A New Year Resolution

In my column for the Tennessean I offer the following suggestion for the new year:

With the new year upon us, I’d like to offer a resolution.

Support small-business owners with your business.

History shows us that it’s small-business owners who have led us out of our past recessions. Entrepreneurs are the job-creating engines that generate sustainable economic growth.

But, they can’t do it alone. They need us to give them a chance to earn — and I do mean earn — our business.

Here are just a few of the small businesses that have earned my business, and how they won my loyalty.

I get my hair cut every month at Genie’s Barber Shop in Franklin. Genie offers quality haircuts for men at a great price. She is able to offer her customers a value haircut in large part by keeping her overhead low.

She has a simple little shop, no fancy décor, no plasma televisions and thankfully no ear-popping stereo systems. Genie earned my business through great quality at a value price.

When it is time to get service done on our cars, we go to Moody’s Tire and Auto on Columbia Avenue in Franklin (www.moodystire.com). When we first moved to town we heard from several neighbors that if you need service on your car, go to Moody’s.

Businesses that have customers willing to recommend their service to others through word of mouth are not all that common. It didn’t take long to see why customers are eager to talk about Moody’s, though. It comes as a result of its honesty and integrity.

Just as one example of its integrity — on many occasions I have seen Moody’s employees talk customers out of getting new tires because the tires on their cars still had plenty of life left in them.

We recently wanted to put in some new tile floors in our home, and replace carpet with hardwood. I asked people whom I trust in the construction business where to call, and the name Wilkerson Tile and Stone came up.

Communication is key

Beyond great quality at a fair price, Jim Wilkerson knows the importance of communicating with his customers. While this may not seem like a big deal, it’s always a source of frustration for me when service providers don’t communicate well or at all.

Running behind on the project before ours? Just let us know. Can’t make it out today because of a scheduling conflict? Give me a call.

Wilkerson keeps us informed every step of the way — a small thing that goes a long way with most customers.

There are many other small businesses that have earned my loyalty, such as Bongo Java Coffee, where I hold court several times a week; Evans Glass, which will be installing new shower doors in our home; and Lee Company for the quality of its service on heating and cooling systems.

I’m sure you have your own favorites.

I hope you join me in supporting entrepreneurs by making a new year’s resolution to give more small businesses a chance.