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How to Support Local in Columbia, Mo During COVID-19

Sarah Carnes • April 14, 2020

What Can I Do To Support Local Businesses in Columbia, Mo?

COVID-19 has hit the local restaurant industry hard. According to CNBC, “One analyst predicted that the disruption to businesses from coronavirus could lead to 15,000 permanent retail store closures in 2020, with the Economic Policy Institute predicting that the disease outbreak could potentially wipe out three million jobs from the U.S. economy before this summer.” This means Downtown Columbia and other highly saturated local businesses could be gone before the end of summer 2020. Keep reading to explore how you can support local businesses during this hard time.

Take Out is the New Dining In

Before the Coronavirus hit, take out seemed lazy or unnecessary, however, small businesses need you now more than ever. We aren’t saying you need to order delivery or curbside for every meal but once or twice a week from your favorite local restaurants would boost sales and help them stay afloat. Not sure which businesses are offering takeout or curbside? Below is a list of Savor clients that are offering meals to go; making supporting local restaurants a breeze!

Barred Owl offers curbside pick up and posts daily menus to their Facebook page so you can easily choose one of their delicious meals.
Cafe Berlin is offering delivery through Door Dash as well as bulk ingredients to make your favorite Berlin cuisines at home.
Taco Tuesday just got a whole lot better because Las Margaritas is offering their full menu plus drinks for curbside carryout or delivery within 5 miles.
Those are just a few of the many local restaurants offering curbside or delivery. Check out Savor’s website to search for more meal delivery options from your local favorites.

Kyla’s Experience Propelled her Into Food Photography

By purchasing gift cards now, you are helping small businesses stay in business. You can use these gift cards at a later time or give them away as birthday gifts. A single gift card can go a long way for a local business in need during this time. Check out great places to purchase online gift cards.

Surprise a loved one with a CC’s City Broiler gift card for their birthday! Contact CC’s City Broiler via their website or give them a call to purchase a gift card!
Plan a date night or girls night out for the summer by purchasing a gift card to 44 Canteen. You can mark your calendar and look forward to something fun while supporting them through this difficult time.
Give the gift of coffee by purchasing a Lakota gift card via their website!

Like and Share Their Posts

We understand this is a stressful time financially for many people. You may want to help local businesses but are trying to support yourself first. Support doesn’t have to be financially straining. One of the best ways to support local restaurants without spending any money is by liking, sharing and engaging with their online posts. A great way to start this is by searching Facebook or Instagram for your favorite local shops, restaurants, and other businesses. Following them, engaging in posts and continuing to support them through this platform is a great way to show local businesses you care. It may seem simple but a like or share can go a long way.

We hope that these suggestions were helpful and you feel more confident on how to support local restaurants. Learn more about local restaurants in Columbia, Mo via Savor on Instagram and Facebook for more updates on how to support our local businesses! Do you have other ways you are supporting the locals? Feel free to get creative and let us know how you show your support in the comments!

By Sarah Carnes

Originally from Louisville, Kentucky, Sarah had an interest in art, writing and technology from a very early age. She spent her childhood building websites and designing album artwork. Fortunate enough to attend a high school that offered graphic design classes, she was able to pursue her passion and expertise earlier than most of her peers.

Sarah oversees all operational and visual aspects of Lift Division, including design, community management, photography, videography, recruitment and company initiatives. With over 15 years of experience in marketing, Sarah has been instrumental in the high growth of multiple companies and brands, which included helping a company flourish from a $10M to $45M company. She innovates, leads and executes strategic marketing initiatives from the ground up.

Sarah has held various marketing and design positions including Brake Printing, Missouri Consolidated Health Care Plan, Westminster College and Fresh Ideas Food Service as the Director of Marketing. Her career has allowed her to innovate, lead and execute strategic marketing initiatives from the ground up while managing a team of digital marketers. Sarah has managed and developed marketing, communication, branding, digital communities and creative direction for various companies throughout her career.

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Sarah Carnes

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