From ordering takeout to gift shopping and posting online reviews, there are plenty of creative ways to support local businesses during the COVID-19 pandemic! Here are some suggestions on how to invest in the Ephrata community.
When we buy local, we support an economy that impacts us all. We help our friends, families, and neighbors by dining, drinking, and shopping small. Ephrata was founded on the ideals of commerce and connection, and since our humble beginnings in 1732, we’ve worked hard, we created, and together we grew. We farmed, shopped, worked to keep a meal on our plate. And now, when hardship is at our door, we must rally together to stimulate our recovery. Our local businesses and entrepreneurs give Ephrata so much character and diversity, and now it’s our time, despite the pandemic, to lend a helping hand. We’ve compiled a few creative ways you can help our borough’s small businesses.
Buying gift cards now helps businesses keep their doors open, pay outstanding bills, and pay their staff. You can save the gift card to use yourself, later on, give it as a gift, or we’ve even seen some outstanding individuals who purchase a gift card and leave them at the business for other customers to use. We can pay it forward in so many ways, and it’s true when they say that every little contribution helps! We have a full list of local businesses and services in our local business directory to help you explore new places and rediscover old favorites. If you can’t decide on the perfect gift for your friend or family member consider an Ephrata LOCAL e-gift card that will be accepted at any of the participating businesses.
There’s nothing better than enjoying a delicious meal without carving out time for the cooking or the cleanup! Ordering takeout or delivery is a delicious option when it comes to diversifying your weekly meals and supporting your favorite local eateries. If it’s helping your local restaurants stay in business, it’s perfectly permissible to give yourself a break and order out more than usual, right? We think so! In addition to many Ephrata businesses offering curbside pickup and delivery, there also are a few restaurants with dine-in services available. Sitting outside or in an uncrowded restaurant for a meal can make the experience all the better. We encourage you to get out and support our local restaurants; however, you feel comfortable.
Several awesome options include…
As businesses continue to recover from stay-at-home orders, our community appreciates all the shopping that your budget allows. Giving local gifts is a great way to brighten someone’s day while supporting your neighbors, friends, and the community around you. Parkhill Jewelry, Uncle Funky’s Thrift Shop, and FX Saddle Company LLC are all fantastic local shops to peruse for gifts.
Even if you don’t have a dime to spare, you can still give free shout outs to the businesses you love right here in Ephrata. Liking and sharing different businesses’ social media posts or leaving them a review online provides great exposure for the coffee joints, independent boutiques, and other fun attractions that you enjoy nearby. After all, word of mouth is still proven to be one of the most effective forms of marketing around. Telling your friends and family about the places you cherish is a fantastic way to spread some local love and support businesses on a budget.
We hope that this list of opportunities to support Ephrata’s businesses has inspired you to support your go-to local destinations as well as check out new ones, and we’d love to hear about other ways you’ve been able to support local during this pandemic. Send us a message on Facebook or Instagram! We’re always happy to share creative ways to support our community.