The Weekly Newspaper of Inglewood
Herald Publications - El Segundo, Hawthorne, Lawndale & Inglewood Community Newspapers Since 1911 - (310) 322-1830 - Vol. 69, No. 29 - July 16, 2020
Finance
Inglewood Public Library
Offers Free Help to Students
The Inglewood Public Library is offering FREE Online Tutoring using BrainFuse for grades K through 12. This tool is designed to help students of all ages and abilities with their homework with live online tutoring available everyday from 11:00am to 11:00pm. You can Get
started here: https://landing.brainfuse.com/authenticate.asp?u=main.inglewoodhn.ca.brainfuse.com Photo courtesy City of Inglewood.
Show Up For Small Businesses: 5 Simple Ways
To Support Locally Owned Businesses
(BPT) - Small businesses are the backbone
of the economy. Whether in a busy city or
a sleepy suburb, we depend on the many
beloved local shops and services that contribute
to the vibrancy of our neighborhoods.
Where we shop matters, and now more than
ever small businesses need our support as
they recover and rebuild from the effects of
the pandemic.
Small businesses will play a vital role
in helping communities around the world
get back on their feet. They account for
more than half of global employment, and
COVID-19 has hit them hard. As a result of
the pandemic, 43% of small businesses say
they only have money to last six months.
Women- and minority-owned businesses
have been hit especially hard.
The pandemic has changed the way we
shop, work and live - rapidly increasing
digital commerce including online shopping,
delivery services and curbside pick-up. For
small businesses to meet these new essential
expectations, they must adopt digital tools
across their consumer experiences and backoffice
operations.
As individuals, we all play a vital role
in supporting the success of locally owned
businesses to help our communities thrive.
Every effort adds up, so consider these five
simple things you can do to support local
small businesses:
Make Shopping
Locally a Habit
Exploring neighborhood businesses is
not only good for the economy, it can make
you feel like a real part of your community.
Make a daily effort to shop from small
businesses for your needs - you’ll likely
discover new locally sourced goods, and
service providers who cater directly to
local taste. From food and clothing to
haircuts and car repair, there are many
small business owners who would love
the opportunity to help you. Use the Back
to Business search tool at usa.visa.com to
quickly search for local businesses that can
help with your needs.
Pay It Forward
With a Gift Card
Supporting small business owners
now is critical for small business owners.
Buy gift cards for neighbors, friends and
family as a thoughtful gesture to brighten
their day, or just for yourself for future
use. It a great way to support local
merchants with a revenue stream while
they’re operating under limited circumstances
- keeping their doors open and
workers employed.
Become Part of the
Community on Social
Social media platforms have become more
than a marketing tool for small businesses
- they are vibrant digital communities and
can be as unique an experience as walking
around Main Street. Sure, you can help
grow a small business’s online presence
by liking them on social media. And leave
them a positive online review so others who
might shop there feel confident they’ll have
an excellent experience. Even if they don’t
have a social media page, you can mention
them in your posts to remind your network
of your favorite local businesses. But you
can also get involved: Yoga studios, wine
shops and taprooms, local craft centers and
more are all offering virtual experiences
and online transactions that keep one-to-one
connections alive.
Get It Curbside,
or on Your Porch
Although social distancing has changed the
way some small businesses can work, many
are going above and beyond to meet customer
needs. Ask about options like curbside pickup
or touch-free delivery, which are becoming
another indispensable part of our new normal.
Buy online-pickup, in-store orders including
curbside, jumped 87% year over year by late
March, according to Adobe Analytics. And
as shops re-open brick-and-mortar locations,
many owners are integrating social distancing,
increased cleaning and reconfiguring
in-store layouts to help keep customers and
employees healthy. •
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