Turn up for all the babies

“It’s a girl! We are so in love” the squishy baby’s birth announcement has almost 100 likes. The new dad is attempting to coordinate all the visitors. The friends arrive with a pasta sauce for the freezer, the neighbour hands over a cake to feed your guests. The village steps up when a new baby arrives.

Newborn businesses require just as much love and attention.

But where is the village when it is a business baby?

Beginning a business is a daunting task. It takes guts, determination, and often a lot of money and time. The financial burden of a brick and mortar store is no longer a stumbling block for new businesses. Online stores have no doubt changed the business landscape. And have changed consumers too.

Fresh business owners spend countless hours creating a website, curating an online presence and spreading the word of their new business venture. It is easy for you to “like” the business page, react and share a post.

How else can you support them?

Turn up.

That’s it, Turn. Up.

When their shop front has its grand opening. Turn up.

When they are having a big sale. Turn up.

When their website publishes a new blog. Turn up.

When it is a Wednesday and you have some time. Turn up.

Support your friend, support small business, support the local economy. Turn up.

Turn up with a friend.

Turn up with your wallet open if you can.

Turn up with a home cooked meal, because they have been working hard on their business baby.

By going beyond just liking and sharing a post, you make a difference to their business.

You make the place look busy, you help them pay their bills. You expand their business network beyond their immediate circle of family and friends. You can provide honest feedback and reviews based on experience.

So next time you receive an invitation for an event’s night at their business, next time they launch a new product… Turn up.

After all, it takes a village to raise a business baby too.

The Village is just as important to parents of business babies.