Time. It's a concept that permeates every aspect of our lives, either consciously or not. From the small moments of our daily routines to the grandest, long-term plans, time shapes every facet of our lives.
“Yesterday is gone…”
It's weighed heavily on me recently, consuming my brain space in a desire to understand it in its entirety. To share, here is a short (but not at all complete) example of the train of thought from a night this week surrounding the idea of "time":
Summer is nearly over, and fall is looming over its shoulder with an open grasp.
Wow, I'm only (and already) 30 years old as of this summer.
That means my youngest brother is somehow now a senior in high school, deciding the next steps that will affect his life forever.
And now, my friends are discussing how much closer we are to the 10-year anniversary of graduating college than we are having actually graduated. I can't believe it's been that long.
That reminds me, how many days until my husband (a sound designer for regional and Broadway theaters) comes home again?
Will I have enough time to make dinner and catch up on "The Bear" before I need to go to sleep?
And then, I received a phone call I was not expecting: My mother has decided she is closing her Busy Bee DIY Decor Studio in the center of our hometown and will be out of the space by Sunday.
My mother and her studio had quickly become a staple in our community. She spent late nights crafting decor requests from customers all over the Cleveland area. She hosted workshops for kids and adults alike, holding their metaphoric hands as they took pride in crafting their own decor pieces to be displayed in their homes. During the shutdown, she created Maker Kits to be mailed home to those who wanted to participate in a virtual workshop to fight isolation and loneliness. She was, as her business name suggests, a Busy Bee. The studio has hosted hundreds of people looking to share time and connect with others. She loved being a part of it more than anything.
But, as she stated after I asked what made her decide to close her store, "It was time."
“...Tomorrow has not yet come…”
As my mother's response implies, time impacts how we make decisions. In our fast-paced world, it can often feel like a precious commodity. It's easy to consider a quick, more convenient route than perhaps a deeper, more thoughtful one. For example, large chain stores or online shopping sites like Amazon might appeal to our need for quick solutions. But while life is moving at an ever-accelerating pace, it is always worth investing time and resources into the places and people closest to us. When we prioritize local businesses, we're not just making a purchase; we're honoring the past and investing in a future where the values of community, connection, and resilience continue to thrive.
That is what we at Shop Local are here to do: help local businesses continue to thrive online as they do in their brick-and-mortar stores by giving back time.
We give back the time a store owner would be spending to set up a comprehensive, easy-to-use online offering so that they can spend that time continuing to foster the community.
We give back the time a brand would be spending manually filling our wholesale orders or ensuring product continuity amongst various websites so that they can spend that time cultivating relationships with their retailers.
We give back time by offering assistance, coaching, and recommendations in making their online business better so that they can endure through an ever-changing economy.
We give back time by making it easy to update product information, communicate with registrants, market to new businesses and customers, increase sales while keeping customer acquisition costs down, and boost rankings in Google, amongst many other ways.
“...We only have today. Let us begin.”
While the days grow busier with our dreams and plans, it's always good to take some time (even just a moment) out of our days to remember the good we are doing for our local communities everywhere. Because time will always march on, but the principles of shopping locally will remain steadfast. We are contributing to a more vibrant and sustainable community around the country, proving that the best way forward is to honor the timeless value of our own backyards.
Thank you, Mom, for the value you've put into our “backyard” all these years. It looks like it is time, indeed, for a margarita and a hard-earned rest. :)