COVID-19 and Small Businesses: How to Help
You’re probably reading this from inside your home, cooped up like so many of us through a “safe at home” order or through your own cautious decisions about COVID-19. Maybe you’re playing with your children, trying to find that balance between work and home life. Maybe you’re searching for a new project to keep you busy. Maybe you’ve lost your job. Maybe you’re helping a loved one who is sick, or maybe you’re sick yourself.
We’re living through an unprecedented time in the modern age, and as individuals we’re feeling the pain in so many different ways. I want to recognize that fact first and foremost before talking about the impact on business, as I know so many of you are dealing with extreme personal loss and anxiety. Know that the Dune community is here for you, to support you in your time of need. We have gotten so much support from this community before the pandemic, and your continued belief in us has been a bright spot in this whole situation.
With that said, it’s tough to be a small business owner right now. Those of us who have had to close our doors in order to care for our customers are feeling the ripple effect in our funds - and many are faced with having to close their doors permanently or are dealing with this professional crisis while working through an even more important personal crisis.
We’re in this together as a small business community, and I wanted to share a few ways that those who are able can help small business owners stay afloat during this time, even when their brick and mortar locations are closed:
Order gift cards or shop the online store. Purchases help small business owners most, even if it’s in the form of a “future purchase” like a gift card, as it allows us to continue to operate normally in these abnormal weeks.
Think about purchasing typical items from a small business instead of a big box retailer. For example: Dune carries items like soaps, candles, socks, and more.
Send a friend a care package or a “thinking of you” gift. If you have cash to spare during this time, consider purchasing a gift from a small business owner to send to a loved one as a way of saying that you love them and are wishing them well during this time. We’ve put together joy bundles for this very purpose.
Point friends and family members who are small business owners to resources where they can get financial and business assistance. The latest stimulus bill offers loans and debt relief for certain small businesses.
We know that as a community we can get through this. If everyone can follow the guidelines that have been put in place by the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), the World Health Organization (WHO), and our federal and local governments, we can help flatten the curve of this virus’ growth. If you have the ability to do so, please consider taking some of the steps above to help a local small business owner survive this pandemic, and make it to the other side to continue to serve you and pursue their dreams.