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Learn how businesses can show community pride and support all year round.

While many companies participate in charitable events throughout the year, the current global pandemic has introduced challenges that require our support. Small businesses along with youth programs, housing shelters, and other social services have been struggling to meet their needs, during a time when the community requires them most. Writing a cheque, although very generous, is not the only way businesses can show support within their community.

With a little creativity, initiative, and a whole lot of teamwork, businesses can come together to make a huge impact within their communities. Whether you choose to shop local for all your business and personal needs, get physically active within the community, or get loud on social media, every effort is well invested directly into your community and the families within it. Plus, giving back isn’t just satisfying, it helps your company gain rapport and visibility, opening the door to new business opportunities as well!

Shop Local Wherever Possible

There are a variety of ways to support local businesses, aside from switching up your takeout menus. Small businesses are in every niche after all, so why stop there?

Support Local Food Services

Heading to a privately owned restaurant is usually everyone’s first thought when they think of shopping local – which makes sense for how often we dine outside the home. However, this has changed as of late, due to fluctuating restrictions and mandates, along with many people working from home and trying to cut costs. This is where local businesses like yours can step in.

Companies can show support for their local eateries by hosting luncheons and business meetings on-site, ordering catering services, or by purchasing gift cards for employees. Your company’s business will not only be appreciated, but your employees will become better acquainted with their communities and the local dining options available to them. Maybe they will visit again outside of work hours or share the new spot with friends and family!

Purchase Supplies and Services

There are opportunities for companies to support local businesses at every turn. Consider everything from computer hardware, software, and tech support, to cleaning services, insurance, or private car dealerships for your company’s fleet. Supporting businesses in your community has a direct effect on the local economy while allowing your company to build relationships within the community, with those who share similar values.

Show Support Actively Within the Community

Why wait around for the next business transaction or lunch meeting? There are likely several charities and programs in your local community needing support right now, and there’s no time like the present – especially now!

Donate to a Cause or Be a Sponsor

Of course, there is always an opportunity to make a monetary donation to a charity, or social service program – or multiple! Companies can make it fun for employees by holding fundraising events like bake sales and barbeques, or they can get creative with goals for reaching a target amount. Maybe the boss shaves their beard or dyes their hair when the goal amount is reached? Scheduling fundraising events and food drives into your company calendar gives employees something to look forward to and instills your brands’ values into the culture and environment of your workplace.

Sponsorships are another fantastic way for companies to make charitable donations within their community. Perhaps an employee, their child, or a friend in the community participates on a sports team or has an event that needs a sponsor. Monetary donations directly benefit the bottom line of any cause, while giving your brand exposure on jerseys, signage, and social media.

Implement a Volunteer Program

You don’t always have to reach in your pocket to show community support – donating company time goes a long way too. Volunteering your team’s participation in community programs opens doors for your company to create bonds with local businesses, as well as a chance for cross-departmental relationship building internally. Providing paid volunteer time and supporting the causes that are important to your employees will help encourage participation, engagement, and camaraderie between each other.

Volunteer opportunities are not difficult to come by, there’s something out there for everyone’s interests and availability. Teams can volunteer directly with hands-on service within community programs, such as youth programs or “Meals on Wheels” services for the elderly for instance. Alternatively, employees can offer their skills and expertise to help mentor small businesses and entrepreneurs – the possibilities are endless!

Use Your Platform!

Social media offers many advantages, including the ability to support all your favourite local businesses and programs on a public platform. Don’t just share accounts of local restaurants and events though, vary your posts with ones that bring awareness to local charity or fundraising efforts too. You can even share pictures and videos, or tag businesses in your company stories during volunteer or sponsorship participation to show your followers just how dedicated you are to supporting your community!

We Aim To Serve Our Community!

At SONA we deeply value the relationships we have within the communities we service – locally and Canada-wide. We strive to highlight companies that share similar values, who also engage in community efforts, and give back where possible. From onsite support at events, such as the recently attended St. John’s Board of Trade Golf Tournament, where we sponsored the check-in table, to donations like the school backpacks we filled with supplies for Phoenix Youth Programs – we are always looking for ways to serve our community!

Our passion for servicing the community has inspired SONA to put the effort forward into becoming a Certified B Corporation. It is a priority of ours to be acknowledged as a business that acts to benefit society, by considering the impact we make. To be certified as a B Corp business, companies must legally meet specific standards that verify their participation in social and environmental causes. We believe it’s all about doing the right thing when no one is watching.

SMALL BUSINESSES ACROSS ALL SECTORS NEED YOUR SUPPORT – WE’RE IN THIS TOGETHER!

The trend of “shopping local” isn’t new to Canadians, but it definitely means something different after the last year and a half. Everyone has been deeply affected by the ongoing pandemic, with small business owners being some of the hardest hit. The challenges have been insurmountable for many – between lockdowns, mandates, and capacity limitations, for some businesses it’s been almost impossible to stay afloat. In fact, plenty haven’t been able to keep up with the instabilities, forcing them to close their doors permanently.

Luckily, we can help the small businesses in our communities coast to coast by showing a little support. Whether it’s your morning coffee, your next vehicle purchase, or the payment provider for your own small business, there are many ways to contribute – but here’s why your support matters most.

1. You Make a Direct Impact On Your Communities Economy
Your purchases make a difference. While we can’t control the future or change the world overnight, the few choices we make do have an impact. Online shopping habits have surged and with consumers leaning heavily on large corporate platforms like Walmart and Amazon to meet their demands. Many small businesses have felt the effects as a result.
Each purchase you make at a local small business goes straight back into your community. Don’t let your efforts stop at restaurants and farmers markets though, think outside the box! Look into a privately owned gym, boutique hotel, or mechanic instead of a corporate brand name – you’ll likely be surprised with the quality of your service, and the dedication to customer satisfaction.

2. Every Customer Matters
Have you ever noticed the customer service offered by small businesses is incomparable? While corporate online stores and big-box retailers have the bottom line to support entire departments and A.I. bot technology geared to customer service, the personal touch is completely lost. In a small business, every single purchase matters, but even more so – every customer matters. Making sure you’re completely satisfied is their top goal to ensure you become a loyal, returning customer – so they put in the extra work!

3. Thriving Businesses Stimulate The Job Market
According to Stats Canada, small businesses account for 98% of all employer businesses in Canada. The more businesses that shut their doors, the less availability there will be within the job market – it’s as simple as that. During a time where many companies are burdened with difficult decisions like layoffs and closures, jobs are a necessity, to say the least. Shopping local for your retail and service needs will not only help these small businesses stay afloat, but it also allows them to grow and employ more people within your community.

4. Help Local Businesses Support One Another
Building healthy relationships is important for the growth of small businesses, especially in our competitive consumer market. Because of this, business owners often take pride in supporting their local communities and fellow entrepreneurs, as they relate to the struggles and hardships. Plus, privately-owned companies aren’t bound to an “approved” list of vendors, supporting the solidarity of buying local and investing in the community.
Your purchases keep businesses open and operating, fostering the ability to maintain business-to-business relationships. The coffee and breakfast bagel bought at the ma and pa shop doesn’t just keep people employed, it also helps support other small businesses like local food suppliers, payment providers, or other service-based companies.

5. They Can’t Make It Without You
After months of lost revenue, the challenge of reopening and resuming daily functions has been daunting. For many there’s little left to invest, between hiring new staff, replenishing inventory, and all the overhead costs associated with operation. While larger corporations and chains have felt the impact caused by the pandemic and its mandates, the effects to small businesses are insufferable – they simply do not have comparable revenue. Supporting small businesses in your local community can make all the difference in rebuilding the economy and getting back to a new normal; after all, we are in this together.

Doing Our Part
Now more than ever, there’s a dire need to support the businesses in our communities. Along with the economical benefits, small businesses have a lot to offer their communities in return. Keeping them open and thriving means they’re in a better position to give back, furthering recovery efforts in our common goal of returning to normal life.

Here at SONA, we take pride in understanding the needs of small businesses during these difficult times. In a survey conducted by Interac Corp., it was found that there’s been a 333% year-over-year increase to debit payments, as well as a massive year-over-year increase in E-commerce payments. Small businesses not utilizing these payment methods are likely to experience even tougher hardships.

While payment processing fees can be another daunting cost associated with operating a business, SONA’s vision is grounded on the belief that business owners should view their merchant service provider as a trusted partner, rather than a cost of doing business. During such a confusing unpredictable time, businesses need ethical merchant services they can rely on for support, without hidden fees or sudden increases. We view our merchants as family and our Cost Certainty Guarantee provides each of the businesses who choose to work with us consistency during a time of unpredictability – as one of our roles in supporting business across Canada.

References https://www.newswire.ca/news-releases/fuel-for-economic-recovery-canadians-want-to-support-local-businesses-in-their-communities-and-half-are-willing-to-pay-more-if-needed-813415627.html https://www150.statcan.gc.ca/n1/pub/45-28-0001/2021001/article/00009-eng.htm