Supporting Small Business: A Community Effort
Submitted by Kate Manley
President of the Rensselaer County RegionalChamber of Commerce
At the Rensselaer County Regional Chamber of Commerce, we are responsible for supporting the needs of our 800+ member businesses in Rensselaer County and our surrounding gateway communities.It goes without saying, but this year has presented some incredible challenges for our regional businesses and local economy to overcome.
We’ve been amazed at the ingenuity and innovative ways that our member businesses have adjusted their daily operations to safely serve customers. Still, our area businesses need our help, and together, we can show our support for local small businesses that have been supporting our community all along.
The importance of shopping small and supporting locally owned businesses has never been more prevalent than it has been during the COVID-19 pandemic. We can all play a part in supporting our small business community, and we wanted to provide you with a few reminders and ways you can play a pivotal role in supporting locally owned small businesses:
• Purchase Gift Cards: Even if you aren’t quite comfortable returning in person, purchasing a gift card to your favorite store or restaurant to use at a later date can go a long way in supporting a business in need. Many locations allow you to purchase a gift card online or over the phone! Keep this in mind as the holidays approach!
• Take advantage of curbside pick-up or delivery: Many stores have easy to use curbside pick-up programs available to customers. Order online or call ahead to place an order! Same goes for ordering food from your favorite restaurant! As the winter months approach, our area restaurants will need your continued support when it becomes too cold to serve additional guests outdoors.
• Keep your memberships: Maintain your memberships to gyms, clubs, newspapers or associations. These organizations rely on their members to sustain their operations!
• Rave reviews: Write a 5-star review online for your favorite local business that you’ve received exceptional customer service from! Your kind words can go a long way in bolstering a business’s online reputation for future customers to see.
You’ve heard it many times these past few months, but when it comes to supporting our area small businesses, we’re truly all in this together. Together, we will overcome the challenges of this year and together, we will remain resilient and emerge as a stronger, more unified community.
If the Chamber can help you and your business grow, we’d love to hear from you. Visit www.renscochamber.com or give us a call at 518-274-7020.
Stay safe & stay well,
Kate Manley
President of the Rensselaer County Regional Chamber of Commerce