PATERSON, NJ – As a difficult year draws to a close, Paterson’s small business community needs a boost now more than ever. The COVID-19 pandemic has taken a toll on many businesses across the state and has made the holiday shopping season more important this year than in the past.
Kathleen Muldoon, Regional Director of the William Paterson University Small Business Development Center, said, “COVID has devastated the small business community.”
“Most businesses heavily rely on a steady stream of customers to keep them going, but in March 2020 everything suddenly stopped," she said. “There was no opportunity to plan, customers were not out shopping and businesses did not have the cash flow to continue as usual.”
Over the past several months, social distancing requirements, mandated closures and other safety measures have prompted many to shop online instead of at brick-and-mortar shops. In New Jersey, stores have generally seen a decline in traffic, with about one-third shutting their doors for good, according to TrackTheRecovery.org.
Since January, the total small business revenue in Passaic County decreased by 42.2% and the number of small businesses open declined by 35.4%, data shows.
Local businesses are doing their best to bounce back and keep their doors – safely – open. Restaurants have pivoted to running curbside pick-up and expanded delivery services and many businesses have tried to shift more online offerings.
Muldoon pointed to a recent American Express finding that showed for every dollar spent at a small business, 67 cents stays in the local community, helping shops and restaurants to stay open, pay their employees and continue to thrive.
Furthermore, sixty-two percent of small businesses in the U.S. need to see sales income rebound to the same rate it was pre-pandemic before 2020 ends in order to stay open, according to American Express.
These factors, she said, helped Muldoon realize “it is more important to possibly spend a little more at a local business than to order at a chain store or Amazon.”
“We have to believe in the business community in Paterson and realize that they hire local residents and reinvest in the community,” she said. And while the notion of “shopping local” tends to peak leading up to Small Business Saturday in November, Muldoon said it’s “so important to do all year long – not just the holidays.”
Michael Powell, the city’s economic development director, echoed the sentiment, saying, "It's more important now than ever."
“The pandemic has ravished the bottom line for restaurants, bars, retail establishments and many small businesses who rely on a steady stream of consumers," he said. Powell urged people to “shop local and to prioritize supporting any and all small businesses this holiday season.”
As part of ongoing outreach to the business community, the city’s economic development office, as well as the Downtown Paterson Special Improvement District and William Paterson University Small Business Development Center, have been providing information for small business owners on resources available to help.
Penni Forestieri, Director of Paterson’s Urban Enterprise Zone, also stressed the importance of shopping locally. Many of the UEZ’s 473 businesses are “mostly mom and pop stores” that Forestieri said are “unable to cater to the online shopping experience.”
“They must rely on the individuals who are not afraid to venture out to the actual store,” she said.
Follow us on Facebook and sign up for TAPinto Paterson E-News alerts to be the first to read about all things Paterson!
Download the FREE TAPinto App! Click here for Android - Click here for iOS for breaking news, traffic/weather alerts and special offers.
Know a story we should share with readers? Email editor Steve Lenox and tell him about it.
"Many" - Google News
December 06, 2020 at 10:33PM
https://ift.tt/33OtnNy
For Many Paterson Business Shopping Local a Matter of Life or Death - TAPinto.net
"Many" - Google News
https://ift.tt/2QsfYVa
Shoes Man Tutorial
Pos News Update
Meme Update
Korean Entertainment News
Japan News Update
Bagikan Berita Ini
Related Posts :
Like Many Americans This Past Year, We're Into Quarantine Toys - Car and Driver- The Future of U.S. Higher Education: A Few Stars, Many Satellites - The Wall Street Journal
- Workers at U.S. meat plants, early Covid hot spots, are now getting vaccinated in many states. - The New York Times
- Saints to face many of their former players in 2021 - Saints Wire
- Many must re-register for COVID-19 vaccination appointments - McMinnville News-Register
0 Response to "For Many Paterson Business Shopping Local a Matter of Life or Death - TAPinto.net"
Post a Comment