The Small Business Week emails started to arrive a few weeks ago. But as an organization that supports our community’s smallest of businesses, we found ourselves asking, is this really for them?

Small Business Week was established in 1963 by President John F. Kennedy and is organized by the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA). On the event website, the SBA wrote that the week will, “officially recognize their hard work, ingenuity, and dedication, including their contributions to the economy.”

Don’t get us wrong, the SBA has a long history of providing invaluable resources and support to the small business community. However, when we see multinational corporate sponsors like Amazon, Visa, and Google, the message doesn’t sit right.

While these companies may be necessary tools, they're also often in direct competition with and contributors to the challenges our small businesses face. Our independent retailers, sole proprietors, local restaurants and small shops are struggling to stay afloat due in part to the practices of these corporations. To be honest, these sponsorships feel an awful lot like brand washing. 

But since we never turn our backs on an opportunity to celebrate our local, independent businesses, here’s how you can support them this week and always. Because, supporting our small businesses isn’t a once-a-year thing, it’s a daily decision. 

• Shop at independent, locally owned stores
  
• Hire service providers from local, non-franchised companies
  
• Buy your food from locally owned grocers and restaurants 
  
• Attend local community events and markets
  
• Leave a review, tag your favorite business on social media, refer your friends
  

See our guide to buying local on our website and make small business week, every week. Because real support isn’t in hashtags, it’s in habits. Our small business community needs our consistent support all year long.