Tampa, Florida – Nationwide, 2024 was a challenging year for small businesses.
“You know there are things that happen both locally and nationally that affect our businesses every day,” said Kelly Flannery, president and executive director of the South Tampa Chamber of Commerce
Many stores have been dealing with labor shortages, supply chain problems and inflation impacts. In addition, here in Tampa Bay, our local stores had to recover from two consecutive hurricanes.
“It was a difficult year last year, especially in Tampa here for us with hurricanes and everything,” said Allison Bernardi, owner of Hazel + Dot.
When I visited Bernardi’s store in January, she told me that stores were still recovering.
“All of us combined are putting our resources again in this community,” Bernardi said.
However, after an incredibly difficult year, people in the community of small businesses have a positive perspective for 2025.
“I think there is hope for small businesses,” Flannery said.
Stores as for Bay Clothing Co. have seen tremendous growth.
“People in the community have been very cozy. And people are for the bay, ”said Dave Management, owner of For The Bay Clothing Co.
He built his business with the idea of supporting Tampa Bay.
“It’s just pride, be proud of our community and if we can increase that pride through someone with a shirt or wear a hat, that is quite special,” said Management.
For Bay Clothing it is a store that sells clothes and accessories that represent Tampa Bay, including our sports teams and schools. Management began for the bay clothes when the world closed in 2020 and has not stopped working, starting in local markets throughout the area.
He is now in a store in Henderson Boulevard in Tampa and his business is growing.
“Simply walking and seeing people with things, never ages,” said Management.
Although 2024 was a difficult year for many local stores, he hopes that community support will increase even more in 2025.
“It’s amazing. You know we are a small business, my wife and I have 6 combined children, a mixed family. 3 of them are thunderstorms that graduate this year. Therefore, it is important to see that it is genuine. It is real. It is authentic. We are real people, we are true fans. We are only people in the community like everyone else who only tries to do it. And show our children how important work is to work hard and believe in something and if you work enough and associate with the right people and have a large intimate circle, you can do anything, ”said Management.
Bernardi also emphasized the importance of community support.
“I know it is easy to order online and deliver it, you know the next morning, but that money is not returning to your community. Therefore, buying the place is really very useful for everyone in our community, ”said Bernardi.
“Our small business owners are our friends, our family, our neighbors. And we always see that our community comes to hit for companies and help them support them where they can, ”said Flannery.
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