Small Business

This country was built on and around small businesses. I can’t drive down the road without seeing a “going out of business” sign for a lot of small businesses these days. It’s hard being in business, for anybody, but especially if you’re a small business. My family has owned and operated a small business for over 50 years. My entire family has contributed – in one form or another - to helping keep the business up and running. We have always seen ups and downs but with hard economic times, it’s a challenge to keep it going. It takes dedication, faith in God’s provision, hard work and support from the community to keep small businesses running.

There are many small business owners, all across the country, facing the same challenges as my family. So many hardworking, dedicated Americans are out there trying to make a living for their families and provide a place of employment for others in their own community. For my family, we own and operate a Sawmill that, in this day and time, seems old fashioned and is rare. We rely completely on our community for support and it’s getting harder to compete against big corporations. It’s easy to feel frustrated from time to time, but God, thankfully, continues to provide for our family

We are experiencing a huge change - in many ways - in our country. Whether you support it or not, change is going to happen. We can only make sure to do our part in helping it change in the right direction and for the good of the American people. My part in helping keep our country moving in the right direction, is to support small businesses. Of course I'm partial to small business owners because it's near and dear to my heart. But, my heart (and support) goes out to those - friends and strangers alike - all across the country, trying to keep their small businesses floating! I feel like small businesses are the backbone to this country and if we keep them running, we keep the heartbeat in America.

Sadly, it is sometimes more convenient and even less expensive to patron bigger businesses. However, when you take into account the small business expenses, the battles they face to compete with bigger companies and what they are contributing to their communities, it is worth (in my opinion) the time and money to support.

A lack of diversity can decrease revenue in a community. When towns are interesting, it attracts people. Personality from individuals are what make a community unique and if there's more personality and diversity, it can lead to more tourists, which in turn leads to more money placed directly into the community. Local business are more likely to support unique, new and/or controversial products that bigger companies will not support. For example, bookstores and music stores can provide controversial books and support local authors and artists. Business chains greatly decrease a community's individuality because they choose what products reach the customers.

Research proves that small businesses indeed create a substantial majority of new jobs in an average year. In the United States, small businesses (less than 500 employees) account for more than half of the nonfarm, private GDP and around half the private sector employment. With so many Americans looking for employment, it seems a "no brainer" to support your local, small businesses.


Shelton & Sons Mills - Greeneville, TN
-Specializing in wood materials for log homes, siding, T&G, hard wood flooring, framing/roofing, custom cabinets and fire wood
Email - rogerdshelton@gmail.com







I, like most Americans, still go to WalMart and Target and purchase materials from Lowes and TSC, but when given the opportunity to support local and small businesses, I do my part. So, the next time you're faced with the option of supporting a local business, think about your community and remember that it takes your support to keep it up and running! 


New Leaf Historical Woodwork - Asheville, NC 
-Specializing in the preservation of Appalachian history through finely crafted, green products
Visit on Facebook http://www.facebook.com/newleafwoodwork?ref=hl#!/newleafwoodwork/info

 

Support Small Business Saturday - November 24, 2012

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