Small Business Saturday - On a Mission
We are on a mission to save small businesses.
Over the last seven years (since Batch began), we have worked with over 400 artisan makers and small businesses around the country to sell and promote their sauces, mixers, treats, home goods, accessories, stationery, jewelry, and more. We've seen and heard firsthand the ups and downs (and sideways) of trying to run a small business.We have also experienced them ourselves.
Historically, small businesses (those with less than 500 employees) account for about 44% of all economic activity in the United States. More than half of Americans either own or work for a small business, and they create about two out of every three new jobs in the U.S. each year.
In other words, small business is a big deal.
But now, negative trends are rapidly worsening and small business owners are increasingly pessimistic. As many as 60,000 small businesses have closed for good due to COVID-19 and its economic effects. And unfortunately, when a small business closes - especially during an unprecedented global pandemic - a large business usually takes its place.
When the local hardware store closes (the one with all the employees who know everything about fixing toilets and repairing drywall and are happy to share with you how it's done), those customers flock to the big box hardware store near the mall.
When the local coffee shop closes (the one that supports nearby farms and a socially equitable coffee collective), those customers turn to what's easy, which is the drive-thru coffee conglomerate with its own app.
And when the local nail salon, gift shop, grocer, speakeasy, and clothing boutique close, it's off to the national chains, who have access to mountains of cheap capital and can mount an advertising campaign to stay top of mind and keep it easy for us to spend with the big boys rather than seek out the small guy.
Neighborhoods, communities, cities can't go on like this. That is why we are on a mission to save small businesses.
We've added gifts from a dozen cities across America. We want our support of small businesses to extend beyond our hometown of Nashville.
We compete with national gift conglomerates to pitch large companies on virtual conference gifts and work from home care packages. We want to help corporations understand that even if they are big, they can support what is small.
We offer a fundraising program for any nonprofit. Small charities are just small businesses with different bottom line considerations.
We work to tell the stories of makers and craftspeople we work with. When a small business dies, so does the story, the passion, the reason, and the dream of why and how these businesses began in the first place.
We hope you'll join us on our mission. As the pandemic rages, more businesses will face more hardships. In order to keep our main streets full with economic activity, we need to make it a priority to patronize, visit, shop, sip, eat, share, promote, and enjoy what our neighbors and friends are cooking, making, pouring, mixing, creating, and inventing.
So, thanks. Thanks for doing your part when you shop with us. You have our promise that every item we sell is made by a small business so any purchase with us is a step toward saving small businesses, strengthening communities, and helping our economy.
Want to take another step? Our Snacks from Coast to Coast Batch supports 15 small businesses with a single gift purchase. Use code SAVESB to get 50% off now!
