I don’t shop Black Friday for several reasons, beyond the crowds. But mostly because I prefer to support local smaller businesses, versus scrambling to get new gadgets or featured sale items that I wouldn’t normally buy anyway.
So when I heard about Small Business Saturday, I knew it was something I wanted to tell people about. Small Business Saturday is a celebration of the Shop Small movement to drive shoppers to local merchants across the U.S. This is the second year for Small Business Saturday and its attempts to fuel local economies.
So before you run out to the places where there is a sea of cars on an asphalt jungle that trees once enjoyed, think about what you can buy from local stores, or small businesses online – even if it’s not local to you. If it’s a mom and pop shop making soy candles or environmentally friendly products, an artist, or a stay at home mom sewing baby toys as a way make money while spending more time with her kids – these are the businesses you can feel good about supporting.
I was listening to Clark Howard on the radio last week, talking about Black Friday while I was sewing tablecloths for my daughter’s Montessori classroom.
He made good points while he discussed this year’s Black Friday, it starting at midnight on Thanksgiving and how the rules of the game are changing. According to his report, people are really disgruntled about this time change of businesses opening at midnight. If I did shop the big box sales – I would much rather, hands down, shop at midnight rather than at 5AM. I’m a night owl.
Then again I am probably one of the folks responsible for stores opening at midnight. Because I’m one of the MANY moms who take advantage of online shopping, sans the kids, sans the headaches, while enjoying my hot chocolate by the fire in my PJs after they all go to bed. And that my friends, usually goes on well past midnight.
Clark Howard missed that point.
So even if you are are like me and do most of your shoping online, try to go out of your way to click around and find something off the beaten Google path. Support a mom, a dad, an artist on Etsy, a person living a dream – even if it means changing what’s on your list instead of checking it off.
Here’s a list of some local mom and baby businesses in my town, with online shopping.
Open Heart Doula Service – they have an online shop that opens TODAY! They have some lovely handmade soaps and beautiful wool dryer balls that are perfect for stockings.
House on the Hill Toys – they have cutting boards and cool things for the chef too!
If you do get out on Saturday, or Friday or anytime during the holidays – my favorite places to shop are at Market Square and downtown Knoxville. Bliss, Rala, Reruns, Mast General Store, Black Market, Fizz and Union Ave. Books are the first that come to mind.
For vintage finds hit up Nostalgia, Side Street Market, and Furniture Traders at 5014 Broadway St. – (865) 687-4249 where this mom of four also pours and sells her own soy candles and natural soaps. For your little artists pay a visit to Jerry’s Artarama.
Okay, that ought to keep you busy for a while. Now you have no excuse for not shopping local. Not to mention that all the lights, trees and ice skating rink at Market Square and around downtown make for the most merry holiday shopping ever!
One more thing – the Holiday Market at Market Square will have local artistisans and venders selling their goods during the first three Saturdays of the month.
Now get shopping!
Neat blog! Is your theme custom made or did you download it from somewhere?
A design like yours with a few simple adjustements would really make my blog
jump out. Please let me know where you got your design. Bless you