Support our local businesses first

EDITORIAL – By PETER ROWE

In Western Australia, small businesses account for nearly 97 per cent of businesses – with 24 per cent located in the regions.

A good percentage of that will be Indigenous businesses – some new startups, others more established – but all looking to offer great services and/or products.

The recent IEBF tradeshow highlighted many businesses striving for success.

So, with WA Small Business day being marked by the State government this week it’s timely to ask all of us to ‘think small first’.

That’s the slogan the government is using to promote the idea for community to support their local businesses.

In WA there are more than 238,000 small businesses across industries ranging from construction to retail, health and wellbeing, the arts and recreation services.

In general small businesses in WA contribute $50 billon to the local economy – and yes, that includes the many Indigenous businesses out there.

The entrepreneurial spirit is alive and well.

And it is important that we as consumers back the small businesses in our local areas.

Supporting essential services and great products.

And it’s much more than just a business for many.

Because they add so much to community – providing employment and support to so many events and activities.

So let’s all celebrate our businesses – thank them for their contribution to community and make surer when we buy our goods, our products and services required, we always thing Indigenous local first.