Boise is a great city for so many reasons, too many to list even, but it is great nowadays for one very specific reason: It really values small businesses. Idaho has always prided itself on being a business friendly state. Businesses need to be embraced by the community and given a chance to thrive before they can really take off and have a chance at competing with the multi-billion dollar international powerhouses like WalMart, Amazon, and their peers. A small business is like a plant. It needs sunshine and a little bit of TLC to be able to reach its full potential.

Boise Embraces Small Businesses

If you’re a small business owner in Boise there is no shortage of activities and events that will help you get your business in front of the community. We are lucky to have organizations like Buy Idaho, Idaho Made, and the Boise Metro Chamber that make it their business to help your business grow and excel! If you’re a small business owner in the Treasure Valley (or you know someone who is) then you should really consider becoming a member of one or all of these amazing organizations. They have been helping unite businesses and customers for decades. In fact, the Boise Metro Chamber is OLDER than BSU by about 32 years and is one of the oldest local organizations still running today since its founding in 1900. 

About the Boise Metro Chamber of Commerce: We have served as the voice of the Boise business community since our incorporation in May of 1900. We aim to make Boise a better place for you and your family to live, visit, and do business. (From their website.) 

About Buy Idaho: Buy Idaho is a non-profit membership organization promoting Idaho products, Idaho services and Idaho businesses. For over 31 years, we have supported the Idaho business community and championed for Idaho companies to grow and prosper in our state. Our goal is to keep tax dollars in Idaho and build businesses that will increase job opportunities and quality of life for all Idahoans. Visit their website here.

About Idaho Made: Idaho Made is Idaho’s only boutique-style, brick-and-mortar shop selling art and crafts made locally by its talented members. You’ll find jewelry, knitted and crocheted goods, baby goods, aprons, hair accessories, bath & body products, recycled and upcycled items, and tons of other fun stuff. Are you the creative type? Feel free to stop by the shop to see if it would be a good outlet for your art. Learn more on their website here.

Events Matter

There are so many great business friendly events in Boise that really show how much the community cares about seeing small businesses succeed. There is the annual Art in The Park festival every September which is put on by the incredible Boise Art Museum. We also have the Hyde Park Street Fair which allows vendors and micro-businesses to gather together for a weekend of fun music, games, and activities that is a perfect end cap to summer. 

And, in the winter, we have a very special event that Better Man Beard is proud to be a part of: The Wintry Market. Wintry Market is Idaho’s top seasonal market for small and medium businesses and was awarded “Best Seasonal Market in 2017” by Food and Wine magazine. Getting a booth at Wintry Market is a huge deal because it means that your business is among only a handful of carefully selected local businesses that gets a slot. Make sure to visit the Better Man Booth this year at the Wintry Market. This year’s event kicks off on November 23rd and goes through the 24th and is located downtown at the JUMP building. Watch our website for more information as we get closer to the event!

Thank you, Boise

We are so proud to be an Idaho business and we are so lucky to be able to call Boise our home. From all of us at Better Man Beard, we say thank you to such a wonderful city that has been so great to us. And remember: Keep Boise Beard!