How to Solve Small Business Cashflow Problems

(Gloucestercitynews.net)(January 15, 2020)–The wheel of fortune is a fickle mistress and regardless of how well your business is performing today, tomorrow may bring any number of unexpected hazards and unforeseen encumbrances to challenge your business acumen and your business bank balance. Balancing the books is hard enough for a small business, and so it pays to be prepared for tough times and armed with a strategy for dealing with potential cashflow hiccups as they arise. When times are good and money is flowing freely, that’s a good time to start planning for the unexpected, so that in the event of a financial downturn in your fortunes, you can keep things on track. In this article, we look at a few of the ways you can solve these cashflow problems.

Be better at building a budget for your business

When you are enjoying a successful period, it’s tempting to pay little attention to your budget, keeping only a rudimentary spreadsheet at which you’ll occasionally give a cursory glance every now and then, safe in the knowledge that there’s more than enough coming in to deal with what’s going out. Unfortunately, without a

sensible budget

in place, it can be very tricky to cater for all those new tools, expensive staff parties, and costly resources. Should a downturn occur, this could leave you chasing your tail looking for ways to pay that VAT bill and your corporation tax on tie. There’s nothing like a fine from HMRC to make you wish you’d budgeted more carefully. Preventative maintenance is a great way to solve cash flow problems before they start.

Consider a short-term loan to keep your business running

A sensible short-term loan can be an excellent and productive way of keeping all your business-critical processes moving forwards when cash flow is poor and you would otherwise not be able to afford to keep the business afloat. You could consider liquidating stock or perhaps dip into some savings or even borrow money from a family member or willing business investor. If you’d rather keep hold of your assets and not relinquish any control to a third-party investor, you might look at a short term loan from a reputable lender, such as

biz2credit

, so that there doesn’t need to be any interruption in your business-critical activities.

Engage with a more flexible working environment

Depending on what sort of business you are and what you deliver, you might be able to dispense with some significant costs altogether. Technology today allows for teams to be far more remote than they used to be, meaning that a physical office might not even be a requirement, saving your business a lot of money in the process. Making a move towards a remote working environment doesn’t mean you have to sacrifice productivity or quality of work either. Studies show that staff tends to be

more productive

when able to maintain a more flexible approach to their work-life balance.

With some sensible budgeting, a short-term business loan and a more flexible approach to your working conditions mean you should be able to deal with most cash flow problems.

Camden City’s Renaissance

(Camden City, NJ) – A recent release of survey data from the U.S. Census Bureau shows positive trends for Camden City in key areas including poverty, educational attainment, employment and unemployment. The findings come as part of a new five-year population estimate produced by the Census Bureau using data derived from the American Community Survey (ACS).

Incremental improvements in each area signal broad quality of life enhancements for residents throughout the City and echo previous findings from state agencies and other reports.

“Change doesn’t happen overnight, but in findings like these we are seeing the very real snowballing effect of progressive policies put into place to better the lives of residents in the City,” said Freeholder Director Louis Cappelli, Jr. “Our commitment remains on ending the crippling effects of decades-long poverty and economic stagnation in the city, and continuing Camden’s recent renaissance. We have a lot of work still to do, but this data makes clear that we are on the right track and headed in the right direction.”

The ACS produces estimates of select population characteristics for one- and five-year periods. Five-year estimates include data aggregated over a 60-month period and attempt to show the characteristics of the city over that entire stretch. While five-year estimates provide a less current snapshot of the City than one-year estimates released in September, they represent the most accurate data released by the ACS, with the lowest margin of error.

Among the most stunning trends to have been observed this decade is the surge in educational attainment among 18- to 24-year-olds in the City. From 2006 to 2010 approximately 68 percent of young adults in the City had graduated high school, earned their G.E.D., attended some college, or received an associate’s, bachelor’s or advanced degree. The most recent estimate shows this population achieving high school or better levels of education at a stunning 83.3 percent.

“Academic progress has been paramount to the changes in the Camden City School District over the last five years,” Superintendent Katrina McCombs said. “Ensuring all of our students and families are attaining a quality education and gaining access to advanced educational opportunities is our objective. This report underscores the progress being made in the classroom and throughout our district.”

The findings also show that those residents are having much more success at the conclusion of their education and when seeking employment. Despite the overall population of residents 16 and over decreasing since the period ending in 2013, the number of those employed has increased by more than 2,500. Over the same period, the number of unemployed residents dropped precipitously from more than 7,700 to fewer than 3,900. The City posted a 12.6 percent unemployment rate over the five years ending in 2018, a dramatic decline from the 24.4 percent reported from 2009 to 2013.

“Unparalleled collaboration and a holistic approach to revitalization is resulting in real progress in Camden,” said Camden Mayor Francisco Moran. “As a lifelong resident, I can assure you the transformation taking place in the city is extraordinary. The results are tangible as the positive impact is being felt throughout the community. The data indicates that Camden is making substantial gains as it relates to reducing poverty, improving academic outcomes and increasing employment prospects. This kind of sustained progress has not been witnessed in decades. These are all positive signs for our residents and indicators that the quality of life continues to improve.”

Throughout the city, a variety of factors have led to steadily improving conditions and decreases in the overall poverty rate. While declining slowly from its post-recession peak, the poverty rate in the city slid to 36.8 percent.

The American Community Survey is administered by the U.S. Census Bureau for the purposes of collecting detailed population and housing information. Data collected as part of the ACS is publicly available and can be found by visiting

www.data.census.gov

Do You Need Health Insurance-You Have Options

(NAPSI)—“We need to find health insurance. Where do we start?” This question will occur to millions of Americans who have lost their employer-provided health coverage—or want to be prepared in the event they do. Some reports suggest

that some individuals may not enroll in health insurance at all, and the health and financial impact of going without could have long-lasting consequences.

“Choosing the right health coverage may seem daunting since many Americans have never shopped for coverage before or worry that they cannot get affordable health insurance,” said Mark Smith, president of HealthMarkets, one of the largest independent health insurance agencies in the United States. “People should know that there is a wide range of coverage options available to meet their unique care needs and financial situations, some of which are free or subsidized.”

Health Care Coverage Guidance and Enrollment Support

Individuals can find support through health care marketplaces, insurance carriers, insurance brokers and other licensed insurance agents to determine what plan is best for them.

For example, GetCovered is a free service offered through HealthMarkets that provides guidance for people who need health coverage. Call (877) 270-0029 or visit www.getcovered.com to get started. Working with licensed insurance agents, individuals can learn what they are eligible for, including Medicare/Medicaid options or find commercial health plans that best meet their individual needs. Agents can also help them enroll in these plans, where they are able.

Questions to Ask

To find the right coverage, it’s important to know what’s available, what to ask and what information you need to enroll. To narrow your options, be prepared to discuss:

•When does your employer-sponsored coverage end?

•Does your company offer COBRA (Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act)? Under COBRA, individuals maintain their current plan benefits by paying the total cost of the insurance including their premiums and the amount contributed by their employers.

•Does your spouse’s/domestic partner’s employer provide coverage with a “special enrollment” allowance under certain circumstances?

•What benefits does your family need or want?

•What can your family afford? Think about what portion of your monthly budget can be used for health coverage or other insurance. Your family may be eligible for additional options based on your specific financial situation.

Health Coverage Options

If COBRA and spousal coverage are not available or too cost-prohibitive, here are other options to consider:

•Medicaid/Medicare—While Medicare coverage is primarily available to individuals over age 65, Medicaid eligibility is primarily based on income, disability, family size and other circumstances.

•Individual exchange/marketplace plans-These Affordable Care Act (ACA) plans are available through federal or state enrollment sites. Based on your family’s income, you may be eligible for plan subsidies making one of these plans more affordable. Recent job loss often would be a “qualifying life event” to enroll in an ACA plan outside of the annual Open Enrollment Period.

•Short-term plans—Short-term limited duration insurance coverage provides temporary coverage to bridge the gap between longer-term insurance coverage. These plans have a fixed duration of a few months to even several years and generally will offer less robust coverage than ACA plans.

“Health coverage decisions can be made simpler—and there are resources to help,” Smith said. “Regardless of whether you choose to do your own research and enrollment or engage outside services, determining what you and your family need and can afford will help you find good health coverage that ensures you have access to care now.”

Tips to Make the Most of Your Small House

(Gloucestercitynews.net)(Dec. 14, 2019)–Not everyone is lucky to have a huge and spacious house. Considering the cost of real estate these days, you\’re already lucky even to own a house. Despite having a small place, you can still make it look great. After decorating your

place, you will be proud to call it home.

Invest in multi-purpose furniture

You can find furniture that you can use for a variety of purposes. For instance, furniture that\’s useful as a sofa in the morning, but a bed at night. You can also have a mirror which converts to a flat-screen television when reversed. The good thing is that you can have everything you need despite having limited space.

Opt for a minimalistic approach

You can change the way you view home decoration. Instead of buying as many items as you can, you could reduce them. A minimalist approach allows your space to look more spacious and creates an illusion of comfort.

Use blinds instead of curtains

When using blinds, you can create a seamless connection between your house and the outdoor space. It feels like the world is your home. Curtains are restricting and will make your room look even smaller. Apart from using blinds, you also have to invest in a large mirror. It tricks you into thinking that there\’s more depth in your home when it\’s only the reflection of one side.

Always keep it

organized

You can\’t afford to have a messy home when it\’s already small, to begin with. The place will look even more cramped. Each time you take something out, you need to return it properly. For instance, if you read a book, you have to return it to the shelf once you finish.

Invest in built-in furniture

Sometimes, it’s difficult to find furniture that fits your needs. The available choices don’t always fit. You might end up choosing the best option, but it’s not perfect. The best alternative is built-in furniture like a

fitted wardrobe UK

specialists design and install. If you have one, you will find it easy to customize the design to match your space, preference and budget. You can also determine the specific area where the furniture will be suitable. You might have to spend a bit more for fitted furniture, but it looks amazing. It’s also practical.

Keep it simple

You might feel inspired to follow the design ideas you see in magazines. The problem is that you don\’t have the luxury of such space. You have to settle for the small area you have. Despite that, you can still make your home amazing. You just need to be smart in determining the perfect design. Keep it simple but stunning.

Start by listing everything you want to see in your house and what you need to have. From there, you can decide what else you need to purchase. If you can afford to move to a bigger house in the future or opt for remodelling, it would also be an excellent idea.

Image:

https://unsplash.com/photos/EMWgB-BTyh0

Will Artificial Intelligence Improve Our Futures?

Gloucestercitynews.net(Dec. 2, 2019)–AI or artificial intelligence uses an enormous amount of data paired with sophisticated algorithms to accomplish an amazing array of tasks that just a few years ago would have been impossible. AI is already being used to automate tasks and to improve customer experiences, and the potential for artificial intelligence applications in the world of tomorrow is huge.

How Is AI Being Used Today?

Within just a few years, artificial intelligence has advanced in leaps and bounds. Almost everywhere you look, there are AI applications changing our lives. Take a look at online gaming, for example. AI is now opening up the

potential for live online gaming

that creates a real-world style experience for players all over the world.

Or how about AI-enhanced map applications that tell you which roads to avoid because of jams on your way home? Take a look around you, and you’ll notice that artificial intelligence is pervading through more and more elements of our everyday lives. It’s influence is often so subtle that we can barely see it unless we look closely.

The Rise Of The Chatbot

One of the top applications for artificial intelligence is chatbots. When customers call their bank or use an online messaging service, they will frequently be

passed to a chatbot first

to determine their requirements and needs before passing them onto a human representative. By personalizing the customer experience right from the start, artificial intelligence holds a lot of potential for the service industry.

Will AI Replace The Need For Humans?

There is an ongoing concern that with the developments in artificial intelligence, human workers will no longer be required. However, this is unlikely to be the case. In fact, experts are predicting that the real future of AI will lie in augmented analytics.

Augmented analytics is, essentially, traditional analytics which has been augmented with artificial intelligence. By collating huge amounts of data and applying algorithms which determine key factors, AI can help to achieve goals such as improving retail margins through the automation of discount recommendations for different products. This kind of use for AI will certainly not remove human agents from the equation since they will still be required to sell the products that the discounts are being offered on.

It’s also likely that more organizations will, within the next few years actually need more human specialists to work behind the scenes with AI algorithms. Experts in customer trust, privacy and behaviour forensics will all be needed to reduce reputation risks for brands when they adopt AI into their existing protocols.

Augmentative AI – Supporting Humans Not Replacing Them

Augmentative AI is already in use in our everyday lives. If you’ve ever used

Grammarly to improve your writing

, you’ll already have benefited! This AI uses sophisticated algorithms which can determine if grammar has been improperly used. It can offer suggestions for improvements and recommend options which would improve phrasing. This doesn’t eliminate the need for human writers – rather it nudges writers in a specific direction, helping to give them greater confidence and reducing their editing workload. It’s likely that this type of AI is where the future is headed – augmentative functionality that makes human’s lives easier.

Augmentative AI

offers the potential to complete operations and tasks that would otherwise be expensive and time consuming for humans to do. Auto-transcription, for example, can take a task which takes hours to complete manually and reduce it to a matter of minutes. Humans won’t miss these unwanted, laborious tasks and will, instead, be able to dedicate their time to more worthwhile pursuits.

Providing Company

Another highly probable future use of AI will be to improve our social experience. Humans are naturally social creatures who enjoy talking with others. As many of us are living increasingly isolated lives, it’s only natural that we look for things to talk to that can replace other humans when there are none around.

Siri and Google Assistant are just two examples of AI that can be a confidant and friend as well as a useful tool. Capable of responding appropriately when spoken to, these voice assistants can already do much more than just retrieving information or playing a song when instructed. Siri already has a raft of responses that are frivolous rather than functional and this will only become better as time goes on, with even more realistic encounters and conversations becoming possible with your AI-enhanced devices in the future.

AI In Our Near Future

For the foreseeable future, it’s likely to be the case that AI augmentation will be the way in which most of us will be directly

interacting with artificial intelligence

. The effect is likely to be so subtle that we barely notice it. Digital products will have a higher quality, fewer errors will appear, the time taken to create works such as writing and art will be shorter.

However, it’s clear that AI is already rewriting all the rules that we have been living by for centuries and within our lifetimes, it’s likely that it will become increasingly hard to discern human-generated responses and content from that created by a compute

Seniors in Pain find Relief with Cannabis

Stephanie O\’Neill:

September 18, 2018

Megan Baker (left) of Papa & Barkley Co., a cannabis company based in Eureka, Calif., shows Shirley Avedon different products intended to help with pain relief. (Stephanie O’Neill for KHN)

Shirley Avedon, 90, had never been a cannabis user. But carpal tunnel syndrome that sends shooting pains into both of her hands and an aversion to conventional steroid and surgical treatments is prompting her to consider some new options.

“It’s very painful, sometimes I can’t even open my hand,” Avedon said

So for the second time in two months, she’s climbed on board a bus that provides seniors at the Laguna Woods Village retirement community in Orange County, Calif., with a free shuttle to a nearby marijuana dispensary.

The retired manager of an oncology office says she’s seeking the same relief she saw cancer patients get from smoking marijuana 25 years ago.

“At that time [marijuana] wasn’t legal, so they used to get it off their children,” she said with a laugh. “It was fantastic what it did for them.”

Avedon, who doesn’t want to get high from anything she uses, picked up a topical cream on her first trip that was sold as a pain reliever. It contained cannabidiol, or CBD, but was formulated without THC, or tetrahydrocannabinol, marijuana’s psychoactive ingredient.

“It helped a little,” she said. “Now I’m going back for the second time hoping they have something better.”

As more states legalize marijuana for medical or recreational use — 30 states plus the District of Columbia to date — the cannabis industry is booming. Among

the fastest growing group

of users: people over 50, with especially steep increases among those 65 and older. And some dispensaries are tailoring their pitches to seniors like Avedon who are seeking alternative treatments for their aches, pains and other medical conditions

On this particular morning, about 35 seniors climb on board the free shuttle — paid for by Bud and Bloom, a licensed cannabis dispensary in Santa Ana. After about a half-hour drive, the large white bus pulls up to the parking lot of the dispensary.

About half of the seniors on board today are repeat customers; the other half are cannabis newbies who’ve never tried it before, said Kandice Hawes, director of community outreach for Bud and Bloom.

Residents of Laguna Woods Village, a retirement community in Orange County, Calif., ride a free shuttle to a marijuana dispensary in August.

(Stephanie O’Neill for KHN)

“Not everybody is coming to be a customer,” Hawes said. “A lot are just coming to be educated.”

Among them, Layla Sabet, 72, a first-timer seeking relief from back pain that keeps her awake at night, she said.

“I’m taking so much medication to sleep and still I can’t sleep,” she said. “So I’m trying it for the back pain and the sleep

.”

Hawes invited the seniors into a large room with chairs and a table set up with free sandwiches and drinks. As they ate, she gave a presentation focused on the potential benefits of cannabis as a reliever of anxiety, insomnia and chronic pain and the various ways people can consume it.

Several vendors on site took turns speaking to the group about the goods they sell. Then, the seniors entered the dispensary for the chance to buy everything from old-school rolled joints and high-tech vaporizer pens to liquid sublingual tinctures, topical creams and an assortment of sweet, cannabis-infused edibles.

Jim Lebowitz, 75, is a return customer who suffers pain from back surgery two years ago.

He prefers to eat his cannabis, he said.

“I got chocolate and I got gummies,” he told a visitor. “Never had the chocolate before, but I’ve had the gummies and they worked pretty good.”

“Gummies” are cannabis-infused chewy candies. His contain both the CBD and THC, two active ingredients in marijuana.

Derek Tauchman rings up sales at one of several Bud and Bloom registers in the dispensary. Fear of getting high is the biggest concern expressed by senior consumers, who make up the bulk of the dispensary’s new business, he said.

“What they don’t realize is there’s so many different ways to medicate now that you don’t have to actually get high to relieve all your aches and pains,” he said.

But despite such enthusiasm, marijuana isn’t well researched, said Dr. David Reuben, the Archstone Foundation professor of medicine and geriatrics at UCLA’s David Geffen School of Medicine.

While cannabis is legal both medically and recreationally in California, it remains a Schedule 1 substance — meaning it’s illegal under federal law. And that makes it harder to study.

The limited research that exists suggests that marijuana may be helpful in treating pain and nausea, according to a

research overview

published last year by the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering and Medicine. Less conclusive research points to it helping with sleep problems and anxiety.

Reuben said he sees a growing number of patients interested in using it for things like anxiety, chronic pain and depression.

“I am, in general, fairly supportive of this because these are conditions [for which] there aren’t good alternatives,” he said.

But Reuben cautions his patients that products bought at marijuana dispensaries aren’t FDA-regulated, as are prescription drugs. That means dose and consistency can vary.

“There’s still so much left to learn about how to package, how to ensure quality and standards,” he said. “So the question is how to make sure the people are getting high-quality product and then testing its effectiveness.”

And there are risks associated with cannabis use too, said

Dr. Elinore McCance-Katz,

who directs the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration.

“When you have an industry that does nothing but blanket our society with messages about the medicinal value of marijuana, people get the idea this is a safe substance to use. And that’s not true,” she said.

Side effects can include increased heart rate, nausea and vomiting, and with long-term use, there’s a potential for addiction, some studies say.

Research suggests

that between 9 and 30 percent of those who use marijuana may develop some degree of marijuana use disorder.

Still, Reuben said, if it gets patients off more addictive and potentially dangerous prescription drugs — like opioids — all the better.

Jim Levy, 71, suffers a pinched nerve that shoots pain down both his legs. He uses a topical cream and ingests cannabis gelatin capsules and lozenges.

“I have no way to measure, but I’d say it gets rid of 90 percent of the pain,” said Levy, who — like other seniors here — pays for these products out-of-pocket, as Medicare doesn’t cover cannabis.

“I got something they say is wonderful and I hope it works,” said Shirley Avedon. “It’s a cream.”

The price tag: $90. Avedon said if it helps ease the carpal tunnel pain she suffers, it’ll be worth it.

“It’s better than having surgery,” she said.

Precautions To Keep In Mind

Though marijuana use remains illegal under federal law, it’s legal in some form in 30 states and the District of Columbia. And a growing number of Americans are considering trying it for health reasons. For people who are, doctors advise the following cautions.

Talk to your doctor.

Tell your doctor you’re thinking about trying medical marijuana. Although he or she may have some concerns, most doctors won’t judge you for seeking out alternative treatments.

Make sure your prescriber is aware of all the medications you take. Marijuana might have dangerous interactions with prescription medications, particularly medicines that can be sedating, said Dr. Benjamin Han, a geriatrician at New York University School of Medicine who studies marijuana use in the elderly.

Watch out for dosing.

Older adults metabolize drugs differently than young people. If your doctor gives you the go-ahead, try the lowest possible dose first to avoid feeling intoxicated. And be especially careful with edibles. They can have very concentrated doses that don’t take effect right away.

Elderly people are also more sensitive to side effects. If you start to feel unwell, talk to your doctor right away. “When you’re older, you’re more vulnerable to the side effects of everything,” Han said. “I’m cautious about everything.”

Look for licensed providers.

In some states like California, licensed dispensaries must test for contaminants. Be especially careful with marijuana bought illegally. “If you’re just buying marijuana down the street … you don’t really know what’s in that,” said Dr. Joshua Briscoe, a palliative care doctor at Duke University School of Medicine who has studied the use of marijuana for pain and nausea in older patients. “Buyer, beware.”

Bottom line:

The research on medical marijuana is limited. There’s even less we know about marijuana use in older people. Proceed with caution.

Jenny Gold and Mara Gordon contributed to this report.

This story is part of a partnership that includes

NPR

and Kaiser Health News.

KHN’s coverage of these topics is supported by

John A. Hartford Foundation

and

The SCAN Foundation

5 Things That You Need to Know About Car Insurance

(Gloucestercitynews.net)(Nov. 26, 2019)–Today getting insurance for one’s property is more than trendy. Everybody tries to protect the valuables from some accidents, hazardous natural phenomena, or robberies. Without any doubt, insurances have a well-deserved reputation and are worthy of attention.

But before making a solid decision, there are things to discover about the procedure and peculiarities of insurances in the United States. Safety of vehicles is one of the most requested topics within all existing types of insurance, – and it’s quite logical that people invest so much in safeguarding their automobiles.

That is why this article will run about the important things you will want to know about making car insurance.

P.S. For getting a full picture of how the insurance works, go straight to

www.general.com

Grasping the Core Principles of Car Insurance

Whether you’re a seasoned car owner looking for a new one to meet your expectations, or just a newbie counting how to get your first car ever, car insurance is necessary for both options. Coming strictly to the point, here are 5 fundamentals of obtaining insurance in the USA. Let’s go!

Identify the type of insurance that you need.

As the US policy offers various types of insurance, you should know the peculiar features of the most basic ones. The types that have been proven worthy of trust include mechanical breakdown insurance, uninsured motorist coverage, flood insurance (in areas with the high likelihood of natural disasters), and comprehensive coverage to let you receive another vehicle or get yours repaired in case of some road trouble.

How much car insurance is typically required?

In the US, the bare minimum includes liability for bodily injury and property damage, driver coverage, and personal injury protection insurance. The latter is especially good because it covers your medical expenses no matter which driver is responsible for the accident.

Know the exceptions from rules.

As everybody knows, not all states have equal laws concerning vehicle insurance. In Arizona, for instance, there is no must for minimum insurance, – instead, they require the proofs that you are liable to pay for the possible damage, demanding a deposit certificate to the state budget. To sum it up, if you grow money on trees in your garden, you may be free to drive without insurance. If not, – better get one and feel protected.

Mind your driving record.

In this case, your reputation is everything. Every insurance provider will first of all look at your record and judge how risky you are (including how many speeding tickets you’ve got in your collection). How experienced you are also matters here, since, as statistics show, the young people aged up to 25 with little driving time get into accidents more often.

Consider which cars are cheaper to insure.

In simple words, the value of your automobile is the biggest factor influencing how much the insurance will cost you. However, for expensive car models, you might make use of such life-hacks as anti-theft alarms and other additional safety features, – this will make the price for the insurance go down.

Hopefully, with those five key features of car insurance in the US, you will find your way around and soon be a happy and confident driver.

images courtesy of unsplash.com

How to Support Small Businesses

Gloucestercitynews.net (11-20-19)–Small businesses are the pillars of your community in Gloucester, providing you with an interesting, unique, and bustling town center from which you can buy gifts and essentials at the last minute. However, many small businesses struggle up against the monolith presence of big online brands such as Amazon, especially during the holiday period.

Read on for more information on how you can support small businesses now and in the coming year, and make a small business owner extremely happy.

Eat and Shop at Independent Businesses

Your personal finances may not always allow you to shop at independent businesses. However, if and when you are able to, it is important that you skip the sales and low prices of online shops in order to support your local community and buy your gifts and essentials from physical stores, even if these are not always the cheapest options. Not only this, but it is also important that you eat at independent restaurants rather than at chains to ensure that these are able to thrive. Restaurants and pubs such as

The Hole in the Wall Chichester

can provide you with a unique experience that you would not be able to receive at some of the larger chains, whether you want to host a small gathering, pop in for a drink, or plan a Christmas party.

Share Their Social Media Posts

If you are not able to afford to shop locally at the current time, or want to help spread the word about your favorite small business, you should also share their social media posts and website links whenever possible. This will help to raise awareness about the business in question, as well as give you the opportunity to provide them with an easy referral through sharing your positive experience with your followers. A simple way that you can share posts on social media is through reposting their updates on your Instagram or Facebook stories, as this both links to the company in question and allows you to promote their brand for a limited period of time.

Create an Event for Small Business Owners

To bring small business owners together and get others in your community more interested in local business, you should consider

setting up an event for small business owners

in the Gloucester area. In order to achieve this, you should plan the focus of the event, such as selling their goods on stalls which local residents can buy, or connecting and

networking with other small business owners

You should also make sure that you are able to complete tasks such as booking an appropriate venue, marketing your campaign online and through posters and leaflets in your local area, and inviting the right attendees.

Give Them Positive Reviews

If you have bought a product or service from a local business, the final action that you can take to support them is to give them a positive review online (on

small business directories

such as Yelp) or on their website. You could also recommend them through word-of-mouth, which is a popular technique to grow small businesses’ customer base.

images courtesy of pixabay