4 Common Problems Struggling Hemet Businesses Face (& 4 Tips to Overcome Them)

• May 1, 2025May 13, 2025
• Foot Traffic

Struggling Hemet businesses are facing more than just slow sales—they’re up against shifting habits, broader economic trends, and a growing disconnect from the local community. Without change, many risk closing their doors for good.

If your business isn’t seeing the results you hoped for, you’re not alone. The issues may not be as simple as lacking hustle or customers—but rather a gap in visibility, digital presence, or community engagement.

This blog post breaks down the top seven issues Hemet businesses are facing right now and, more importantly, offers actionable strategies to turn things around.

Whether you’re struggling with low foot traffic, an outdated digital presence, or trying to make your mark in a competitive market, we’ve got real solutions to help your business thrive locally.

Let’s dive into the challenges and explore the steps you can take to overcome them—without burning out.

What Are the Top 4 Issues Hemet Businesses Are Facing?

Running a business in Hemet comes with its unique challenges—many of which are the result of broader trends, habits, and gaps in awareness. If you’re an owner of one of the Valley’s struggling Hemet businesses, you’re not alone in feeling like something just isn’t working.

From low foot traffic to a lack of local engagement, these issues are affecting many small businesses in the area. Here’s a closer look at the top struggles Hemet businesses face and why they’re still important to address.

1. Are locals shopping out of town?

Yes, locals are shopping in other cities.

Residents are spending money in Temecula, Perris, and Menifee instead of Hemet. Our very own Hemet Valley Mall feels abandoned, even though that empty space gives locals plenty of room to negotiate move-in costs and rental prices to start their own businesses in the mall.

And as for the few stores still hanging on in there, most people—especially the newer folks—have no clue they even exist.

Spending power doesn’t seem to be the problem. People are spending—they’re just doing it outside of Hemet. The issue isn’t lack of money; it’s lack of connection… because Hemet may not have the big brand name stores people travel for, but we do have many small businesses here who never see foot traffic.

Seems Hemet businesses aren’t failing because folks don’t want to spend. They’re failing because the spending’s happening elsewhere, either out of habit or just because people don’t know that there’s good stuff right here in the Valley.

2. Is foot traffic low even in traditional retail areas?

Yes, most foot traffic is at big name stores or major plazas like the ones starting at Florida and Sanderson.

Brick and mortars and mom and pop shops just can’t swing the rent near Florida and Sanderson, where all the big names have taken over. So, a lot of the smaller spots are tucked away and get totally overlooked—even in places where you’d expect foot traffic, like the Hemet Certified Farmer’s Market.

These businesses are often in strip malls or side streets, far from the main hustle and bustle. The rent’s cheaper, but the trade-off is fewer people know they’re there.

It’s frustrating because there’s so much untapped potential, but getting noticed in these hidden spots feels like an uphill battle for business owners just trying to make it.

3. Are legacy businesses closing because of lack of digital presence?

Absolutely. Many of the legendary mom and pop shops and service providers simply can’t be found online when we need them.

Just like most small businesses these days, one big reason so many Hemet businesses shut down is because they can’t be found online. If you search for something in Hemet, half the time you won’t even know a local business exists because they’re not showing up in Google searches.

No website, no Google listing, no online presence—it’s like they’re invisible to anyone who’s not already walking past their door. Or maybe they have social media profiles, but no About page for people to get the full picture. Or maybe they have a Yelp page…but it has no value because the listing is not complete or up-to-date, or no one ever responds to bad reviews.

Without a solid digital presence, these businesses are missing out on countless customers who might never even know they exist.

4. Are businesses relying too much on Facebook and not getting results?

Yes, which doesn’t help them locally because Google and other search engines can’t crawl those groups and posts.

Too many businesses rely only on posting in Facebook groups for sales, and it’s just not cutting it long-term. For one, your audience is probably there because they like you personally, but most of them don’t even live in Hemet. So, they’re not your target market.

And even if you “found” them in local Hemet San Jacinto groups, they still may not “connect” with you enough to spend their local dollars with you. But they may connect with your business brand.

Two, a lot of businesses end up mixing their personal brand with their business brand, and that’s a problem. When you combine the two, you’re losing focus on what really matters—getting local customers who are interested in what you sell.

If social media is all you’ve got, then make it work better for you. Set up dedicated business pages, groups, and profiles, and use them to connect with locals who care about your Hemet products and services.

Because after a while, constantly posting with little return starts to wear you down. That’s where the burnout kicks in—and a lot of good business owners end up feeling stuck, asking the same question: How can I save my Hemet business?

The Bottom Line:

Many owners of our community’s struggling Hemet business owners feel like they’ve tried everything, but the truth is they’re stuck in a loop that hasn’t evolved.

But there’s still a way forward—and it starts by shifting your focus back to the people who are most likely to support you: your local community.

Let’s talk about what’s actually working right now for successful businesses in Hemet—and how you can tap into it without burning out.

How Can I Save My Hemet Business? 4 Tips Just for Struggling Owners

If you’re feeling stuck, you’re not alone—and you’re not out of options. What’s missing isn’t hustle, it’s direction. The key is to stop chasing attention everywhere and start showing up where it counts: right here in Hemet. Let’s get into some real, local strategies that actually work.

1. Connect with Hemet’s Local Culture and Events

If locals don’t know you exist, they can’t support you. So, get out there and be seen.

Join the Hemet Certified Farmers Market folks. Set up a booth at a school fundraiser. Show up to car shows. Sponsor a raffle or donate a gift card to a community event.

The more your business shows up in local spaces, the more people start to associate your name with trust and reliability—which builds the kind of loyalty that gets you through slow months.

2. Create Delivery or At-Home Options That Serve Hemet’s Layout

Let’s be real—Hemet is spread out, and some neighborhoods feel disconnected from local business hubs. But that’s also an opportunity.

Can you offer delivery or curbside pickup in specific areas that don’t get much service? Can you meet people where they are? This is especially helpful for home-based businesses, food sellers, or anyone offering physical goods or services.

If you’re not sure where to start, we’ve got posts that show how to set up a simple local delivery system from scratch right here in the Hemet San Jacinto area.

Click here to check out our series on How to Start Your Own Delivery Business in Hemet San Jacinto.

3. Lean Into the Local Economy with Strategic Local Collaborations (Recycle Valley Dollars)

One of the smartest ways to survive right now is by leaning on each other. Hemet business owners can help keep each other afloat by buying local services, hiring local help, and promoting each other whenever possible.

This ties right into the “Recycle Valley Dollars” idea: money spent in Hemet stays in Hemet. The more it circulates locally, the stronger our business ecosystem gets.

Pair up with other business owners. A home baker and a local florist can offer gift bundles. A dog groomer and pet treat maker can cross-promote. You don’t need a big ad budget—you just need a local partner and a shared audience.

4. Maximize Google Visibility—AKA Local SEO for Hemet-Specific Searches

If someone searches “best smoked chicken in Hemet” or “Hemet compost ,” will your business show up? If not, you’re invisible when people are looking for what you offer.

Use keywords that include “Hemet,” nearby streets or landmarks, and anything else people might be typing in. Mention nearby stores, schools, or neighborhoods in your business description. Do this in your Google My Business profile, as well as other online content.

And don’t underestimate how valuable a Hemet-only directory can be. You won’t get buried under listings from Menifee or Temecula or Riverside—you’ll be seen by people actually looking right here in the San Jacinto Valley.

Struggling Hemet Businesses: Ready to Get Found by Spending Locals?

If you’re serious about reaching more Hemet customers, don’t stop at social media—get your business listed where locals are actually looking. Our Valley Local Pages directory is built just for Hemet and San Jacinto small businesses.

No noise. No competition from Temecula or big box stores. Just real visibility with real neighbors because we put in the SEO work daily to deliver valuable traffic to the site and to the listings of our struggling Hemet businesses.

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