Column: Small business support is important now more than ever

Rusty Joe Gonzales, Co-Social Media Director|February 16, 2022

Rusty Joe Gonzales

As the sun sets behind the old grain silos in Downtown Prosper, cars line the street as people go about their evening shopping and dining. “While many stores may seem like they offer the same thing as major retailers, by supporting a small business, you are not only supporting an individual person or family and helping pay their bills,” writer and junior Rusty Joe Gonzales said. “You are also able to get a personalized shopping experience, where you get to talk with the owners as you shop.”

With the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic two years ago, everything locked down and came to a screeching halt. Businesses across the country shut down for months at a time, including many small and independently-owned ones – where their owners could not supplement the income lost.

While many major companies switched to a “work-at-home” format, those who own a brick-and-mortar store either had to switch their inventory and sales to an online model, or shut down completely.

Now, with everything mostly back to normal – or as close to normal as we are able to get – the stores that can reopen have done so with some changes – whether this is with their own personalized COVID-19 guidelines, or having both an in-person and an online store.

With so many stores shut down over the last two to three years, everyone should try their best to support the ones near them that are still open. While many stores may seem like they offer the same thing as major retailers, by supporting a small business, whether it be online, via sites like Etsy, or in-person areas like Downtown McKinney Square, you are not only supporting an individual person or family and helping pay their bills – you are also able to get a personalized shopping experience where you get to talk with the owners as you shop.

Personal Experience

When a friend and I went shopping in Downtown McKinney this past summer and stopped in one store to browse what they had, as we left the owner offered us both a free bottle of water, which with major chain retailers you wouldn’t get. Another personal experience I have had while shopping at a local small business was at Carpe Diem Comics – once again located in Downtown McKinney – where they have had their dog, Pancake, in the store, and allowed me and the friends I went with on two separate occasions to pet him.

While prices at small brick-and-mortar stores may be higher than major retailers, to me it’s worth it. You know that the money you spent is going back to the owners, employees and their families to keep food on their tables, their bills paid and merchandise in their store.

With all this said, support your local businesses. And, if you need new ones to support, check out the interactive map below, which contains a list of some of my friends’ and my favorite local businesses – and where they are located.