Celebrating local businesses on International Small Business Week

[KatieMcBroom]

Local Guides have always done an incredible job of celebrating and supporting small businesses, on Google Maps and off. Your contributions help to keep these local businesses going at a time when they need it most.

We’re especially excited to highlight a handful of these local businesses around the world as well as resources for business owners in honor of International Small Business Week which kicks off this week and runs through June 27. International Small Business Week was designed to both celebrate small businesses and help them succeed online.

Read on to learn more about a handful of standout small businesses around the world:

Félix & Norton Cookies

Félix & Norton Cookies has been in operation for 36 years, starting out as a cookie shop in suburban Montreal. It grew to 40 stores in the mid-90s but after some internal turmoil and changing market conditions, the company experienced serious financial challenges. A few years ago, the CEO Michael decided to relaunch the brand and put F&N back on the map. Now, they’ve started a Shopify store to sell online, launched Google ads, and as a result, not only have sales boomed, they’re now able to reach customers across all of Canada.

Ayla Beauty, United States

Based in San Francisco, CA, fueled by her fascination with the science behind skincare, founder Dara Kennedy opened Ayla Beauty to create skincare products and regimens with non-toxic chemicals to help customers around the world feel beautiful. By using Google Ads, the Ayla Beauty team has been able to reach more customers and beauty collaborators globally.

Ethique, New Zealand

We know Local Guides are passionate about sustainability and this brand is, too. Based in New Zealand, Ethique is a small business that creates plastic-free shampoo bars with eco-friendly packaging. They began experimenting with Google Ads to grow internationally and save more plastic by selling an environmentally friendly product.

Bliss Gifts & Homewares

Bliss Gifts & Homewares is a family owned & operated business, located in the town of Ulladulla in Australia. Against all odds, Bliss has been able to not only grow but flourish during multiple periods of uncertainty over the last year due to her business being online ensuring it’s easy for her customers to connect with her when they’re searching for what she sells. She was able to increase her business’ revenue by 50% in the wake of the Australian bushfires impacting her community. Today, 90% of her sales come from digital channels and in owner Melissa’s words, “online is our home now.”

This week we’re also celebrating small businesses via YouTube Small Biz Day on June 24, featuring resources for small businesses to get started on YouTube and a unique live shopping experience on YouTube featuring 20 small businesses across the U.S. and Canada.

For those of you in the community who also own businesses, you can get help with your businesses this week and beyond. New free, online guides were recently launched on Google for Small Business, which package up simple steps a business can take to be successful online now.

Reviewing and keeping information current on Google Maps is a key way that you all support small businesses. This week, you can also help us spread the word on social media by using #SmallBusinessWeek, #GrowTogether, and #GrowWithGoogle in your posts. To learn more ways you can give help to small businesses this week, click here.

[davidhyno]

Thanks @KatieMcBroom for this post!

Small businesses are always my favorites, that direct relationship between people never fails and you are always followed as a customer!

Bye,

David

[ErmesT]

A lot of my friends own a small business, @KatieMcBroom , businesses that I’ve never reviewed to avoid any conflict of interest. It will be a pleasure to share with them the new Online Guides,

Some of them is already using the toolkit, they are enthusiast.

[AbdullahAM]

Hello @KatieMcBroom

Thank you so much for your post for supporting small businesses on Google maps. I’m also dedicated for supporting small businesses in my area.

A inside view of a Small Shop in my area, Mymensingh

[LaloPadilla]

Thanks @KatieMcBroom I will start to recommend Google for small business whenever I visit one.

I´m always updating info in my area. It´s amazing that little actions can help a lot.

[MahabubMunna]

Thanks a lot for sharing with us. I’m always try to help small business owner for buy

something in our meetup

[SholaIB]

@KatieMcBroom

Thank you for this post and for the small businesses you are promoting.

We have millions of small businesses (small and local stores especially) around Lagos and around Nigeria in general. Most of them unclaimed and unaware of the benefits of GMB. It generally takes alot of education and awareness to get them on to the platform.

Happy guiding and…

Cheers

[Kamalhasnainee]

I am always working to support small businesses to grow with Google as the ultimate use of Google Maps to develop their business to expand from local to around the globe. So, the aware to uses of Google Maps and Google products are really a facts for businesses and of course we are always besides of SME’s to support their businesses. Thanks @KatieMcBroom for posting this celebration post and for sharing with us.

[FalguniP]

@KatieMcBroom this is amazing!

Supporting businesses get online and educating local business owners about GMB as well as map is one of the top most things to do in my regular contribution !

It’s great to see happy faces and see them grow

[ShekharMuz_5]

Thanks a lot @KatieMcBroom for supporting small businesses at local on international business week. I always adhere to support small businesses at local places.

[KalyanPal]

Thank you @KatieMcBroom for this post. I always support small businesses and that’s why, I add pictures and videos with detailed review.

I say them (business owner) about GMB.

#HappyGuiding

[Niv1234]

@KatieMcBroom Thank you so much, its so important to support small businesses especially in the COVID-19 time.

[Durojaiyeolaunde1]

@KatieMcBroom .thanks for sharing.am so happy for sharing the update of local business.to let people know more business exstict in our community.thaks for the update.

[KASHI5051]

@KatieMcBroom an on everage today we saw approx business are small. During this pendmiv some businesses are close permanent due to finance. We hope they are again re open.

Thank you @KatieMcBroom for this facility on Google .we helped those peoples ones again.

[NareshDarji]

Thanks for sharing this post @KatieMcBroom .

I always try to help small businesses around me and give them proper guidance about Google My business.

#LGsforsmallbusinesses

[Engr_MHasan]

Thank you for a great topic. We heartily appreciate the entrepreneurs of small business. We support, we are with…

[HmonirOfficial]

Small businesses are always my favorites, that direct relationship between people never fails and you are always followed as a customer!

[HmonirOfficial]

Hello Local Guides,

It been one year of supporting small business, on 10th June 2020 I hosted my very first virtual meet up where we discussed how we can help small businesses around us.

After which I kept searching new ways to motivate fellow local guides to do the same.

Looking back to the year

I not only improved my contributions but also shared whatever I discovered and shared with fellow local guides

[AdamGT]

Thanks @KatieMcBroom for this post about about International Small Business Week. Small businesses are the backbone of most economies and without doubt, I would say it’s the sector of business that Local Guides give most support to

[AngieYC]

Hello @HmonirOfficial ,

Thank you for sharing your way on how support small business, we really appreciate it.

I would like to inform you that we have an existing thread where Local Guides discuss on how they support the small businesses, to keep the communication in one place and you can join the discussion there too.