National Mom and Pop Business Owners Day – Facts and Trivia
March 29 is National Mom and Pop Business Owners Day in the U.S. It’s a day to recognize couples who have built their businesses from the ground up, as well as larger businesses who started small, but have grown immensely, thanks to community support and local consumer engagement.
It’s a day to celebrate small business owners who value face-to-face customer interaction, community loyalty, and business flexibility.
When—and why—was National Mom and Pop Business Owners Day started?
This unique holiday was founded by Rick and Margie Segel. Rick’s parents built and owned a dress shop 5 miles outside the city of Boston.
Why did the son of a husband and wife business owner team want to recognize these unique business partnerships?
Because he saw this business built from the ground up by his parents, and witnessed its growth, despite an often turbulent economic landscape.
Rick’s background is in retail; “That’s who I am,” he says. With a degree in marketing and after several years working for Hertz Rent-a-Car, Rick received a call one day from his mom saying that his father had suffered a heart attack. When asked to come help with the family business, a then 900-square-foot dress shop, Rick took a 90 day leave-of-absence from his job to go back to Boston.
On the 47th day of his leave, Rick’s father passed away. When faced with the decision to go back to the corporate world or remain in the family business, Rick opted to stay.
For the next 25 years, he worked in the family dress shop. “That is who I am, that is where I come from, and I’m not trying to be anything other than that,” Rick states in a talk at the 2013 ARN Revenue Conference & Exhibition.
Over those 25 years, Rick saw 97 stores go out of business during an urban renewal project. Meanwhile, his family’s business grew and the dress shop expanded to 10,000 sq. feet, doing over $2.5 million “in a plighted downtown.”
Why support Mom and Pop Shops?
That type of resilience, growth, and determination are the markers of a true mom-and-pop business success story, and inspiration enough to dedicate a day to the entrepreneurs who build small businesses across the U.S.
Small businesses come and go. It’s estimated that roughly 80% of small businesses survive the first year; only half survive the first five years.
Supporting local, small businesses and shops is important because:
- It helps family-owned businesses survive—and thrive. In the United States family businesses account for 57% of the GDP and employ 63% of the workforce (source: Family Business Alliance).
- They get to know their customers. We all know that a personalized experience creates more loyal users. Just like we trust a doctor who listens to our concerns, we trust a shop owner who listens to our story and provides a more personal shopping experience.
- They support the community. Not only do they provide employment for local residents, mom and pop shops are often present at community events like parades, festivals, school events, and even fundraisers, providing donations through time, money, or hard goods.
- Family-owned = high values and high standards. According to the academic journal Family Business Review, more than 30% of family-owned businesses survive into the second generation, 12% survive into the third, and just 3% into the fourth-generation level and beyond. Whatever generation a family business is on, the current owners have a legacy to maintain, and will maintain the standards, ethics, and values imparted to them from their predecessors.
What is a “Mom and Pop Shop”?
A Mom and Pop Shop is a small business. According to the U.S. Small Business Administration, a small business has fewer than 500 employees. Though mom and pop shops have far less than 500 employees, some large businesses started off as small mom and pop businesses and grew because of community support.
Most mom and pop shops have a brick-and-mortar location. Some examples of these shops include:
- Restaurants & Cafés
- Jewelers
- Clothing Boutiques
- Hotels & Inns
- Crafters and Manufacturers
- Salons & Spas
- Print Shops
- Gift Shops
- Grocery Stores
Hashtags to use for Mom and Pop Business Owners Day
Even if you have steady foot traffic to your shop, reach out to customers on social media to further your reach. Here are some popular hashtags small business owners use on national mom and pop business owners day:
- #MomandPopBusinessOwnersDay
- #MomPopBusinessOwnersDay
- #SmallBiz
- #SmallBusiness
- #SmallBusinessRocks
- #MomandPopBusiness
- #MomandPopShop
- #ShopLocal
- #Shop(City/State)
See how small business owners have used these hashtags on social media:
What shop owners can do to celebrate National Mom and Pop Business Owners Day
There are lots of unique ways to commemorate this unique holiday that celebrates small business owners. Here are just a few ways to reach out to your customers and community:
- Host a tour of your shop. Let them see you making your crafts in action, or take small tour groups into the kitchen so they can see what goes into their meal prep.
- Create a timeline of your business’ history. Whether you post pictures and text on a wall inside your store, or you share it online, customers love seeing the journey a small business took to get to where it is. Sharing your story with them creates a more trusting environment.
- Hand out goodies. Sometimes, a small offering helps remind your community what you do. Whether it’s a small coffee, a massage, a small necklace pendant, sometimes the small things make the biggest difference.
- Host a fun fair. Food, drinks, a bounce house? Why not? If time and space allows, host a mini fun fair, either by yourself or with a group of other small business owners. It’s a great way to network with those in your community.
- Teach your customers your trade. Let them in on some of your secrets. For example, if you have a woodworking shop, host small classes, letting attendees try out some of your tools and even create a small craft.
- Take a break. If you can afford to close up shop for the day, or just half a day, consider giving yourself and your employees a break. Customers will understand, and will appreciate that you value employee morale.
We ❤ working with Mom and Pop Shops
Are you a small business owner, or do you own a mom and pop shop? We work with business owners and managers just like you by offering branded giveaways, promotional products, and marketing materials. Browse OnTheBallPromotions.com to see how we can help enforce your small business’ image in your community.
10 Client Appreciation Gifts for Small Businesses
Whether you just opened your doors this year, or your small business has been operating for 25 years, it’s always a good idea to invest a little in client appreciation gifts.
And those gifts don’t have to be ordinary, nor do they have to cost an arm and a leg. Some might even cost you next to nothing—but could instill a lot of gratitude and trust in you, the small business owner.
We understand that holiday gift ideas for small business owners are seemingly endless, so we have some ideas for you—based on experience and talking to several of our small business customers—that we think will help you out.
Here we go.
1. Gift card to a local store or restaurant
Alright, so we’re starting off with a generic—if not overly obvious—idea.
But this one works! Even if they don’t end up using it (perhaps they prefer Dunkin’ over Starbucks), they’ll still appreciate the gesture and understand that you were willing to invest in a gift for them.
No business owner has to hand out client thank you gifts at Christmas, but those who choose to do so will surely make an impact.
How On The Ball Promotions can help: You can certainly hand out gift cards in the envelope the store or restaurant provides. But if you want to up your branding game while saying thanks, here are a few easy ways we can help you out:
- Card Holders: We can custom print your logo and branding in full color on a gift card holder.
- Christmas Cards: Christmas is a popular time to send customer appreciation gifts, so why not throw them in with your company Christmas cards this year?
- Logo Note Cards: Did you know we can add custom die cuts to any of our greeting cards? This makes our ivory logo note cards a very appealing option to small business owners. On the front cover, write “A token of our appreciation” or “Just our way of saying thanks” and add your logo underneath. We’ll add die cuts to fit your gift card on the inside. With the foil stamped personalization, this is a more upscale look for your gift card holders.
2. Food
Skip the gift card, and go straight to the source yourself. Find a local bakery, buy some boxes of cookies or pastries, and deliver them yourself.
This method might work best if you are planning on handing out these gifts to just a handful of customers.
It’s worth it to pay a little extra for well-made, bakery-fresh cookies than tinned cookies that were baked days ago and shipped halfway across the U.S.
3. Discount on a product or service
Whatever your line of work, you can give some sort of deal to your customers. Doing so helps cultivate customer loyalty not because they’re getting something for free or at a discount, but because you are willing to give them that, knowing they will make no profit from that “transaction.”
Ultimately, it’s a goodwill action toward your clients. These gestures are rarely forgotten.
They can also lead to some good reviews or solid referrals for your small business.
Here are some other holiday discount ideas for small businesses:
- HVAC – Offer deals on an AC cleaning when you’re cleaning their furnace, and vice versa.
- Beauty salon – Discount a massage, cut, or color.
- Dog walking service – Offer one or two free walks.
- Bookstore – Offer a discount, a free staff-recommended book, or their choice of book (be sure to set a price limit, though).
- Restaurant – On a specified night each week, hold a drawing. The customer’s name who’s drawn can receive something free, like appetizers, drinks, entrée… or even their entire bill!
4. Give them something from a fellow small business owner
First, we tell you to offer them a discount on your service, now we’re telling you to give them something from someone else? We’re not crazy, promise. We just have some unique ideas.
Bear with us.
Here are some services from your fellow small business owners that you could offer to your clients:
- House cleaning
- Lawn mowing
- Snow plowing
- Photography mini session
- Pet sitting
Why does this work? Because when small businesses support each other, everyone wins. Referrals are made, trust is built, and business grows. It’s a win-win-win-win-win…. well, you get the idea.
It is important to note that this customer appreciation gift might cost more than others, so plan accordingly when budgeting for this.
Not everyone will jump on the offer, but for budgeting purposes, plan on everyone cashing in on this.
5. Donate to a local non-profit or charity group in their name
Whether you have a connection to the charity or not, this feel-good gesture is sure to warm their hearts. Send them a Christmas card with a note saying “We’ve made a donation on your behalf to [name of non-profit].”
Here are some non-profits you can consider:
- Food pantry: donate money or non-perishables.
- Homeless shelter: donate money. If you volunteer, share a photo of you and your staff volunteering.
- Kid’s organization: There are many non-profits that provide services, products, or even social, relationship-building outings for children either from low-income families or who are at-risk.
- Animal shelter: donate money or supplies.
- Habitat for Humanity (or similar local service)
- Refugee Aid: donate money. This might only be available larger cities or their suburbs.
6. Host an event for their kids
If a lot of your clients have kids, host a Christmas party with food, fun, and games.
Have a large space? Rent a bounce house or inflatable playground. Are you on the chamber of commerce with a catering company? Hire them to cater the event. Have some small games like a candy cane hunt, tree decorating contest, or even pin the nose on Rudolf.
Parents will appreciate the time for their kids to burn off some of that energy. Be sure to provide some comfy seating for the parents, and have your employees help watch the kids.
Oh, and don’t forget to invite Santa.
Not just for Christmas parties, you can also host customer appreciation open houses for other celebrations, like your business’ founding date, end of the school year, any school holiday or day off (think teacher institute days), Fourth of July, or Valentine’s Day.
Or do it just because, on any given date.
Party planning tip: have age-appropriate game or play stations available so kids can play games that cater to their development. Pre-teens might not want to play the same games as toddlers.
7. Celebrate the momentous occasions
This one is less of a thank you gift for clients, and more of an I-pay-attention-to-you gift for clients.
For this idea, you’ll either have to take notes if you have a conversation with a customer, pay attention to news mentions, or listen to talk around town (if you’re from a small town, you’ll understand the last one).
Here are some ways you can mark these occasions:
- If you repair a heater in January, and the homeowner tells you their son is a senior in high school, send a congratulations note in June to the son and his parents.
- If you learn a new client had a baby, send a onesie, a teether, or even a gift card. Even if it’s six months after the fact, it’s still appropriate to send these gifts.
- If you’ve learned a client recently retired, celebrate it! A congratulations note card would suffice as a gift.
8. Offer a rewards program to loyal customers
Punch cards, points programs, anniversary discount… there are many different ways you can reward loyal customers.
Just be sure to make it as easy as possible for them to accrue points and cash in on their rewards.
Here’s how some small businesses use customer loyalty programs as a way to say thank you:
- Clothing boutique – Punch cards. Every 10 punches (or stamps) gets you a discount on your next purchase, or something like a free accessory.
- Lawn care – If a customer has been using your service for a number of years, offer a discount, a few weeks of free mowing, or some other additional service that isn’t included in their usual weekly maintenance package.
- Café – Punch cards for a purchasing food either off your entire menu, or even just from a certain portion of your menu (for example, a sandwich punch card).
- Garden center or nursery – For an amount of money spent, give a gift card for their next purchase.
9. Buy them lunch Buy their entire office lunch
If you are in a B2B industry, you have to consider not just the person or team you work with, but everyone else they work with.
After all, the work you do with that person or team affects their entire company.
Offer to order pizza, sandwiches, or whatever food they want from their favorite local restaurant, and bring it to their office. Sit down and share a meal, stories, and learn more about them.
This could work as a great ice breaker, or as a way to stop “talking shop” and really connect with your customers.
10. Send a genuine, heartfelt thank you note
Choose a thank you card and start writing. While we offer a free stock sentiment and your logo imprint, you can skip that. Gives you more room to write a note to them telling them why you’re thankful.
Why this works: Sometimes, you don’t have to spend a lot of money on client appreciation gifts. Saying thank you—in your own handwriting—might mean more to them than a box of cookies, free home cleaning, or restaurant gift card.
In Dale Carnegie’s timeless book, How to Win Friends and Influence People, he has this to say about people’s desire—and need—to feel appreciated:
“In our interpersonal relations we should never forget that all our associates are human beings and hunger for appreciation. It is the legal tender that all souls enjoy.”
– Dale Carnegie, How to Win Friends and Influence People
We’ll leave it at that.
On The Ball Promotions can help with customer appreciation gifts
Call our team at (800) 475-2255 or send us an email. Our creative team can help you find the best thank you gift for your clients—without breaking the bank
The USPS wants to raise rates to mail promotional materials, and it could have a negative effect on your business.
The United States Postal Service recently announced a proposed rule change for mailing direct mail, marketing mailers, and promotional merchandise through the USPS.
Until this point, all promotional materials and direct mail pieces were to be mailed using USPS Marketing Mail. This service is for both for-profit businesses and non-profit organizations. Under this program, you have been able to send:
- Printed materials (flyers, brochures, circulars, advertising)
- Newsletters, bulletins, and circulars
- Small parcels
If this proposed rule passes, what you can send via Marketing Mail will be limited just to letter-sized or flat-size pieces. All other mailers (like small packages containing branded giveaways) will have to use a different USPS service, like Priority Mail or Parcel Select. This could end up costing you more just to mail your promotional materials.
Though this was just recently announced, there has already been a great deal of pushback from both suppliers and distributors within the promotional products industry. If this goes into effect, this could negatively affect you and your marketing budget; you would end up paying more to mail logo giveaways to your customers.
Who this proposed USPS rule change affects
This affects anyone who mails promotional giveaways, branded merchandise, or marketing mailers to their clients or target audience. It can especially hurt business owners with strict marketing budgets because what used to be affordable might now become a deal-breaker.
But this will really affect non-profits who rely on marketing mail prices to afford mailing promo merchandise. In fact, the Alliance for Nonprofit Mailers has submitted comments to the USPS calling the proposed content restriction unlawful.
What you can do about this proposed change
The USPS is accepting comments on this proposed rule. You have until October 22 to submit comments. You can mail or deliver your written comments to:
Manager, Product Classification
U.S. Postal Service
475 L’Enfant Plaza SW, Room 4446
Washington, DC 20260-5015
You can also email your comments or questions to: ProductClassification@usps.gov using the subject line “USPS Marketing Mail Content Eligibilty.”
You can read the full details of this proposed rule change at federalregister.gov.
Why your small business should do business with other small businesses
We’re a small company. Our story might be similar to yours, or perhaps drastically different (you can read it here).
What we do know is that, as a small business owner or employee, you wear many hats, each and every day, and we know what it’s like. It’s exhilarating and frustrating at the same time, right?
Thing is, you’re not alone. There are a lot of small business owners out there; as of the 2012 census, there were roughly 33.2 million small businesses in the US, ranging from 1 employee to 500 employees. A majority are non-employers (a business owner with no paid employees) or sole proprietors. Others have hundreds of employees.
It’s awesome to see that there are so many motivated Americans running small businesses; small businesses are an integral part in building our economy.
All this being said, why should you, a small business owner or employee, do business with these other small businesses instead of large corporations?
The answers to that question are simple, personal, and relatable.
You get lots of networking opportunities.
Whether you’re working with a small business owner two blocks down or two hundred miles away, completing a business transaction with a fellow small business owner creates a fantastic networking opportunity. Why? Both parties learn more about the other’s business. If a peer needs a similar service, both small business owners will be more likely to recommend someone they’ve done business with before looking around online.
Not sure where to start when networking? Join your chamber of commerce (as an added bonus, being a member of the chamber of commerce gives customers an added level of trust in your business). Or perhaps there is a local, industry-based organization you can join. And, of course, there are always industry trade shows, conferences, and conventions.
We’d be remiss if we didn’t mention online networking. LinkedIn is the most generic professional networking site available. Connect with those you’ve done business with, join some groups, and seek out business owners nearby. And although Facebook is not necessarily a professional platform, there are industry-specific professional groups for you to join.
You’ll get empathy from your peers.
Even if you’re working with someone in a different professional field, it’s likely most small business owners find themselves in similar situations: managing business finances and HR issues, the stress of tax season and audits, or dealing with problematic customers. We’ve all been there, so we understand what it takes to deal with these situations.
And it’s not only empathy for the hard times, it’s also celebrating the excitement of business growth, the pride of receiving awards and recognition, and commemorating business milestones. It’s laughing over how (or where) your business started, or perhaps an embarrassing mishap with a client.
While empathy from other business owners and employees won’t necessarily increase the bottom line, sometimes it’s nice to be reminded that others are facing the same struggles and triumphs that we face every day.
You can help support the local economy.
With nearly every business having their own website, it’s easy to do business with companies across the US—or even globally.
However, sometimes you want to do business with a marketing company near you. You don’t have to understand much beyond Economics 101 to know that when you do business with local companies, you’re putting your money back in the pockets of people in your community, from the business owners to their employees.
You’ll get increased referrals from a trusted source.
Granted, this applies to small or large businesses, but sometimes you’ll get increased referrals from fellow small business owners because they empathize with you, you’ve networked with them, and you’ve supported their business efforts. Referrals like this can often mean more to consumers because a lot of people like supporting small businesses over large-scale corporations.
Don’t believe us?
It’s estimated that on Small Business Saturday in 2015, more than 95 million people shopped at small businesses. Yes, this is a special occasion, a “shopping holiday,” if you will. But those numbers don’t lie. Americans like supporting small businesses.
Sometimes they just need a little encouragement, like referrals from you and your professional peers.
We love doing business with small businesses.
Our customers range from sole proprietors to global corporations. We welcome inquiries from any and all business or organizations. As a small business, though, we get where our fellow small business owners are coming from. While we can’t offer discounts because of your business size or professional affiliation, we can offer honest customer service, professional knowledge, and empathy if you need it.
We’re On The Ball Promotions, and we’re promotional products experts. Our personalized promotional items advertise your business in a practical way. Find the best giveaways for your business at OnTheBallPromotions.com.
How to Deal with an Unhappy Customer in 3 Easy Steps
Our customer service team talks to a wide variety of people each day—on the phone, on our live chat, or over email—and sometimes there are customers that don’t see eye-to-eye with us on an issue.
And let’s face it. Sometimes we make mistakes. At On The Ball Promotions, we guarantee we’ll fix our mistakes. Whether we ship new product or give you a refund, we stand behind our product and service.
But there is always that sticky situation when you know you’re in the right, but they won’t budge. What then?
Here are some methods our customer service team use to defuse what could otherwise be an ugly situation.
1. Ask them to explain… from the beginning.
Yes, this might take a little time. But here’s how you can ultimately take charge of the story: ask questions. Small, simple questions just to clarify what they’re saying. When they’re done telling their story, repeat back what you’ve heard. This process of clarification often causes people to reconsider their stance—if only just a little, but it’s a good, neutral way to start the conversation. You’re not questioning their logic, just making sure you know their side of the story.
2. Show empathy.
Empathy is showing that you feel what they’re feeling. It’s saying things like “I understand why you’re upset about this,” or “I’d be confused, too.” Now, do you have to truly feel what you say? Not necessarily, but at the same time, you don’t want to lie.
While you might not see things from their point of view, you can at least empathize with the fact that they’re upset because they had expectations that were not met—even if you know they’re in the wrong.
By showing the customer that you’re able to see things from their perspective makes them more open to seeing things from your perspective.
If things still have not cooled down yet, or the customer is still making unreasonable demands, there is one last-ditch effort that might smooth things out for a lasting relationship.
3. If all else fails, give them stuff.
This one might hurt a little, but sometimes you have to throw the dog a bone. Perhaps you refund their shipping costs, or give them a percentage off their order or work receipt. By giving them something—anything—you’re showing that you’re willing to work with them.
This last option might be enough to re-build the trust with your customer, leading to a lasting working relationship and potentially some referrals because of your willingness to work with them.
What now?
We think it’s time to rethink the worn-out phrase “The customer is always right,” and change it to something a bit more fitting, something a bit more accurate. Something that doesn’t make you grit your teeth when saying it. How about this:
The customer might not always be right. But they’re your business’ lifeblood, so do what it takes to keep them happy.
Or, a more succinct version:
Do your business a favor and keep the customer happy.
We’re On The Ball Promotions, and we pride ourselves in keeping our customers happy. Our personalized promotional items advertise your business in a practical way. Find the best giveaways for your business at OnTheBallPromotions.com.