Hey friends. Hope your summer is going swimmingly. Speaking of swimming, maybe this message is finding you at the beach or around the grill in a friend’s backyard. No matter where you are and what you’re doing, there’s no denying summer is here in full swing, which brings me to my reason for writing today.
As part of your summer plans, I’m here to encourage you to keep loving on our local, independent businesses throughout Michiana, especially now. I’ve been talking with my fellow business owners across the city these last few weeks, and the “summer slowdown” is strong and apparent and being felt by us all.
I’ve been struggling with how best to share this message with you and if it’s even something we should share in the first place. I loathe the idea of begging or appearing desperate, and nobody wants to support a sinking ship, right?
Here’s what I think I’ve realized in the last week or so, and it’s a truth of life in general: we can’t expect anyone to help us if we don’t ask for it. We all do our best (both professionally and personally) to present a polished, successful, inspiring image via social media, and we also know from personal experience that what we see online is never the full truth. It’s a natural impulse to resist appearing fragile, weak, desperate, or vulnerable – yet vulnerability in particular is, I believe, a superpower. Vulnerability is an essential strength of the human experience. It keeps us humble, honest, and it’s worth embracing.
This “summer slowdown” isn’t just happening in Michiana. I’m seeing it in fellow small businesses I follow in other parts of the country, from coast to coast. I’m seeing sales, discounts, special events, and more honest, vulnerable moments. There’s a lot of fear and anxiety in the small business community right now. We all love what we do. We’re all on a mission to build the community we want to live in, with you.
What gives me hope is that you, our community, have helped so many local businesses grow and thrive up to this point, which is how I know you’ll come back to us and support us again when you’re able, no matter when that may be. The truth of this moment is that all of us local businesses need you right now, so if you’re in a position to get out and love on your favorites, please do.
What also gives me hope is the abundant innovation and creativity I’m seeing from our fellow business owners right now. We aren’t sitting back and letting this moment wash over us, shrugging our shoulders and giving up. We’re all doing our best to craft events, experiences, products, and invitations that we hope will resonate with you. Great ideas and permanent solutions are born in moments of pressure and stress, and this moment is no different.
As I’ve said from the beginning of Botany, it truly takes a village, and we’re grateful you’re ours. Never has this statement been more poignant. We’re grateful to be here in South Bend. We’re grateful to recognize so many familiar faces when we’re out and about outside the Shop. The power of community is contagious in the best possible way, and we all need you right now.
With Gratitude,
Ben | Botany Founder & CEO
P.S. If you’re a fellow local business owner feeling lonely, burnt-out, or uninspired, I’m excited to share that Botany, in collaboration with EM EN Art House, are hosting the first Small Biz Support Group the morning of July 20.
Hosted by Ben Futa (Founder + CEO of Botany) and Myriam Nicodemus (Founder + CEO EM EN Art House), this event is an opportunity for local small business owners in South Bend to gather, connect, collaborate, and foster community among peers. Our goal is to create a safe, welcoming space where our fellow local independent business owners can take a deep breath, be ourselves, and refill and refocus our energy on the things that matter most to us right now.
We’ll have plenty of coffee and breakfast treats. Doors will open at 7:45a if you want to arrive a bit early and help us set up. Our program will kick off promptly at 8am, and we’ll wrap by 9:30a. If anyone is available to stay after for a few minutes to help us tear down and clean up, that would also be appreciated.
We feel this is an exciting moment in our city with so many new entrepreneurs stepping in to vacant spaces to create the community we want to live in. Stress is a given part of this journey, and we’re not on a mission to remove all of that stress. We simply want to make this journey just a little easier, a little less lonely, and a little more hopeful, because we believe in what all of us are building here, together.
I encourage you to share this event with someone you think would enjoy and benefit from this gathering of fellow leaders. If you’re a business owner yourself and would like a link to RSVP, please email me here.