It’s the time of year to shower our family and loved ones with tokens of our gratitude and appreciation. Here at DE Scorpio, we like to do the same for our business partners, clients and colleagues as well. As our business continues to grow, so does that list.
In the lead-up to the holidays, the D.E. Scorpio Corporation is inundated with catalogs, emails and advertisements, each offering “the perfect solution” to our holiday gift-giving needs. And in years past, we’ve leaned on traditional companies to provide that solution, for all the usual reasons: it’s quick, easy, and guaranteed to arrive on time. But this year, we’ve taken a more thoughtful approach to how we show our love.
Giving with an Impact
This year’s holiday gift giving was launched with a mission that dovetails perfectly with our corporate mission: advancing communities by providing superior construction and civic leadership. The D.E. Scorpio Corporation is committed to sourcing all of our gifts locally in support of the national “shopping holiday” Small Business Saturday. While this does require more research, consideration, and some extra planning, it’s the right thing to do. So instead of ordering in bulk from catalogs, we’re tapping local business for the holiday treats we send out, and enlisting the help of a local florist to ensure the presentation and delivery are top notch.
The D.E. Scorpio Corporation still considers itself a small, family-owned business. Nearly all our clients and partners are right here in Alachua County, many of which are small businesses themselves. What we love most about our community is how deeply we value homegrown entrepreneurship and our dedication to a resilient local economy. We are doing our best to embody those values whenever and however possible.
Embracing Small Business Saturday
Few will ever forget the impact that the Great Recession had on large and small businesses around the nation. The Business Journals of U.S. Census Bureau reports that between 2008 and 2010, 170,000 small businesses shut down, and the economic ripple effects were felt far beyond the owners. In 2010, with many communities hurting from the loss, American Express launched a brilliant marketing campaign. In an effort to drive consumers offline and out of big-box retailers for a day, Small Business Saturday was born, encouraging patronage your friendly neighborhood entrepreneurs. Anchored on the Saturday between Black Friday and Cyber Monday, in six short years, Small Business Saturday has produced a profoundly positive impact on local economies and the way we think about spending our holiday dollars.
More than Just Dollars and Cents
But the impact we hope to make goes beyond the financial. By sourcing our gift locally, we are reducing adverse effects on the environment. This choice drastically reduces the carbon footprint of every package sent, by saving the thousands of miles it would travel from a distribution center. Packaging styrofoam and plastic waste is also dramatically reduced.
We’re not perfect, but we are taking increasingly bold steps to serve our mission. We hope you will join us in choosing local and supporting our friends and our neighbors. We guarantee you will be glad you did. Whether on Small Business Saturday, or any other day, supporting small businesses is a win for everyone.