When most people want to make a purchase online, they go directly to Amazon, thinking they’ll get a better deal. What they don’t realize is they’re missing out on the opportunity to support a small business and their local economy. Not only does local business generates 70% more local economic activity per square foot than big box retail; if every household in Calgary spent $10/month at local businesses we would generate over 40 million for our local economy.

I recently needed to purchase a new frying pan. Rather than going to Amazon or a big retailer, I googled “Homeware Store Calgary” and immediately found a locally run kitchen store 10 minutes from my house. They were selling a Le Creuset pan for $30 less than it retailed on Amazon. I was able to order everything online and got free same day drop off! Remember this the next time you have to make a purchase.

This is the easiest way to support small businesses without spending any money. In the recent years, Instagram has updated the algorithm to

Sure, we might not be able to sit down to a meal at our favourite restaurant but we can show support by buying a gift card. A lot of bars/restaurants are promoting gift card purchases right now as they provide a quick injection of cash to help them cover staffing and bills. This type of support has been championed by Dan Kelly, President of the Canadian Federation of Independent Business:

“If you’re a small hair salon nail salon trying to hang on during this difficult time, the future of your business may be in jeopardy, so buying gift cards or booking a service a few months in advance can be a really really helpful signal to the business owner, that brighter days are around the corner and they should try to stick it out.”

“Instead of plunking down a lot of money and planning to use it yourself over a longer period of time, spread that money over several people for upcoming holidays such as Mother’s Day, Father’s Day, graduations and friends/family members’ birthdays,” he said. “Then the business and the gift recipient can benefit sooner rather than later, which probably works best for all parties.” - Ted Rossman reported by CNBC.

You can also donate unwanted gift cards to charity, in which case the gift cards would be sold and 100% of the proceeds could go to a worthy cause.

Many small businesses depend on reviews to gain trust with potential customers. If you had a positive experience with a business do not keep it to yourself. Share your pleasant enthusiasm by leaving a review on Facebook or dropping a thank you message in their Instagram Direct Message. Your feedback encourages the small business and nurtures trust among possible leads.