Behind Belinda’s Desk: Everyone Wants to Support Small Business… Until They’re Told No.
By Belinda | Your Secret Closet
“Shop local. Support small business. Keep independent retailers alive.”
Lovely sentiments. Couldn’t agree more.
Until, of course, that same small business has the audacity to say NO.
Then suddenly we’re unreasonable, unhelpful, unsupportive and apparently lacking in community spirit.
Funny how quickly “support small business” turns into “I’d like to speak to the manager.”
Unfortunately, in my case, I am the manager. And the owner. And occasionally the cleaner, delivery driver, accountant and person trying to get fake tan out of a $900 designer dress.
So, pull up a chair. I think we need to talk.
Apparently, I Owe Everyone a Voucher
Running a small business in a close-knit community is a wonderful thing. I’ve been doing it for ten years, and I genuinely love being part of Bayside.
But can we talk about the requests for donations?
Schools. Kindergartens. Sporting clubs. Fundraisers. Charities. Silent auctions. Raffles.
Every week, another email or message arrives asking us to donate a voucher, a dress hire or something for an upcoming event.
And before anyone gets their knickers in a twist, I absolutely believe in supporting the community. We’ve supported plenty of wonderful causes over the years, and I’m happy to do so when we can.
But here’s where things get interesting.
Some of the people requesting donations have never shopped with us. They don’t follow our social media accounts. They’ve never recommended our business. In some cases, they live an hour away and probably couldn’t tell you where Hampton Street is.
Yet somehow, they feel perfectly comfortable asking us to hand over $200 worth of our services.
And when we politely decline?
Oh, the disappointment.
Occasionally, the frustration is palpable.
It’s as though saying no to a donation is a personal attack on the entire education system.
Here’s a slightly controversial thought.
If you’ve never supported a small business, why do you automatically expect that small business to support you?
I’m not suggesting you need to spend thousands of dollars with us before you can ask for help. But perhaps a little mutual support wouldn’t go astray.
A follow on Instagram costs nothing. Sharing a post costs nothing. Recommending a local business to a friend costs nothing.
And yet, sometimes even those things seem like too much to ask.
“I Just Love Your Aesthetic!”
Ah yes. The collaboration request.
Another fascinating part of running a fashion business in 2026.
The message usually starts with something along the lines of:
“Hey lovely! I’ve just discovered your beautiful brand and I’m OBSESSED with your aesthetic!”
Really?
Because according to Instagram, you started following us approximately ten minutes ago.
But please, do go on.
“I’d absolutely LOVE to collaborate with you. I think our brands would align perfectly!”
Translation?
I’d quite like to borrow one of your expensive designer dresses for free.
Now, don’t get me wrong. We’ve worked with some fantastic content creators over the years, and when the partnership is genuine, it can be mutually beneficial.
But a collaboration is supposed to benefit both businesses.
It’s not simply a more fashionable way of asking for something for nothing.
We have to purchase our stock. We have to clean it. Maintain it. Repair it. Photograph it. Store it. And occasionally chase it halfway across Melbourne when someone forgets to return it.
Exposure doesn’t pay our rent.
Likes don’t pay our electricity bill.
And unfortunately, my suppliers are yet to introduce a payment option called “great engagement.”
Perhaps they’re behind the times.
When Did Saying No Become Bad Customer Service?
Here’s something I’ve noticed after a decade in retail.
Somewhere along the way, people started confusing good customer service with getting exactly what they want.
A customer cancels a booking at the last minute and expects a full refund, despite the dress having been unavailable to everyone else.
Someone wants a discount because they’re hiring multiple dresses.
Another person wants us to make an exception to a policy that was clearly explained before they booked.
And when we can’t accommodate the request, we’re suddenly the difficult ones.
I find that fascinating.
Because behind every policy is usually a reason.
And behind every small business is a person trying to keep the doors open, pay the bills and provide employment.
I’m all for being flexible. Anyone who knows me knows I’ll go out of my way to help where I can.
But there has to be a line somewhere.
Being a nice person and running a financially viable business are not mutually exclusive.
And saying no doesn’t automatically make someone a bad business owner.
The Bit Nobody Likes Talking About
Here’s the reality of running a small business that Instagram doesn’t show you.
Every free dress hire has a cost.
Every donated voucher has a value.
Every last-minute cancellation can represent a lost booking.
Every exception has a potential financial consequence.
And unlike large corporations, we don’t have enormous marketing budgets or departments dedicated to charitable donations and influencer partnerships.
It’s just us.
A small team, a shopfront in Hampton, hundreds of beautiful dresses and a lot of hard work behind the scenes.
I often wonder whether people would walk into a hair salon and expect a free colour because they have 3,000 Instagram followers.
Or ask their local café to donate 50 coffees because their child’s school is having a fundraiser.
Some probably would.
But somehow, when you’re in fashion, people seem to think the product is free because it’s pretty.
I can assure you, the invoices from our designers are very real.
So, Do I Still Support Local?
Absolutely.
I believe in local businesses, community events, schools and charities.
I also believe in genuine partnerships, helping people when you can and occasionally doing something lovely simply because you want to.
But I believe just as strongly that small businesses should be allowed to choose when, how and who they support, without being made to feel guilty for it.
A donation should be appreciated, not expected.
A collaboration should be mutually beneficial, not a one-sided shopping spree.
And a business policy should not become negotiable simply because someone doesn’t like the answer.
Because here’s the thing.
We all love the idea of supporting small business.
We love the beautiful independent boutiques, the friendly faces, the personalised service and the little shops that make our communities what they are.
But supporting small business isn’t just about shopping locally when it’s convenient.
Sometimes it’s about respecting their boundaries.
Understanding that they have bills to pay.
Accepting that not every request can be accommodated.
And occasionally hearing the word no without taking it personally.
Because small businesses don’t survive on goodwill alone.
They survive because people actually support them.
And sometimes, the most supportive thing you can do is respect the answer when it’s no.
Until next Friday,
Belinda xx
Behind Belinda’s Desk — Ten years in fashion rental, and still occasionally amazed by what people expect for free.