06/30/2024
Wow! This month has been such a whirlwind. I can't even begin to tell you all the emotions I have felt through this whole process of closing the store. But I can tell you just how incredibly grateful I am! The support we've received through this entire thing has been nothing short of amazing! I have loved every conversation, every hug and every message.
Owning your own business is hard!! It takes a lot of time, hard work, dedication, money, all the things! We had some serious struggles for a while and one of my kids asked me if I regretted buying the store. Without hesitation I gave a very resounding, "NO WAY!!" Through all the hard stuff, there's always good. The lessons learned, the friendships made, all worth it! My message to my kids is I will never regret trying something new or doing something that I feel gives back to my community. I have loved every minute of owning Ben's Five and Dime! I will miss it dearly.
To all the other business owners out there, keep fighting the fight! Times are weird and tough, but keep pushing! To all who aren't business owners, get out and support these people as much as you can!! You may not find what you need or want every time you visit them, but keep going! Just showing up means a lot! Remember, small business owners are the people who live next door, have kids who go to school with your kids, they are your friends and neighbors! They show up every day for our communities in so many ways, the least we can do is show up for them!! And if you have a dream of owning your own small business, take the chance!!
Want to know where all our small businesses are located? Perry Chamber of Commerce has a directory and is a great place to start!!
Thank you all, and I'll be seeing you around town!!
All my thanks,
Andrea