Celebrate Small Business Week with Redwood Credit Union | Back-to-business

Shopping at locally-owned businesses has always been a great way to support your community. But with the ongoing impact of the pandemic, there’s never been a more critical time to show your love for them.

Consider this: You work hard to get the most out of your money by investing wisely, perhaps through IRAs, 401(k) plans and other accounts. But have you ever considered how to make the most out of the money you spend? While you may think big-box stores offer lower prices, it’s important to know just how much of an impact your dollars make when you keep them local.

Right now, you can probably think of a few of your favorite locally-owned shops and restaurants. Maybe they’re family owned and operated, or maybe every dish is made with ingredients from local farms. No matter the business, chances are they’ve faced many hardships over the past year due to the pandemic. It’s up to us to keep our favorite places alive and thriving.

Supporting the businesses you love comes in many forms — buying their products, purchasing gift cards, sharing their posts on social media and more. Showing your love for these local businesses helps them stay viable, and it benefits our economy, too.

According to the Small Business Administration, there are nearly 30 million small businesses in the United States. Each one creates jobs and stimulates its local economy. Of course, we can’t support them all, but we can get behind the ones in our own backyard. This Small Business Week, join Redwood Credit Union (RCU) in celebrating the local businesses in your neighborhood.

Here are just a few things to love about shopping local.

Small businesses bring character to our community, which in turn encourages growth. Studies show that for every $100 spent at a local small business, $68 stays in the community. At big-box stores, just $43 stays locally. When you choose to shop local, you’re personally investing in your neighborhood.

This fact may surprise you, but small, local businesses are the largest employers nationally, representing an estimated 1.5 million jobs annually in the U.S. By shopping local, you promote job stability for your neighbors and others in the community. Plus, not only do small businesses employ community members, they’re also customers to other small businesses–purchasing local materials and ingredients or hiring local service providers.

Business owners buy from other local businesses, so when you spend local, you’re spreading the wealth more than you know. And the sales tax you pay provides funding for services and resources everyone depends on, such as first responders, public schools, health services and more.

Out-of-the-box thinkers and passionate go-getters make a community a wonderful place to work, live and play. By supporting local entrepreneurs, you encourage innovative ideas that can make your community shine. 

Have an upcoming birthday or anniversary on your calendar? Or maybe you want to treat yourself to something special? No matter the occasion, products from independent retailers make spectacular gifts because many come with a unique, personal touch. Local shops with handmade goods tend to make their products in small batches and create items using specialty techniques, processes or ingredients.

Show someone (or yourself!) some extra love by purchasing a gift that is unique to your neighborhood. From regional wines or spirits to cheeses, honey and crafts, there’s a locally made product out there that’s perfect for everyone.

Even Mother Nature encourages you to shop local. Small businesses tend to make more local purchases, which cuts down on the need to transport goods. This means you’re contributing to less pollution, habitat loss and resource depletion.

While large chain businesses are typically built for efficiency, small businesses are built with passion. When you walk into a local store, chances are the person behind the counter is personally invested in the products on the shelf. Local business owners are excited about what they have to offer and this makes for a pleasant consumer experience.

And since most small businesses don’t cater to a crowd, you’ll likely receive top-notch customer service — meaning a better chance of walking away with a product or service that perfectly suits your needs. 

Redwood Credit Union is proud to support several small businesses right here in Napa County. We love what they have to offer and we think you will, too! The next time you’re out and about, consider dining or shopping at one of these fantastic local businesses:

• Celadon: Nestled in the heart of downtown Napa Valley, Celadon’s award winning “Global Comfort Food” features flavors from the Mediterranean, Asia and the Americas. Their cuisine is available to enjoy at their Napa riverfront property. Find them at 500 Main St. G, Napa, CA 94559, visit them online at celadonnapa.com or give them a call at (707) 254-9690.
• Ottoman Art: Located on Main Street in Saint Helena, Ottoman Art offers a wide assortment of oriental rugs, hand-crafted Turkish ceramic plates, bowls, vases and other Turkish imports such as scarves, jewelry and soaps. Find them at 1226-1228 Main Street, Saint Helena, CA 94574, visit them online at ottomanartsthelena.com or give them a call at (707) 963-9300.
• LASO: LASO is a fine-dining establishment that serves Nepalese-inspired dishes fused with classic French and California cuisine. It’s run by brothers Ming and Sonam who had a dream of bringing Nepalese food to Napa Valley. Find them at 101 Antonina Ave. Suite #5, American Canyon, CA 94503, visit them online at lasonepalesefusion.com or give them a call at (707) 563-5009.

Redwood Credit Union is committed to helping local businesses. As an SBA-preferred lender, we offer many services for businesses, including commercial real estate loans, full-service business banking and commercial insurance. If you want to start your own business or open a personal account, call RCU today.

Local businesses make our community one of a kind. Let’s show them the love and support they all deserve! This Small Business Week, and always, shop local.