National Small Business Week
by
Mark Jimenez
May 1 - 7, 2022 is National Small Business Week.
On March 1, 2018 I became a small business owner. I knew absolutely nothing about running a business. My training has been entirely in education. I thought owning a small business would be easy, that I'd get to sell shoes and go for a run with all my new friends. And while that part was correct, it doesn't even begin to scratch the surface of everything that goes into running a successful small business. The learning curve has been steep, and there have been a plethora of bumps along the way. I can honestly say, though, that I have learned a great deal and that I continue to learn every day.
I'll be honest. I never gave small business a second thought when I did my shopping prior to March 1, 2018. Amazon was my friend. Stuff would arrive at my house and I'd get that small rush of endorphins by clicking the "buy now" button. Even now I get a little excited thinking about buying something. And while I did occasionally visit small businesses, they weren't a part of my every day shopping experience.
Boy, has my perspective changed.
Most people don't know how important small business are to the local economy. Let me give you some perspective! The most important thing, to me, when it comes to shopping at a locally owned small business is that your money stays right here in the local economy. When you shop at Red Rock Running Company, the money you spend with us goes to paying our 25 or so employees and supporting local organizations throughout the valley. Our employees are then able to foster the local economy by shopping at other local small businesses. We also support many youth in our valley, using connections through the Clark County School District to donate supplies to those in need. None of this would be possible if it weren't for people taking an interest and shopping locally.
Small businesses like ours are important to the local economy because they provide meaningful jobs that show greater job satisfaction than positions with larger companies. In fact, two out of three new private sector jobs are created by small businesses. Small businesses offer the advantage to employees of working directly for a person, somebody you get to meet and know, rather than working for a large organization. You get to learn about the vision the owner has for the business and the direction they want the business to go.
It is my hope that during small business week, and after, that you will consider shopping at that neighborhood store you've driven by a few times, but never gone inside. Ever dollar you spend with a local small business counts, and I would even argue that money spent in a small business does far more for the local economy then money spent in a national chain.
We'll see you soon!
Every Run is a Good Run