A few days ago I saw a commercial on T.V. that was made by American Express Credit Card company. They have launched a new campaign called "Small Business Saturday." When I saw this commercial, it really hit home with me, but I could not put an exact finger on why.
Have you seen the commercial? Here it is on YouTube:
Yesterday, I got up and went to work at GUG. Just as I do every other day, I got to the office and logged onto the computer, pulled up email, Facebook and orders and got to work. Gary, the GUG Shipping Department and my Step-Dad, also sells a livestock product called Gold Dust. I took a call for him. I am also the person who lists lots of the items. We got in some really cool new items in this week that I also needed to get online - Gypsy Soule Jewelry (we already carry the flip flops), Kippy's Belts and some KurtMen purses - so I started taking some pictures of them and editing them. Nothing out of the ordinary except that I also had a hair appointment yesterday afternoon.
As I left the office and headed to my hair appointment, I was still thinking about the Small Business Saturday commercial. The beauty shop that I go to is in Midway, Texas - a small community that is outside of Madisonville and about 25 minutes from our GUG office. I also go the back roads so it is a little faster and a lot more pleasant than I-45. My hair dresser also happens to by my Step-Mom.
For those of you who don't know, Giddy Up Glamour was started a few years ago by my Mom and has become a "family owned and operated business." There were 3 girls growing up in the family and spending hundreds of dollars on jewelry just was not an option. We have built our "Small Business" by bringing our customers a quality product at an affordable price.
As I turned a corner on the way to my Step Mom's beauty shop and thinking about all the things I had to do when I got back to the GUG Office, it finally dawned on me why the Small Business Saturday commercial hit so close to home for me. I worked in a family business that was started by my mom on our kitchen table. I took a phone call just a few hours ago for Gary's Gold Dust product. I was headed to my Step Mom's beauty shop. I had passed by a few places that my Dad had worked on with his land clearing business. The Gypsy Soule, Kippy and KurtMen products that I had to list when I got back to the office are all "Small Businesses" and their products are handmade in the USA. I realized that my whole life revolved around "Small Businesses." The loving homes I grew up in, the food that I ate every day, the clothes that kept me warm in the winter, the extra money my parents gave me to go on the FFA National Convention trip, the cell phone that I use to text message all of my friends, the livestock animals that were bought every year for me to show and the list goes on and on. None of those things would have been possible for me without my families "Small Businesses."
So, on Saturday November 26th, where will you spend your hard earned dollar?
Just as the commercial states,
Small businesses are the life blood of our communities. On November 26th, you can make a huge impact by shopping on small on Small Business Saturday. One purchase. One purchase is all it takes. So pick your favorite local business and join the movement.
-Mallory
