4 Ways to support milspouse-owned small shops

Daniella Horne Avatar
Shop small. Shop milspouse! Photo/Canva

Share

If adapting to change was an Olympic Sport then military spouses would take all the gold home.

Plain and simple, military spouses adapt to change all the time. We are constantly facing all sorts of change and this has caused many to start showcasing their creative side from home by starting a small business. Starting a small business has not only allowed military spouses to tap into their entrepreneurial side but it has helped many find personal fulfillment. 

From networking, personal growth, financial stability, flexibility and even contributing to their local military spouse community by hiring other spouses, there is nothing small about a small shop. From craft fairs, community pages, running their own social media platforms, selling on Etsy and more, military spouse-owned small shops are something to admire. 

Military spouses have spent years learning to reconfigure their normal. They are innovators and take their small businesses wherever the military sends and are capable of overcoming obstacles. Coming together as a community to support these makers, creators and amazing business owners is a way to contribute to our own military spouse collective. 

What shop owners want you to know

man and woman talking about small businesses
Dozens of Marines and civilian-Marines attended the first-ever Portable Business Fair, March 13. Active-duty personnel and their spouses along with Department of Defense civilians had the chance to learn about the many benefits of owning a business and hear testimonials from successful business owners in the surrounding communities. One vendor and spouse of a Marine, Tina Paulson, started an e-commerce skincare business that gives her the flexibility to work anywhere and anytime, regardless of her husband’s orders. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Re-Essa Buckels)

As someone who has owned a small business before, from personal experience I can honestly share that a little goes a long way. Yes, that sounds cliche, but within our circles, our community, our duty stations, word of mouth matters. Sharing about someone’s services, their professionalism, the amazing turnaround on a product you paid for along with the quality and overall experience with a shop can set someone up for more business. Sharing their page, liking and following their social media platforms, keeping them in mind when someone is in need of something they offer…this is important and will be much appreciated. 

Shop owners wear many hats. Small shop owners create business strategies, keep track of finances, handle legal responsibilities, manage their marketing, handle customer service, hire and train others, take care of branding and more. Many tackle all of it while raising babies, experiencing another deployment and even working other jobs…mistakes can happen and we know your time and business is valuable. Please understand that small shop owners are human beings too and their one-person shops work diligently to make all the magic happen on time and without issues but of course things can go wrong. Please bear with them. 

What are some small businesses to support within your military community?

Wow! The amazing thing about this is that within our military communities we truly have a whole team of business owners waiting to be of service. 

From personal trainers, photographers, party planners, sewing and alterations, woodworkers, car-detailing specialists, bakers and food caterers, tutors, music instructors, we are lucky to be surrounded by a plethora of talented, driven and resilient individuals. 

How can we support our milspouse-owned small shops?

  1. Tell the world about them: Word of mouth goes a long way. Share what you love about your favorite milspouse-owned shops, tag their business pages, leave a positive review on their Etsy page, and recommend them to other military spouses, family and friends.
  2. Engage with their social platforms: This is huge. Social media is here to stay whether we love it or not and most small shop owners rely on their social media platforms to share about their business. Comment, like, follow and share. This right here is a super easy way to show them love and help them out. 
  3. Check out their events: This is such a wonderful way to support your crafting besties. Attend their farmer markets and crafting fairs. Stop by to show support at their next pop-up event, be part of their workshops or classes. 
  4. Shop with them: Whether it is holiday shopping, buying gift cards for birthdays or simply treating yourself to something they offer, make a conscious effort to browse their goods and services first. Are you PCSing and need cleaning services? Are you looking for a tutor for your child? Need a cake baked for a retirement ceremony? Are you shipping your vehicle and want it detailed? This is how you help your community thrive. 

We know how tough it is for military spouses to change career paths, find new jobs with every PCS and we all understand that many did not join this lifestyle for its riches. For many, having this source of income is crucial to help themselves and their families out and if there is one thing about this lifestyle is that we support our own. Next time you need to do some shopping, think of a milspouse-owned small shop!