Keep Your Holiday Gift List Close to Home for the Holidays and Shop Local Businesses in 2022
Is your Christmas shopping list growing as you search for the perfect gifts for the ones you love? We know how tempting it can be to turn to Amazon for your shopping needs, but now more than ever local small businesses need the support of holiday shoppers.
By shopping with small businesses you are contributing back to your local community and supporting the business owners right in your neighborhood. Not only do your tax dollars circulate back into your local economy, but the financial benefits are felt by the women and men that have poured their heart and souls into their business. A mom can afford new soccer cleats for her kids and a college student can pay down their student loans. More and more jobs are created each year from the expansion of successful small businesses.
In-person holiday markets were limited last year because of lock downs and travel restrictions. For some small businesses,the holiday season is typically their busiest time of year and many are hoping to recover in 2022. A great way to support your local businesses is to attend holiday markets, craft fairs and swap meets. The Holiday Market has expanded its weekend vendor markets to brick and mortar stores in 10 locations where you can purchase handmade goods and locally sourced products.
Supply Chains snags are still affecting large corporations. Some of last season’s best sellers are still experiencing a shortage this year due to lack of production supplies (we’re looking at you PlayStation 5). Department stores are experiencing shortages of products as a reaction to factory shutdowns during COVID-19 restrictions. You might not find the variety in brands and styles this year. When you purchase a handmade product, you know exactly where the gifts were created, and many times can customize the product you’re ordering.
Online shopping grew by 11% in 2021, and The Holiday Markets is giving small businesses the ability to market their products to more shoppers on a nationwide platform. When you order from a local vendor through our website, your products are shipped from local stores and sellers, which limits shipping costs and delays. By shopping at one of our 10 store fronts, you can leave with your gift ready for Christmas.
Perhaps the best reason to shop small businesses is to get that heart-warming feeling while shopping. We get it – with inflation rising and the cost of goods getting more expensive, do you really need to gift your father another tie or your sister a new shirt? Small businesses offer many options to customize products, purchase bundles and give handmade goods that really speak from the heart. When you buy from a small business every purchase can be life changing for their holiday season, and just by showing your support, businesses can continue to operate.
As the Christmas carol goes:
If you want to be happy in a million ways, For the holidays, you can’t beat home sweet home grown businesses.