Big business supports small business
Small businesses are the lifeblood of the U.S. economy: they create two-thirds of net new jobs and drive U.S. innovation and competitiveness. A report from the Small Business Administration shows that small businesses account for 44 percent of U.S. economic activity, or GDP. And they employ 48% of all US employees, providing salaries and wages. This employment enables consumer spending which benefits all businesses – small and large. The success of this important segment is key to the health of our economy, and why big business is finding ways to support small business through the challenges of Covid-19.
Here are a few examples:
#OpenWeStand
OpenWeStand from GoDaddy is a dedicated site to help entrepreneurs and small business owners connect with each other and find resources to assist them during this difficult time. In addition to special offers, the site features, articles, videos, a LinkedIn Community Group and examples of entrepreneurs adapting their businesses. GoDaddy is also giving free access to its email marketing tools and Websites + Marketing Free, a free-to-use website builder designed to take an idea online quickly to help small business owners keep their business open, even if their doors are closed because of COVID-19.
The #OpenWeStand initiative has brought along partners including American Express, PayPal, Salesforce, and Slack to also show their support by providing signed pledges stating how they can help small business in this uncertain time. They’re not just words, they’re commitments in place to guarantee these words result in action. Pitney Bowes is one of the partners and you can read our pledge.
Stand for Small
Stand for Small is a coalition of more than 60 companies led by American Express that have come together to provide small businesses with valuable services, offers, tools and expertise, as they work to reduce their operating expenses, manage their teams remotely, enhance their digital capabilities, and address other needs during this pandemic.
Many companies in the coalition have been supporting small businesses throughout this crisis, and this initiative brings together all these valuable benefits into an easy-to-use centralized digital platform that enables access to relevant products, information, tools and services.
The coalition includes some of the world’s leading brands, from Amazon to Google to Uber. And coming soon is Pitney Bowes. You can see all participating brands here.
A new online resource and remote sending solution from Pitney Bowes
For 100 years, Pitney Bowes has supported small businesses and communities guided by its core value of ‘doing the right thing, the right way.’ With more than 750,000 small business clients around the world, we’ve developed a deep understanding of the challenges these organizations face. The Way Forward for Small Business is an online resource delivering helpful, informative content including videos, articles and fact sheets on topics which are front-of-mind for the millions of small businesses impacted by the pandemic. Themes, which change every week, include government assistance, workplace operations and safety, and information on how to effectively market, sell and stay productive in a remote working environment.
Through June 30, 2020 Pitney Bowes is also providing its meter customers access to printing postage stamps through SendPro Online, at no additional cost. As with the meter, the application offers mailers 5 cents savings on every First-Class Mail® letter sent. This capability supports the continued need for businesses to send remotely amid Covid-19. Find out more here.
Greta Wilson, VP, Marketing