Come In, We’re Awesome

Written by: Top of Virginia Regional Chamber

While many small businesses were forced to close their doors at this time last year, we are glad to see many Open signs dangling from small boutiques and vibrant businesses in the Top of Virginia. We would all like to move on from a year that brought movement to a standstill for many Chamber member businesses that employ area residents while supporting other local businesses through the collaboration of goods and services.

According to the Small Business Administration, small businesses generate 44 percent of U.S. economic output and account for two-thirds of new hiring. Unfortunately, roughly 20 percent of these small businesses closed in 2020. It took a decade for small businesses to recover from the 2008 recession, only for the cycle to collapse again amidst fear and shutdown. A backlog in grant funding throughout Virginia has impacted these businesses the most, and hiring has been difficult nationwide.

Winchester, Virginia ranked ninth overall in the 2019 Forbes Best Small Places for Business and Careers. Now that many owners have reopened their doors to welcome shoppers into their stores, diners into their restaurants, and volunteers into non-profit organizations, business is prepared to thrive again, and area residents are eager to get back to work. As a result, area employment has grown 1.7 percent since April of 2021.

Our favorite stat that we found was from Red Egg Marketing. They determined 83 percent of consumers support local over corporate and 84 percent of those consumers are willing to pay a little more to support their local market.

This is a year-round movement. We see a push around the holidays to support your local shops and restaurants, but they need this support throughout the year to provide a more stable base for our community to flourish. Stronger communities develop around the businesses that create a culture.

Small businesses are the threads that weave the fabric that we show to the world. Each business may feel like a strand individually, but when they come together to form a community, the final tapestry shows beauty and resiliency. The Top of Virginia Regional Chamber gets to admire this tapestry daily. Shop Local Shopping local is the easiest thing that you can do. Look for a local farm market, try the coffee at a place that isn’t blocking traffic for overpriced milk with a hint of coffee, or support the artist in the storefront down the street instead of the latest internet find. Online retailers are looking to find ways to loosen the stagnant trade in our inland shipping ports, but we implore you to purchase products and services that have only crossed local winding creeks or traveled nearby historic battlefields instead of sailing the ocean blue. These vendors live, work, and play in your community. They may even support your own business. Celebrate the Holidays Consider using a local caterer for your company’s holiday party and move to a venue that supports prosperity in our region. This valley is rich in quality agriculture that meets the highest of standards. Choose to feature locally sourced foods from a catering company that can elevate any corporate holiday gathering in a location that showcases the Top of Virginia. We have toured many gorgeous venues recently, planning for TVRC events in 2022, showcasing the fabric that brings this community to life, from rich farming culture to scenic valley views.