurance & Accountants

Frank Yandrisevits Law Office – 24 West 21st Street, Suite 105 Northampton, PA

John Yurconic Agency – Notary services

Shulman & Shabbick Law Offices – Estate planning/administration, Real Estate & Business Law

Larry Lancaster Insurance – State Farm Agent

Robertson Insurance Group – Erie Agent

Heller Insurance – Progressive Agent

Stoudt Wealth Management – Tax services & wealth management

Auto Service Stations

mechanic working on engine

Harhart’s Service Station – Family owned since 1946. Service, fuel, & car wash.

Tim’s Auto Repair – Over 20 years experience. Military discounts.

Local Banks

bank locker

St. Elizabeth’s Credit Union – Church credit union. 1903 Main St, Northampton, PA

Miscellaneous

Older woman sewing in field

Instattoosionalized – Tattoos & microblading

NJT Firearms – New & used guns, ammo & reloading

We’d love to expand our list of small businesses in Northampton, PA, so if you have any to add to our list, let us know in the comments below.

Thank you for supporting small business!

top 8 reasons to support small businesses blog

-Shannie