5 Reasons to Shop Small This Holiday Season

This year, your shopping choices have the power to save small businesses. Whether you’re looking for unique holiday gifts, attending local events, or sharing your favorite shops online, every effort makes a difference.

1. Keep Your Community Thriving

Your dollars support local families, not faceless corporations. Every purchase helps pay wages, cover rent, and keep storefronts open.

2. Discover Memorable, Thoughtful Gifts

Small businesses specialize in unique, high-quality products. Whether it’s handcrafted jewelry, vintage-inspired denim, or locally sourced food items, your gifts will stand out.

3. Foster Economic Growth

When you shop small, your money stays in the community. It helps fund local schools, improve infrastructure, and create more jobs.

4. Combat Retail Homogeneity

Supporting small businesses means fewer cookie-cutter malls and more vibrant, diverse neighborhoods.

5. Save Local Businesses from Closure

Holiday sales can make or break a business. Shopping small ensures that your favorite local shops survive into 2025 and beyond.

How to Support Small Businesses this Holiday Season

• Shop Local First: Before heading online or to a big retailer, check out nearby boutiques, gift shops, and local artisans.

• Explore Holiday Markets: Events like Uptown Grand Rapids’ 27th Annual Shop Hop on Thursday, December 5, 2024, are perfect for finding unique gifts and enjoying festive vibes.

• Buy Gift Cards: Not sure what to get? Gift cards are flexible, practical, and give small businesses much-needed revenue.

• Shop Online with Small Businesses: Many small retailers offer online shopping. Look for terms like “local online boutiques” or “handmade gifts from small businesses” to find them.

• Share on Social Media: Tag your favorite businesses in posts, write reviews, and encourage your friends to shop small too. Use hashtags like #ShopSmall2024, #HolidayShopping2024, and #SupportLocalBusinesses to boost visibility.

 Together, we can keep our communities vibrant, diverse, and thriving—one small business at a time. Let’s make this the year we truly shop small and save big dreams.