Guest MINDSETTER™ Mike Ricardi: Supporting Worcester’s Small Businesses Should Be Priority

Wednesday, September 23, 2015

Guest MINDSETTER™ Mike Ricardi

With the holiday season rapidly approaching (considering the fact that some businesses are already playing holiday music), I felt compelled to write about a subject that I have always been very passionate about. The busy shopping season will soon kick into high gear. With that in mind, I cannot stress enough the importance of supporting your local businesses - the "mom and pop" shops, if you will.

Since 2010, American Express has promoted "Small Business Saturday" each year on the Saturday following Thanksgiving. It joins Black Friday and Cyber Monday as one of the busiest shopping days of the year. Instead of patronizing the big retail outlets, it encourages folks to support local businesses, which, in my opinion, represent the true fabric of a community. And there are usually financial incentives associated with the promotion.

So, isn’t it a bit ironic that one of the country’s biggest financial services corporations, with over $35 billion dollars in revenue for 2014, has to remind us of this very important concept? Shouldn’t we always feel obliged to help our local entrepreneurs first? I would like to think so, but if you feel differently, I hope my opinion on the matter can persuade you to think a bit differently.

For as long as I can remember, I was always of the mindset to support the local establishments. It’s just the right thing to do. The people who run these shops are your family, friends, and neighbors. They are such a vital part of the community that you live in. And more often than not, the profits they earn from their business will go right back to where they live. They understand the economic impact can be felt by everyone when we all support each other.

In addition, I’ve always felt that the customer service at these shops has always been top-notch. If there is an issue with their product or service, a local shop owner should absolutely go out of their way to remedy the situation in a timely and professional manner. Word of mouth advertising is usually the most effective, and they are well aware of it. Their livelihood and reputation could be based upon how they are perceived in the community. There are usually no corporate policies or procedures that must be followed at all times. Things can be tailored on the fly to de-escalate a situation for the betterment of their establishment.

In closing, I chose not to include any figures (with the exception of the AMEX revenue above) or hard economic data in this piece for one very specific reason. I wanted it to come from the heart and come off as very genuine and authentic. I am just speaking as someone who always goes out of his way to support the local community. I’m proud to be from Worcester, and I will always patronize those who choose to set up shop here as well. Be safe this holiday season, and think local first!

Michael Ricardi is a resident of Worcester, MA and Supervisor of Client Services at Meditech. He is also the author of the recently published Station nightclub memoir, “Just a Thought Away,” which can be purchased directly on Amazon.com.