Right now, locally owned businesses are facing unique challenges unlike any they’ve encountered before. Even as Arizona gets back to business, many owners are finding that they need to quickly adapt to stay afloat in light of the COVID-19 pandemic.
To keep Arizona’s economy strong, it’s more important than ever to support Arizona-run businesses. After all, locally owned businesses recirculate more than 50% of their revenue within the local community. Here are four simple ways to keep supporting local businesses, even when you’re staying home.
Order takeout from your favorite restaurants. While you may not be lounging on the patio or hanging out at the bar in your favorite local spot, you can still enjoy your favorite fare at home! Consider picking up a couple of takeout orders throughout the week. Missing meals with friends? Have a “dinner party”— everyone gets takeout and catches up over video chat while you eat!
Buy a gift card for future services. Salons and beauty studios are allowed to reopen, but many are choosing to wait before opening their doors. You can bet you’ll want a trim, a touch-up or a full makeover by the time they do! Buy a gift card now to redeem when the business reopens, which helps them keep a flow of income to support employees who are unable to work right now. Plus, when the time comes to get that cut and color, you won’t even feel like you’re spending any money!
Order online from local retailers. Arizona’s stay-at-home orders brought about limitations to the way businesses could operate. Restaurants could no longer provide dine-in services, and non-essential retailers were shuttered. Business owners quickly adapted, offering delivery and order pickup. Now, you can do order pickup just about everywhere – check with your favorite local shops to see if they’re offering this service.
Donate to non-profits in need. Many non-profits have been hit hard as a result of COVID-19, especially with a reduction in donations and volunteers. If you can, consider making a monetary donation or even giving your time as a volunteer. If you volunteer in person, be sure to follow health and safety recommendations, like wearing a cloth mask and washing your hands regularly.
Together, Arizona will continue to move forward through uncertain times. Supporting local now means our economy will bounce back in no time! FBN
By Caprice Daniels
Caprice Daniels is a business deposit services officer with OneAZ Credit Union serving the Prescott area. OneAZ Credit Union is the largest state-chartered federally insured credit union in Arizona and offers a statewide field of membership, serving its more than 140,000 members through 21 locations across Southern, Central and Northern Arizona. To learn more, visit OneAZcu.com.