We know that our economy is based on a free market and, to a large degree, competition and survival of the fittest. But today, we are seeing what has happened with our small businesses at the hands of an insidious virus. It’s been estimated that over 2 million American people are now unemployed with small businesses grappling for loans just to keep their doors open. Many small businesses have closed their doors, either temporarily or even permanently.

Coming Together for Each Other

During these uncertain times, we small business owners have learned to come together for each other and the customers we serve. Larger companies have more resources to weather this storm. But those of us who have weathered difficult times here in Philadelphia and served loyal customers over the years now find ourselves in tenuous circumstances. This is why we choose to help each other out. It’s an investment for all of our futures. Here in Philly, it’s just the way we take care of each other.

How Small Business is Important to Philadelphia

Why is small business so important? According to the Small Business Administration, we accounted for two-thirds of net new jobs and approximately 43.5 percent of the national GDP in 2014. In Philadelphia alone,

  • 99.7 percent of our businesses employed less than 500 people, 53.7 percent less than 5 people. (figure from 2017)
  • More than one-third of our industry is dominated by those small businesses that employ less than 5 people.
  • Findings from 2013 showed that our 27,000 small businesses employed the majority of the city’s workforce which produced over $31 billion in wages and $1.2 billion in income tax revenues.

With every day of lockdown, we are seeing small businesses succumb to closures which will have substantial effects on our great city.

How We Can Help Each Other

Our neighborhoods are the heart of our community here. To help each other out at these times, it’s more important than ever to support local businesses so we can all come out on the other side of this time together. We can do this by

  • Shopping online through a local small business instead of a big box store.
  • Ordering food to go through a local restaurant instead of a chain.
  • Share your favorite small businesses on social media with your friends and through neighborhood sites.
  • Limit the spread as much as possible.
  • Check on friends and neighbors, particularly the elderly, and help them get medications and household items.

Today, we’re seeing so many examples of small businesses helping each other as well as helping local customers, first responders and healthcare workers. We are all in this together.

At Philadelphia Mail Room, we are small business owners dedicated to our community and to our customers. We will be open during regular hours during this crisis. Let us know if we can help. (215)745-1100