About
Save Small Shops
Save Small Shops is the brainchild of Tracy who owns a small shop in Evanston, IL, called Evanston Imprintables, a Retail Boutique and screen printer, promotional product distributor and embroiderer.
Tracy
Tracy had run her business for 15 years and started seeing many of her clients lose their small shops to the “big guys” in town or from large internet companies that could underprice anyone in the small business world. She felt strongly that small shops saved communities and she wanted her community to have small shops! Tracy knew she needed partners to build Save Small Shops because (well the obvious) she was running her own small shop, so she reached out to a long-time client, Shannon, and long-time friend, Susan.
Shannon
Shannon is a serial entrepreneur and met Tracy when she needed to order t-shirts for her 2 businesses, Little Beans Café and Serious Slime (as seen on Shark Tank). Shannon also works with a local non-profit called The Kindness Connection whose mission is to teach youth empathy, compassion, and kindness through service projects that are handcrafted and donated as gifts to those who would benefit from kindness. She began to find it too easy to order things on-line as she was raising her children and working in her businesses, while quickly noticing that the store down the street that her friend owned was closing. She aligned immediately with Tracy’s vision to Save Small Shops.
Susan
Susan opened a non-profit café in Evanston in 2012, Curt’s Café, and met Tracy when she went looking for someone to design tee shirts for her Students. She is a serial entrepreneur, having opened her first business, Food For Thought Enterprise with her sister and brother-in-law at the age of 25, and was completely aligned with Tracy’s vision from day one. Susan brings her passion for always supporting the underdog and truly respecting the hard work and dedication of every small business owner.
The three started by agreeing on a few principles that would dictate every decision.
There would be absolutely no Pay To Play Concept, pay to rank higher, profit from a merchant provider, profit sharing with anyone! All listings must always be the same, Alphabetical and all businesses must be equal and able to promote themselves their own unique way.
The underlying goal is to save Main Streets everywhere – so people can find local businesses in their town or in any town they visit or want to find a gift, baked goods or flowers to send a friend.
Businesses must be willing to collaborate with one another embracing the concept that they must “leave their ego at the door – this Is about building each other and our community of small shops – not competition”.
That our site will allow businesses to define themselves, help themselves and help each other in their own way! All business owners know their business – the strengths and weaknesses unique to them. Each business can market, promote and define themselves without barriers.
Our site is not a marketplace, but a resource for people who live in all communities to support and contribute to a healthy vibrant town. We are stronger together as equals – the only way to gain power and market share from the big guys is to come together!
That we always keep our focus on our commitment to Save Small Shops!
So, in March 2020, still in the middle of the COVID-19 pandemic when businesses were closing daily, we launched Save Small Shop, a directory of small businesses in and for EVERY community!