Celebrate the Family-Owned Business in March

At the turn of the 20th century in Brooklyn, most of the shops and restaurants that dotted the main thoroughfares were locally-owned businesses.

These family-run businesses mostly catered to the thousands of residents who had moved out of Manhattan into “America’s first suburb” after the steam ferry made commuting into the Big Apple easier.

And one of these businesses was Petri Plumbing, Heating, Cooling & Drain Cleaning. We started in 1906 by helping Brooklyn residents fix their home comfort systems issues, a mission we’re still pursuing.

If it weren’t for the family-owned business, places like Brooklyn wouldn’t have grown and flourished.

That’s why we should all celebrate National Mom & Pop Business Owners Day on March 29.

Personalized Service

While chain stores that are owned by corporations provide some convenience and uniformity, it’s the Mom & Pop’s that treat you like family. They often know your name and remember your preferences.

This personalized attention adds to their charm and helps create a cohesive community culture. Because of their connection to the area they serve, they often reflect the values and tastes of their neighborhood.

And, as a result of their connection, they are often more intrinsically involved in their community. Locally-owned businesses often sponsor community initiatives or support local causes. These family-owned businesses care about the community because they live there, too.

Support Locally-Owned Businesses

The best way to celebrate National Mom & Pop Business Owners Day is to support your neighborhood’s locally-owned businesses on March 29 and every day.

You can:

• Share their information on your social media pages. Most family-owned businesses stay successful because of positive word-of-mouth advertising. Use the hashtag #MomAndPopBusinessOwnersDay
• Give gift cards from Mom & Pops stores as presents. Don’t keep your favorite local shops to yourself. Let others know of their offerings by giving gift cards.
• Be a repeat customer. While it may be tempting to go through a drive-thru when you’re in a hurry, the service you receive from your local, family-owned restaurant is usually more personalized.

Your Brooklyn plumbing and HVAC experts at Petri have been serving the Brooklyn community for 118 years. This community is where we work, live and play. And we want to continue to serve our community for years to come.

If the home service experts at Petri can help you fix a leaky pipe or service your HVAC system, give us a call at (718) 748-1254 or contact us online. We’ll have a technician out to help you, and we strive to give you the best service at the most competitive prices.