MANAYUNK

Originally Published in Manayunk Magazine

By Leo Dillinger

Whether you’ve nearly finished your holiday shopping or if you (like me) wait until the very last minute, consider for a moment supporting the champions of the season: small business owners.

You’ve probably heard the running clichés pouring out the mouths of journalists and politicians alike, claiming that small businesses are the “backbone of the community” or the “foundation of the economy.” Despite the repetition, these statements hold a great deal of truth.

According to the U.S. Small Business Association, there are more than 28 million small businesses in the United States. They account for 54% of all national sales and 55% of all U.S. jobs. Of those 28 million small businesses, nearly one million can be found in Pennsylvania that employ more than 2.4 million workers. Within the city of Philadelphia alone, there are roughly 93,000 small business owners who are either non-employers or manage fewer than 50 employees. We’re talking BIG numbers for something that’s labeled “small”!

Many of these independent businesses can be found right here in the heart of Manayunk. With numerous owner-operated retail stores, restaurants, professional firms, salons, and fitness studios, this district is no stranger to the importance of supporting local business.

Right now, I want you to think about how much you spend on gifts during the holidays. Feeling overwhelmed? Good. Now consider where exactly you spend that money. If the bulk of your shopping list comes directly from retail conglomerates, prepare yourself for a guilt trip.

The money you spend in small-shop towns like Manayunk stays within the community. Local businesses pay local taxes, which help fund infrastructure projects, schools, police and fire departments. Owners tend to work with local banks, lawyers and CPAs. They sell local crafters, hire local residents, shop and dine at other local businesses, and most are even residents of the community where they work, which is especially the case with Manayunk business owners.

To top it all off, independent business owners possess total creative control. They offer more than the mainstream chains by actually listening to what their customers have to say. Smaller businesses can easily adapt their inventory to meet the needs of shoppers without having to wait for approval from corporate headquarters. By offering a variety of goods and maintaining an innovative business model, local owners expand their loyal customer base and not only create identity for the business itself, but for the entire community.   

These small business owners lay everything on the line to follow their vision. It’s not easy to be your own boss and it’s even harder when you are directly competing against companies with nationwide brand awareness. What’s perhaps the most significant difference between small shops and large chains is their drive to succeed. I’m not trying to say that corporations don’t want to be successful, but their drive takes root in the desire for more revenue and brand influence. The small business owner seeks something greater than monetary compensation. They look toward the bigger picture: community development.

Vacant storefronts can ruin a community’s reputation. So in a neighborhood surrounded with small businesses, failure is not an option. Call it small business karma, call it what you will. Independent shop owners realize that if they spend their money locally, it might make its way right back to their own shops and into their own pockets. Don’t believe me? Read what some of our local business owners have to say about it…

“We work in a terrific community environment here in Manayunk! With such a close-knit community, it's important to support one another and promote the conditioned growth of our neighborhood. If each of us spent $100 a year more on local businesses instead of chain stores, it would put an extra $3 million a year into our economy while creating thousands of more jobs every year. We are so fortunate to have so many amazing and talented people with small businesses here in Manayunk.”

- Meredith Hankins, Salon L’Etoile

“I support small businesses because I like spending my money and time with people who I know will care about why I purchased a service or product of theirs. When I've needed a specific candle for my studio, Brandy from The Little Apple has never hesitated to get me what I need. Or when I need a quick bouquet of flowers, Chrissy from Chrissy's Flowers knows how I want the arrangement I'm giving to look. Owners of small businesses honestly care about the services and products they are providing and choose those things to sell based off personally interacting with their clients. There is no customer service rep, just the owner and their small staff. As far as experience goes, small businesses will bend over backwards to make sure your experience is nothing less than 100% and if it is less than that, they are usually getting in touch with you to find out how they can make it better for next time before you're even out the door!”

-Juliet Sabella, The Wall Cycling Studio 

“Small businesses help create the fingerprint of a neighborhood. They are what make that area different and unique from any other.  You can go into the same chain store in 5 different cities and they all feel exactly the same. But small businesses are a reflection and representation of the people of that town. They are also often owned and operated by the members of that community, so customers and employees are also neighbors and friends.  This creates motivation on both sides - for the small business owner to offer the best goods and services, and for the customer to want to support them.I love having a small business in a town like Manayunk because I love knowing my customers’ names, their children's names and even their dogs! I learn about their lives, their celebrations and even their tragedies and I love sharing mine with them, too.  I always strive to do my best and put all of my love and attention into everything I do in the shop because I care on a personal level about the people that come in and support me and my business.”

-Brandy Deieso, The Little Apple

“Small businesses are a part of what makes a neighborhood vibrant - they are a true asset to the community and they improve the quality of life within the place in which they do business.  As the owner of The Spiral Bookcase, my small business is able to forge connections in so many beautiful ways - through the mutual love of reading, great community gatherings, and even the simple interactions we experience in the shop on a day-to-day basis.  As a home owner, business owner, and mother in Manayunk, I believe that the small businesses here strengthen our neighborhood and create the small town charm that attracts visitors and new residents.”

 -Ann Tetreault, The Spiral Bookcase