For small and independent businesses, a strong, tight-knit community can be the difference between the make and break of your business. But, creating that community, or in some case infiltrating an existing strong community, is no easy feat.
Thankfully, there are plenty of strategies that you can implement when it comes to improving the community with your business. We’ll take you through some of the most successful ways now.
Create Local Jobs
It’s no secret that small businesses are vital in both job creation and purchasing local products. Whereas large companies may have many staff members who commute to them, small companies tend to have employees work closer to home.
Get to Know the Community
As a small business, there’s a prime opportunity to help build that sense of community in the local area. Not only are you in the perfect position to develop personal relationships with their customers, in some cases being on a first-name basis. But, it’s also advisable to make good connections with the other local businesses in your community. These relationships can be on a casual or formal basis; many have taken to offering to mentor other budding business-people. Going one step further, hosting events in the community, be them business-related, or just for a bit of fun will put you at the centre of your community and allow for many relationships to be developed.
Support Your Local Community
One of the most straightforward ways that you can improve your local community with your business is to stock local produce. Most people automatically assume that this only applies to those selling food, but there’s so much more possibility. For instance, you can stock your local designers and sell their artwork, from greeting cards to more significant art pieces. This is just one way that virtually any shop can implement, and there are plenty of greeting card units available for sale at affordable prices.
Additionally, unique, locally made products can be a real attraction to customers in the community, enhancing that local feel that is often sought after. Other benefits of locally sourced products include a decrease in carbon footprints and ensuring tax money goes back into the local community.
Promote What Makes Your Community Unique
Every area will have something that sets it apart from anywhere else. This could be food, a service, or even a piece of history. If you can tie this into your business, it can be a great way to attract both local consumers and tourists. Local uniqueness makes for a great conversation starter, which will be sure to help you build relationships too.
Give Your Customers Part of Your Business
Taking things one step further, offering the sale of shares in your business to the local community can not only help your business out financially, but it can also improve the sense of community surrounding your business. Your business will be accountable to the local community, locals will have a say in key decisions to do with the enterprise, and that sense of ownership and care can only be beneficial. The regular meetings for shareholders will also prove helpful when it comes to forming and nurturing those relationships in the local area.
