These days, local businesses need your support more than ever.
Most consumers know that, by supporting local businesses, they’re putting money back into their own community and helping to support their local economy. It’s the reason why so many consumers choose to support local businesses rather than giant corporations or big box stores, even if it means spending more money or sacrificing small conveniences.
If you’re serious about supporting local business, it’s more important than ever before to keep doing so. Businesses of all shapes and sizes are facing the same uncertainty that we all are, and, inevitably, small businesses are hit the hardest in times like these, and they are relying on your support more than ever before.
Don’t get me wrong, supporting local businesses in your community is important, but it’s not more important than your health and safety. Luckily, there are a lot of things you can do to keep supporting small businesses in your community while also protecting your own health.
5 Tips for Staying Safe While Supporting Local Business
#1. Take advantage of delivery or carryout options.
According to the CDC (Centers for Disease Control), the best way to avoid getting infected with coronavirus is to limit your exposure to it. That’s why so many people are working from home and taking online classes. But, work and school aren’t the only in-person activities people do each day. People also have to shop, eat, and live their everyday lives, but as much as you can, you should try to do so from home.
One of the best ways to protect yourself and others is to take advantage of delivery and carry-out options as much as you can. If you’re not sure whether or not a local business in your area offers one of these options, make it a point to ask. Businesses are working to stay ahead of the curve, and many of them are newly offering options like these in order to continue supporting their communities.
#2. Keep your distance.
Chances are, a lot of what you want and need will be available through delivery, but sooner or later, you’re probably going to have to get out in the world for one thing or another. But, when you do, it’s important for your own health, and that of others, to make sure that you always keep your distance from others.
When you do need to visit a local business in person, try to go when traffic is lite and the business is less busy. If you’re not sure when that is, you can always call and ask! In addition to avoiding a business’ peak hours, make sure that, when you do visit, you are always mindful about how close you are to others and maintain a distance of at least six feet from those around you.
#3. Stay home if you’re sick.
There’s a lot that we still don’t know about coronavirus, but there are also a few things that we do know, like the most likely way that it spreads. Although the virus can survive for a period on surfaces, and transmission can happen before symptoms even appear, for the most part, coronavirus is spread from person to person through respiratory droplets.
While supporting local business is important, it’s not more important than your health or anyone else’s, and since coronavirus is most effectively spread from people who are already sick and showing symptoms, it’s not a bad idea to play it safe by staying home when you’re sick (even if your symptoms don’t fit coronavirus).
Coronavirus is extremely contagious and isolating yourself when you’re sick is an important part of getting better, but it’s also an essential part of keeping others safe who may have underlying conditions that make the virus more dangerous. Do your part!
#4. Cover sneezes and coughs properly.
Not all coughs and sneezes have to do with coronavirus. You may just have allergies or a tickle in your throat, but if you’re out and about when that happens, it’s important to take proper precautions just in case. The truth is that coronavirus affects people very differently. Some people get very sick while others will experience a minor cold or might possibly display no symptoms at all, which is why it’s important to always be cautious.
Any time you do cough or sneeze when you’re out and about, don’t do it in the open or in your hand, do it in your elbow. This is the best way to avoid the needless spread of germs. And, afterward, make sure that you thoroughly wash and sanitize your hands.
#5. Make sure that you properly disinfect your home.
If you are taking advantage of delivery services, or you’re working with a local contractor in your home, like a plumber or a roofing contractor, it’s important to be mindful of the risks they’re taking in order to work with you. That means that you should make it a point to properly disinfect your home before you invite any contractors in.
According to the CDC, most of the EPA-approved disinfectants out there will work to kill coronavirus, and they advise using the appropriate disinfectant for the surface you’re cleaning. If you’re using bleach, use a quart of water for every four teaspoons, or mix five tablespoons of bleach for every gallon of water. If you’re using isopropyl alcohol to disinfect, make sure it’s at least 70 percent alcohol.
Stay safe while supporting local businesses in your community.
Protecting yourself in the midst of the coronavirus pandemic doesn’t have to mean abandoning your support of local businesses. There are lots of things you can do to show your support while staying safe, and I hope that this article will help.
Whether you’re looking for a local plumber or a local grocery store, Top Rated Local® is your go-to small business directory. Start your local business search here, and read reviews from across the web.
