Comments on: Small business is good for your community

By: Becky McCray

Becky McCray — Thu, 29 May 2014 03:05:44 +0000

In reply to Graham Reid. Graham, you're right that this makes your business an especially good contributor to local prosperity. That's a traded business just as much as manufacturing.

By: Graham Reid

Graham Reid — Thu, 29 May 2014 01:14:35 +0000

Our tourism business in Charleville Australia depends entirely on travellers and people from other regions to join our tours and stay in our caravan parks for our income. All our supplies, tradies and consumables are sourced locally. I think this is the perfect scenario for a sustained small community of around 3,500. It’s all about money from outside coming in and being spread around the community. I’m not a fan of the FIFO (fly-in fly-out) business model that so many companies have adopted for their employees in Australia. Small business is the biggest employer in Australia!

By: Set your economic development data free

Set your economic development data free — Thu, 23 May 2013 10:57:42 +0000

[…] locally-owned small businesses are associated with more prosperous communities than chain retail, this is a chance to get some local businesses to step up. If local entrepreneurs can and will […]

By: alvin

alvin — Sat, 27 Oct 2012 14:53:31 +0000

I think it comes down to the fact that small business owners are more interested in making their local area a better place than bigger companies are.

By: Melinda Moses

Melinda Moses — Fri, 14 Sep 2012 16:31:51 +0000

This is such a spot-on post, Paul. Thank you!! I’ll be pointing folks to this for just the right perspective!

So many factors come into what ultimately enables the little guys to make it locally … here in @Ashland, MA, we’re chipping away. We started with a local farmers market this summer, and it’s been successful beyond our wildest dreams. Part of the reason, we’re sure, is that there’s so much pent-up demand for Local, Sustainable, Handmade, Homegrown, and community-focused. It’s energized us to take more steps, more often, to drive more local and community-based focus.

By: Becky McCray

Becky McCray — Mon, 06 Aug 2012 18:05:30 +0000

Adam, that's an interesting perspective. We often hear about the stress of being a business owner, but this is probably the first time I've heard of health benefits.

Paul, it's a habit, and like any other habit, it can be changed!

By: Paul Gerst

Paul Gerst — Mon, 06 Aug 2012 17:54:00 +0000

I so, so, so agree with this. It is up to us as consumers to support small, local, independent businesses with our money rather than just shopping at large chains by default.

By: Adam Kenton

Adam Kenton — Tue, 24 Jul 2012 17:54:30 +0000

I would, having worked with small business owners, go so far to say that the quality of life (per capita) of a small business owner outpaces that of a traditional employee. Exhilaration, challenge, healthy stress, desire, etc…. All elements of being content.

By: Becky McCray

Becky McCray — Tue, 24 Jul 2012 14:28:34 +0000

Thanks, Benjy. I'm glad you've connected with us. Feel free to send me some details via our contact form. I'll be glad to take a look.

By: Benjy

Benjy — Tue, 24 Jul 2012 02:36:21 +0000

Hey Becky -- thanks for this article. I'm new to your blog, so I'm really glad to have found you.

I love the connections here. It makes sense that when more small businesses are thriving in a community, there's more connection and interplay among their owners and a tertiary impact on the rest of the community. I like the piece about the "less juvenile delinquency," -- I can see how biz ideals would get passed down if there are appropriate models and mentors for kids to pattern their lives after as they grow up.

By the way...Becky, would you be interested in guest blogging on my site?