Since we opened our doors five months ago, we have observed and learned many things. From the sign industry, we have learned about all of the different ways that we can serve our customers and help them display their advertising and promotional messages. Some of the types and uses of signs continue to amaze us as well as our customers. We are by no means experts yet, but every day we are learning something new. On the small business side of things, an amazing thing has been happening that we had not anticipated. Small business owners like to do business with other local small businesses whenever they can. It is sort of a “brothers in arms” mentality:  all of us being in this together. Before we opened, we had read the books and clippings that say that small businesses are the engine of economic growth in this country, but until you are actually living it and breathing it, day in and day out, you can’t comprehend how true it is. This past week, we attended an event in Gainesville, GA called the “Buy Local Expo”. In essence, it was 100 local small businesses that had booths that displayed how they can support each other. The energy and excitement in the exhibit hall was electric, as each and every one of us tried to determine how we could help each other out. Obviously, part of that is buying products and services from each other; however, the amount of energy that was put forward in trying to understand the various target markets, how to refer business, etc. was refreshing. We did not experience one instance of “the hard sell”. Those of you who own small businesses know exactly of which we speak. To those of you who are not business owners, I would encourage you to look to your local small businesses for your products and services to improve your local economies.