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(As promised, a separate post will come soon, listing the items I purchased from the 2009 Gift Guide.)
It’s SHOUT OUT time, my friends!
With every store, website and business vying for our holiday dollars the past month or so, I think it’s worth a mention when people go out of their way to support small business. With millions of small businesses ready and willing to take your support, why choose Mommy Perks?
Some of our members and readers did – so…I want to thank them for taking the time to put money back into the pockets of our mom partners – and their families.
Since taking over the Mommy Perks site I have seen one particular behavior over and over and over again. Moms, dads and business owners saying: “I support small business!” However, what they really mean is that they wait for others to support their small business, buy their book, endorse & review their products, refer their items and so on.
I made a plea to our Mommy Perks members and partners about a year ago. I said, “Let’s all make a choice to support one another! Not to simply SAY it but to actually DO IT.” A few of them took me seriously 
So – when I personally witness small business owners putting their money where their mouths are, I LOVE giving them a great big Mommy Perks SHOUT OUT! They are living examples of what it really means to support small business – to make that conscious and direct decision to seek, locate, buy from and support the efforts of other business owners (whether local or online).
Here goes!!
It’s especially lovely when someone supports a Mommy Perks partner and then blogs about them, features them and so on. Keeping the love going and passing it on.
—> That’s why my first shout out goes to Louise of Signing Families. Not only did she purchase an OnTray2Go from our 2009 Gift Guide – she did so much more! She featured the OnTray2Go on her toginet radio show as a top pick for gift giving.
—> Next, I have a huge thank you for MariLee, owner of ReallyWorkingFromHome.com. MariLee ran her own Guide this year and purchased from her own moms as well as from some of mine. She bought from Peacock Pottery, 4 Kids Enterprizes and The Boy’s Store.
—> Lisa, our AVON rep, purchased numerous items from MariLee’s Etsy shop (cookies, fudge and scrub). Lisa’s family is currently moving across country. Even so, she took the time to pick a Mommy Perks partner to support.
—> On Cyber Monday, Dawn (Shaklee Rep) bought two recycled tea sets from Lisa over at Bing Note. These tea sets are made from recycled milk jugs – so totally cool. Lisa’s prices were lower than any other site selling this line so Dawn snatched up two sets.
—> Lori, owner of Prim ‘n Purdy, purchased a Signing Families DVD on Cyber Monday. The DVD was given to her daughter as a Christmas gift. Her daughter has been wanting to learn in depth ASL.
—> Suzanne at The Boy’s Store purchased a piece of pottery from Peacock Pottery, to give as a gift. Suzanne loves hand painted Polish pottery but rather than buy for herself, she purchased for someone else – very kind.
—> Lisa, co-founder of Bing Note, purchased some mint lotion from MariLee’s Etsy shop. Lisa works full time, outside Bing Note, and kindly took the time to select a Mommy Perks partner to support.
—> Leah, owner of Peacock Pottery, purchased lotions from MariLee’s Etsy shop. The lotions were a big hit in the stockings, according to Leah!
—> After looking over our Gift Guide, Nicole of Artistic Albums by Nicole, contacted numerous partners, offering to feature them on her blog. She promoted them on facebook, twitter and on her site, encouraging others to patron them and to support small businesses during the holidays.
I happen to know that sales have been down for many business owners, with the economy and all. Yet these select people made a conscious decision to support other moms in the Mommy Perks community, using their PERK offers, etc. It’s not easy putting ourselves out there, buying from others when we really want our own sales. BUT – we all truly believe that we get back what we give. Therefore, I have no doubt that these moms will gain more sales over time based on their generosity of spirit. When they each go to refer their friends and family to small businesses, the folks who supported them will quickly come to mind before anyone else.
And it will all come back to them, full circle.
“The circle of small business life” if you will.
Thanks again to these lovely ladies - thank you for your loyalty to the Mommy Perks community and to our small business “buy from each other” concepts. I love and appreciate each of you. You are the very people that make the Mommy Perks community unique and special.
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***These are the people I was told purchased from our Gift Guide or from a Mommy Perks partner during the 2009 holiday season. I am not intentionally leaving anyone out. If you also purchased from a Mommy Perks partner this last holiday season, feel free to write and let me know about it!
Thanks for this shout out and for your part in encouraging and supporting small business. I second your wishes for a prosperous New Year and continued collaboration.