The last decade has been good to small businesses, but that's rapidly changing. It's true that this recession could be worse than 2008. In 2008, spending slowed, but it didn't come to a complete screeching halt like it has now. This is uncharted territory from an economic standpoint.
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| Fuzzy things: making serious blog posts better since the dawn of time |
Your local restaurants, bars, and yes, tack shops are going to be hit hardest by this. Without foot traffic (please #staythefuckhome, as the kids say these days), sales are going to dwindle. First it'll be hard to pay their employees, and next they will outright close. This outbreak WILL end, at some point, and I personally don't want to come out on the other side of it without my favorite restaurants and tack shops.
(And yes, you need to worry about YOU first. Make sure to cut back unnecessary spending and beef up your emergency fund right now, but if you do find yourself with a few extra dollars to spare, the rest of this post is for you).
What to do: VOTE WITH YOUR DOLLAR!
- If you live in Indiana, Grand Champion Tack and Saddlery in Indy will deliver for free within 15 miles of its store, or if you're outside that radius but still in Indiana, they will do free shipping with no minimum. They have a great selection, and can order anything you might get from SmartPak, Dover or Riding Warehouse (except house brands, probably). Also, they're offering 20% off through Tuesday for St. Patrick's Day
- If you don't live in Indiana, check with your local tack store for delivery and shipping options
- Don't need anything right now? Consider buying a gift card to help give your favorite local tack store/restaurant/other small business a cash infusion. Call it "pre-paying for essentials" or "buying a slightly delayed shopping spree"
- Is your gym closing? Many will suspend or pro-rate memberships right now, but if you can, consider continuing to pay your membership during this time - especially if you go to a local outfit like most CrossFit gyms that generally don't have large cash reserves like a corporate mega-gym will.
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| This picture courtesy of my momma. Which one of these is not like the other one, which one of these just doesn't belong... |
- If it gets to the point that your trainer stops teaching lessons, consider continuing to pay for lessons. Pre-pay for lessons, or take video lessons. I've had some very valuable lessons in front of a laptop, analyzing previous lessons or trainer rides with my trainer. Trainers do not get paid sick time and stand to lose a lot of income if lessons have to stop.
Bottom line, you do have to take care of your own family first, but please take care of each other too.
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