EDITORIAL: Help small businesses succeed

Published 3:12 pm Tuesday, May 6, 2025

Next month, the Milledgeville-Baldwin County Chamber of Commerce will honor local small businesses at its annual awards gala. But before next month’s gala, we can celebrate these businesses during National Small Business Week, which recognizes their economic impact.

Costs are increasing, impacting everyone’s bottom line, requiring us to scrutinize our dollars more closely. Particularly amid these economic challenges, Small Business Week recognizes the creative ways business owners are weathering this climate.

Amidst the economic ups and downs, these are businesses that we all interact with every day. These businesses help sustain Milledgeville and Baldwin County and help keep the local community going.

Small business owners not only contribute to the lifeblood of the local economy, they give back to the community they serve mightily through volunteer hours, and contributions and sponsorships to numerous causes. Many small business owners are also actively engaged and in tune with the issues at hand because what impacts Baldwin at-large impacts local business.

So how can we do more to support them? Here are a few tips from the Better Business Bureau to keep in mind and try to put into practice:

–First and foremost, shop locally both in-person and online.

–Buy local gift cards. You may not use the gift cards right away, but the revenue from these sales is a huge help to the small business. And, it’s a promise that you’ll continue to be a customer later.

–Share posts from a small business on social media.

–Have a great experience? Too often, we only write a review when it’s a complaint. Write an online review about great customer service or a great product.

–Tag a friend. Many small businesses are offering up special promotions on posts to gain more customers. When you see these kinds of posts – tag a friend, you never know who may be in the shopping mood.

Support small businesses not only this week but every opportunity that you can. When they succeed, we all do as well.