Covid-19 has created a lot of uncertainty, particularly for small businesses. We are all being told to support local, but what can we do to help a business that is yet to reopen?

Check businesses social media pages and interact with posts. A like, comment or share can go a long way, and will let others know how they can support that business too. Word of mouth can be one of the most effective forms of advertising, and it reminds people that these businesses still exist and will be back as soon as they can. 

Ratings on Yelp and Trip Advisor can be another effective way of letting people know about favourite local businesses. It will take you just five minutes and will do a world of good both for the business and those in the future looking for places to visit and shop in our area: a win-win.

If a small NZ business you love isn't running right now but has a newsletter, subscribe to it. You'll know what's coming up for them and when they'll be able to operate again, and you'll be part of growing their customer database, which is a valuable business asset.

Book an appointment in advance or buy a gift voucher. You can buy vouchers for a huge array of businesses here: https://sosbusiness.nz/ 

Although we may not have an exact date of when everything can reopen again, ask your favourite local salon if you can reserve an appointment sometime in the first week back, or buy a gift voucher so that you can head in whenever suits you. 

For a list of small businesses that would love your support, check out the support local section in the Matakana app.