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📉 Why Do Small Businesses Struggle So Much in Jackson? 📉

📉 Why Do Small Businesses Struggle So Much in Jackson? 📉

🙊 This is something that rarely ever gets talked about! 🙊

March 23, 2025

Another Happy Sunday To Everyone!

Small businesses are the backbone of the country and if you have lived in Jackson long enough, you’ve seen your fair share of them go out of business.

But why is that? Why do small businesses seem to struggle so much in Jackson?

In Today’s “HubCity Newsletter”:

Lack of Funding 💰
Not Knowing the Right People 🤝
Just Too Soon ⏳
Weekly Events For The Kids 🛝
Weekly Events For The Whole Family 🎡

Read Time: 3 - 5 Minutes

Jackson is a city full of potential, with a growing population and a community that loves to support local businesses. 🏪❤️ But despite this enthusiasm, many small businesses in Jackson struggle to survive. Why? The reasons boil down to three major challenges:

Let’s break them down 👇

💰 Lack of Funding 💰

One of the biggest hurdles for small businesses in Jackson is funding (or the lack thereof). Without proper capital, many entrepreneurs struggle to launch or sustain their businesses past the critical early years.

Some of the biggest funding challenges include:

No clear access to capital 🚫💵 – Many business owners rely on personal savings or family contributions.
Bank loans are tough to qualify for 🏦❌ – Without strong credit or collateral, many are turned away.
Grants & incentives exist but are hard to find or apply for 📑🔍 – Even when funding is available, the process is confusing or not well-publicized.

Without money to invest, businesses cut corners on marketing, staffing, and equipment—leading to early closures. In short, funding isn’t just a struggle—it’s often the deciding factor between success and failure.

🤝 Not Knowing the Right People 🤝

Jackson is growing, but at its core, it’s still a small town 🏡. And in small towns, who you know matters. In a large city you can capture a decent number of customers and thrive without knowing the right people.

Many business owners feel like:

Certain businesses get better opportunities 🏆 – Whether it’s funding, location choices, or media attention, some seem to have an easier path.
There’s an “inner circle” or “club” 🚪🔑 – It’s not necessarily a conspiracy, but influence plays a huge role in success.
Networking is crucial but takes time ⏳ – Events and business organizations help, but new business owners may not have that luxury.

Whether or not you believe there’s favoritism, it’s clear that knowing the right people can open doors. For those without connections, breaking into Jackson’s business scene can be an uphill battle.

⏳ Just Too Soon ⏳

Even with funding and connections, some businesses struggle simply because Jackson isn’t ready for them.

A perfect example: Littlebird Restaurant & Bar 🥗🚪, Jackson’s fully vegan restaurant that closed last year.

Why? Timing.

The South is known for comfort food & BBQ 🥩🔥 – Vegan culture is growing, but it’s not mainstream enough here yet.
Even in a different location in Jackson, it likely would’ve faced the same challenges.
The concept was great 🌱 but ahead of its time.

This isn’t just a Jackson problem—it happens everywhere. Some businesses are simply years (or decades) ahead of the market. However, as Jackson grows & evolves, these ideas may have a better chance in the future.

🚀 Moving Forward 🚀

Even though small businesses in Jackson face challenges, the city’s future looks bright. 🌟

For more businesses to thrive instead of just survive, Jackson needs:

✅ Better access to funding 💳
✅ More accessible networking opportunities 🤝
✅ A realistic view of market readiness 📊

We’d love to hear from you! Have you seen these struggles firsthand? Drop a comment & don’t forget to answer our poll this week! 💬⬇️

Don’t forget to support a local business, organization or venue below by checking out our curated list of events happening in and around Jackson.

Refer A Business To Us & Earn Up To $300 For Every Successful Referral!
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The Kid Zone
This Week’s Curated Events!
Monday, March 24th - Sunday, March 30th

Monday, March 24th

Story Time 📖
Date: Monday, March 24th
Time: 10:30 AM - 11:30 AM
Location: Main Library
Price: Free
Additional Details: Parents & Children Are Invited To Come Enjoy A Story, Sing, Dance, Craft & Make Friends All Under One Roof!

Tuesday, March 25th

Cosmic Mashup 🌠
Date: Tuesday, March 25th
Time: 5:30 PM
Location: M. D. Anderson Planetarium
Price: Free
Additional Details: Get Ready To Witness The Cosmo Through The Chilean VLT (Very Large Telescope)! No Food Or Drinks Allowed. Please 15 Minutes Early & No Entry Once The Show Starts.

Wednesday, March 26th

Bird Storytime With Miss Ashley 🐦
Date: Wednesday, March 26th
Time: 10:00 AM
Location: Humboldt Public Library
Price: Free
Age: 3 - 7 Years Old

Thursday, March 27th

Coding Club (Meet Fellow Programmers) 🖥️
Date: Thursday, March 27th
Time: 3:30 PM - 4:30 PM
Location: Downtown Library
Price: Free
Ages: 9 Years Old & Up

Friday, March 28th

Battle In The Bluff (Glow In The Dark Nerf Battle) 🎯
Date: Friday, March 28th
Time: 6:00PM
Location: Beech Bluff Recreation Center
Price: $5
Additional Details: There’s Nothing Like The Battle In The Bluff! Come Out For An Event Where Everyone Gets To Glow! (Nerf Bullets, Safety Goggles & Glow Sticks Will Be Provided. Feel Free To Bring Your Own “DART” Nerf Gun As Well.)

Saturday, March 29th

Ford: Teen Driving Skills for Life 🚘
Date: Saturday, March 29th
Time: 8:00 AM - 3:00 PM
Location: The Ballpark at Jackson
Price: Free Entry (Registration Required)
Additional Details: Is Your Teen Anxious To Get Behind The Wheel? Bring Them To Get Hands On Training Behind The Wheel Of Our Ford Mustang Where They Will Be Taught Driving Skills For Life! (Teens Must Have A Permit Or License To Participate!)

Super Smash Bros Monthly Tournament 🎮️
Date: Saturday, March 29th
Time: 6:00 PM - 9:00 PM
Location: E-Gamers Cafe
Price: (Click For Pricing)
Additional Details: Registration Starts At 5:00 PM & The Tournament Begins At 6:00 PM. (Please Bring Your Own Nintendo Switch Controller)

Family Fun
This Week’s Curated Events!
Monday, March 24th - Sunday, March 30th

Monday, March 24th

US Donuts South Jackson Grand Reopening 🍩
Date: Monday, March 24th
Time: 10:30 AM
Location: US Donuts South
Additional Details: We Are So Grateful To Have So Many Loyal Supporters Of Our Business In Jackson! We Are Officially Reopening & Can’t Wait To See You!

Tuesday, March 25th

Little Explorers: Let’s Explore The Weather ⛅
Date: Tuesday, March 25th
Time: 2:00 PM - 4:00 PM
Location: Humboldt Public Library
Price: Free
Age: 0 - 3 Years Old

Wednesday, March 26th

Bird Storytime With Miss Ashley 🐦
Date: Wednesday, March 26th
Time: 10:00 AM
Location: Humboldt Public Library
Price: Free
Age: 3 - 7 Years Old

Keto Meal Planning Class🍖
Date: Wednesday, March 26th
Time: 11:30 PM - 12:30 PM
Location: Westwood Community Center
Price: Free
Additional Details: Get Ready To Learn Recipes From A Certified Instructor/Author In Our Free Keto Planning Class!

Story Time 📖
Date: Wednesday, March 26th
Time: 10:30 AM - 11:30 AM
Location: Main Library
Price: Free
Additional Details: Parents & Children Are Invited To Come Enjoy A Story, Sing, Dance, Craft & Make Friends All Under One Roof!

Thursday, March 27th

Coding Club (Meet Fellow Programmers) 🖥️
Date: Thursday, March 27th
Time: 3:30 PM - 4:30 PM
Location: Downtown Library
Price: Free
Ages: 9 Years Old & Up

Thursday Adult Game Night 🎮
Date: Thursday, March 27th
Time: 7:00 PM - 10:00 PM
Location: E-Gamers Cafe
Price: (Click For Pricing)
Age: (18+ Gamers Only)
Additional Details: Come Hangout & Find Your Late Night Gaming Community! This Event Is Exclusively For Gamers 18 and Older.

Friday, March 28th

Free Donut Friday 🍩
Date: Friday, March 28th
Time: 11:00 AM - 7:00 PM
Location: Farmers Insurance - Vanessa Correa
Price: Free
Additional Details: Come Grab A Free Donut & Coffee! Are You Looking For A Job & Need Someone To Review Your Resume? We Got You Covered! While You're Here, Take A Chance & Spin Our Prize Wheel To See What You Can Win. Don’t Forget To Ask Us About Our Office & Printer Services.

Cosmic Mashup 🌠
Date: Friday, March 28th
Time: 1:30 PM
Location: M. D. Anderson Planetarium
Price: Free
Additional Details: Get Ready To Witness The Cosmo Through The Chilean VLT (Very Large Telescope)! No Food Or Drinks Allowed. Please 15 Minutes Early & No Entry Once The Show Starts.

Keep My Hood Good 15th Anniversary Sneaker Ball 👟
Date: Friday, March 28th
Time: 6:00PM
Location: Hub City Brewing
Price: (Click For Pricing)

Fortnite Gamer Hangout 🎮️
Date: Friday, March 28th
Time: 7:00 PM
Location: E-Gamers Cafe
Price: (Check For Pricing)
Additional Details: You Asked & We Delivered! This Year We Will Be Testing Out Hangout Events For All Ages! This Gives You The Opportunity To Meet & Form Communities With Others You Share Interests With.

Shakespeare In The Park (A Comedy Of Errors) 🎭
Date: Friday, March 28th
Time: 7:30 PM
Location: Rotary Park
Event By:Hub City Theatre Company
Price: (Click For Pricing)

Saturday, March 29th

Art In The Heart Of Medina 🎨
Date: Saturday, March 29th
Time: 2:00 PM - 5:00 PM
Location: Downtown Medina
Price: Free Entry
Additional Details: Come Show Your Support To Our Talented Local Artists & Grab Some Great Gifts While You’re Here.

Misfit Market Expo 🍢
Date: Saturday, March 29th
Time: 10:00 AM - 7:00 PM
Location: Jackson Fairgrounds
Price: Free Entry
Additional Details: Local Events Making You Feel Left Out, Then Come To The Annual Misfit Market Expo & Browse About! A Great Selection Of Food Vendors, Unique & Vintage Items, Oddities, Curios & So Much More!

Kickin It In The Bluff (Kickball Tournament) 🔴
Date: Saturday, March 29th
Time: 10:00 AM - 2:00 PM
Location: Beech Bluff Recreation Center
Price: Registration For 5 Man Team = $15
Additional Details: Come Battle It Out In The Bluff To See Who Wins To Become The Kickball Tournament Champions!

The Taste Of St. James 🍖
Date: Saturday, March 29th
Time: 2:00 PM - 5:00 PM
Location: St James Missionary Baptist Church
Price: $7.00
Additional Details: Soul Food Foodies Unite This Saturday! We Will Have A Wide Selection Of Soul Food Options Brought To You By The Men Of St. James. There Will Be More Than 50 Soul Food Dishes To Choose From On This Wonderful Day!

Mustang Market 🐴
Date: Saturday, March 29th
Time: 11:00 AM - 4:00 PM
Location: South Elementary School
Price: Free Entry (Merchandise Prices Vary)
Additional Details: Help Support Us In Our First Ever Mustang Market At South Elementary! We Will Have Several Vendors Setup In The School Selling All Kinds Of Goodies, From Delicious Baked Goods To Permanent Jewelry.

Shakespeare In The Park (A Comedy Of Errors) 🎭
Date: Saturday, March 29th
Time: 7:30 PM
Location: Rotary Park
Event By: Hub City Theatre Company
Price: (Click For Pricing)

Kids’ Pokemon Trading Club 🐈‍⬛
Date: Saturday, March 29th
Time: 11:00 AM - 12:30 PM
Location: Downtown Library
Additional Details: Meetup With Other Pokemon Enthusiasts To Talk, Make New Friends, Trade Pokemon Cards & Have Fun.

Sunday, March 30th

Everyone's Favorite Mouse At Little Loves ✨
Date: Sunday, March 30th
Time: 1:00 PM - 3:00 PM
Location: Little Loves
Price: $20 Per Child = (1 Free Adult Admission Per Child Or Additional Adults $4)
Additional Details: This Is The One Day Event Your Kids Won’t Want To Miss, Because Everyone’s Favorite Mouse Will Be In The House. (Tickets Here)

Shakespeare In The Park (A Comedy Of Errors) 🎭
Date: Sunday, March 30th
Time: 3:30 PM
Location: Rotary Park
Event By: Hub City Theatre Company
Price: (Click For Pricing)

Ford: Teen Driving Skills for Life 🚘
Date: Sunday, March 30th
Time: 8:00 AM - 3:00 PM
Location: The Ballpark at Jackson
Price: Free Entry (Registration Required)
Additional Details: Is Your Teen Anxious To Get Behind The Wheel? Bring Them To Get Hands On Training Behind The Wheel Of Our Ford Mustang Where They Will Be Taught Driving Skills For Life! (Teens Must Have A Permit Or License To Participate!)

Kumita In The Dojo 🎮️
Date: Sunday, March 30th
Time: 3:00 PM - 10:00 PM
Location: E-Gamers Cafe
Price: (Check For Pricing)
Game: TEKKEN 8
Additional Details: Get Ready For A Day Of Brutal Combos As We Have Our TEKKEN 8 Tournament With Local Jackson Streamer Ryokuson.

Misfit Market Expo 🍢
Date: Sunday, March 30th
Time: 10:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Location: Jackson Fairgrounds
Price: Free Entry
Additional Details: Local Events Making You Feel Left Out, Then Come To The Annual Misfit Market Expo & Browse About! A Great Selection Of Food Vendors, Unique & Vintage Items, Oddities, Curios & So Much More!

Everyone's Favorite Mouse At Little Loves ✨
Date: Sunday, March 30th
Time: 4:00 PM - 6:00 PM
Location: Little Loves
Price: $20 Per Child = (1 Free Adult Admission)
Additional Details: This Is The One Day Event Your Kids Won’t Want To Miss, Because Everyone’s Favorite Mouse Will Be In The House. (Tickets Here)

Advertise In One Of The Fastest Growing Newsletters In West TN!
(Click Here For More Details.)

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