A rising tide lifts all boats

This phrase is a favorite of a local businessperson. He believes that if an individual business does well (raises the tide), then all of our businesses will do well.

This concept has been the mission of economic and community development professionals across the nation. But there is only so much we can do. A strong local economy is also the responsibility of fellow business owners. I hear it all the time.

Local business owners do not get the support they need from other local business owners.

In fact, this is one reason businesses drop their chamber membership--they had hoped for a sense of inclusion, an acknowledgment of their efforts by their peers, the pride of showing off your business to others.

What can you do?

• Walk into a different retail store each week “just to look”

• Try a different restaurant one evening

• Attend all After Hours Socials

• Refer someone to a local subcontractor or handyman, or accountant

• Buy your groceries, gas, office supplies, and dog food locally

• Scroll through the chamber directory online

• Visit with another owner at the post office and ask how things are going

• Pay attention to radio and newspaper ads and stories for what is new

• Be a customer of a business before you ask for a donation

• Like, comment, and share posts from local businesses on Facebook

• Express the importance of “raising the tide” to your employees

Working for you,

Stacy and Sierra