Our downtown businesses offer something unique that malls, big box stores, and online retailers don’t. And you might not even realize it.
The business owners are actually on premises every single day, and these are some of their faces.
These businesses aren’t just investments to them. They are the heart, sweat, blood, and tears of how they support their family, and the fulfillment of some of their big childhood dreams. They are in their stores helping you select the perfect gift, making suggestions for a new outfit you want, and sizing your feet for a pair of shoes. They are planning the menu, choosing just the right ingredients, and making your meal. They are ringing up your purchases, gift wrapping, sweeping the floor, taking out the recycling, staying early and closing late. They remember your name, ask about your kids, and when they thank you for coming in, it’s sincere.
As the holiday season is barreling towards us, the future of many of our small businesses is uncertain. Running a small business is challenging enough, but with the twists and turns that 2020 and the pandemic has thrown them, it is important that you continue to support small businesses whenever possible to ensure that your favorite stores and restaurants are still here next year. While downtown Denville has been relatively lucky that we haven’t lost businesses yet directly due to COVID-19, that doesn’t mean they don’t need your attention. They do. This holiday season matters in a very big way to them, and to our community, and we can’t stress the importance of shopping and eating local enough.
Many of our businesses offer online ordering, free delivery, and some have even been known to facetime you from the store to help you select the perfect gift if you can’t come in. When considering the lure of free shipping from online retailers, just remember the names of the businesses that are on the backs of shirts that Little League kids are wearing at the baseball games and who is putting together and donating Tricky Tray baskets for your local fundraising event.
Beyond supporting these businesses with your dollars, you can also support them by liking their Facebook and Instagram pages, and commenting on and sharing their posts. That engagement helps their pages get seen by more and grow their audience. Have you had a wonderful experience with one of our downtown businesses? Leave them a review on their Facebook, Google or Yelp pages.
Although the holiday season seems far away, it starts now. And with you. Thank you, as always, for your continued support of our community. It’s what will keep us the number one downtown in Morris County. Now let’s finish 2020 strong.
