It’s the season of spending time with loved ones -and showing them your love and gratitude through thoughtful holiday gifts. So, when you’re shopping for holiday gifts this year, make shopping small a priority. Shopping small and supporting local businesses is a win for everyone -it builds community and rewards loyalty, and is sure to inspire a smile…here’s why.
When you shop small or buy locally, it keeps money and jobs in your neighborhood. In fact, $45 of every $100 spent at a small business stays local – versus just $14 of every $100 spent at an international corporation. This means that more funds stay in your community to make improvements and encourage growth. And when a neighborhood has a flourishing small-business district, it can result in community-wide perks like more foot traffic, higher property values and greater public involvement (all tenets of a thriving community).
Whether you want to treat yourself to a holiday gift or have a long list of loved ones to shop for, make it a priority to shop small this Christmas. Here are 8 easy ways you can shop consciously, support your community and champion small businesses this holiday season.
- Prioritize shopping locally.
- Buy a gift card.
- Commit to shop small for 24 hours.
- Share your experience with a social post.
- Subscribe to their mailing list.
- Leave a review.
- Tip generously.
- Offer to help.
1. Prioritize shopping locally.
We’re guessing you have a long list of gifts you need to buy for your loved ones. Instead of turning to a big-box retailer or national department store, shop small first. Chances are, a local business or maker can deliver on your shopping list. Plus, when you shop locally, you won’t have to worry about long shipping times. Beyond gifts, shop locally for everything you need to make your holiday happen -like dinner ingredients from the farmers’ market.
2. Buy a gift card.
Need a gift for someone who has everything? Get them a gift card to your favorite small business. Whether it’s a favorite restaurant in town or a new boutique, you’ll introduce your loved ones to a great small business *and* give them a gift they’re sure to love. And we have a feeling small business owners will appreciate new customers coming in to use their gift cards once the holiday rush is over.
3. Commit to shop small for 24 hours.
Choose one day of the holiday season to dedicate to shopping small. Start the day with a cup of coffee from a local cafe, indulge in some self-care at a nearby spa, do some holiday shopping at neighborhood boutiques and end the evening at your favorite restaurant or a takeout order.
Vista Tip
Prefer to shop online? Digital platforms like Instagram, TikTok and Etsy are great places to find up-and-coming makers in your area or one-of-a-kind gifts online.
4. Share your experience with a social post.
If you bought something for yourself, show off your purchase with a post on Instagram or Facebook -tag the small business and use the hashtag #LoveMyLocal to encourage your connections to shop local, too. If you shopped for your family and friends, snap a picture of the gift-wrapped goods or take a selfie in front of the shop’s window display. Or, take a pic of your purchase now and share it after you’ve given the gift…no need to ruin the surprise! And don’t forget to follow the business’ social pages and like, comment or share their posts to help them get noticed.
5. Subscribe to their mailing list.
An active, engaged mailing list is a valuable tool for any small business. Whether over email or through traditional mail, keeping an up-to-date contact list lets business owners stay connected to clients, build relationships and cater to specific audiences. If you visit a shop and don’t buy anything, leaving your email address lets you show your support without spending a dime. And who knows -maybe a new product launch or special event will turn you into a paying customer later on.
6. Leave a review.
It can be tricky for small business owners to ask for reviews…but they need (and want!) them. As a customer, leaving a glowing review is one of the best -and easiest -things you can do to support a small business. Even if it’s been a while since you used a local florist or gotten your hair styled, show your favorite businesses some love during the holidays with a fresh review.
Vista Tip
Did you have a poor experience at a small business? Instead of posting a negative review on their Yelp or Facebook page, reach out to the business directly to resolve the issue. You don’t want to disparage a small business over a one-off mistake or misunderstanding.
7. Tip generously.
The holiday season is the biggest shopping event of the year -everyone is busy and many businesses are understaffed. And this is the season to be generous, especially when it comes to tipping. Whether you’re getting last-minute gifts wrapped on Christmas Eve, grabbing coffee on Christmas morning or getting a manicure on New Year’s Eve, leave a generous tip to show your appreciation for the people helping to make your holiday memorable.
8. Offer to help.
Supporting local businesses doesn’t have to cost you money -instead, offer your time and skills. Do you specialize in event planning? Offer to help a local business plan and promote a holiday event. Are you an artist or graphic designer? Maybe you can use temporary paint to deck out the windows of your favorite coffee shop. More of a finance or accounting person? Consider offering an end-of-year financial planning session with a business owner -maybe you can barter with them for a special discount.
