13/11/2024
Why shop small this Christmas? Here are 8 great reasons!
1. Every purchase means the world to a small business. By shopping small, you are helping to fuel someone's dream. That little ping notification to say that someone has bought something created by them will bring so much joy and happiness to a small business!
2. Gifts are unique and often bespoke. Why get the same as everyone else when you can find something truly unique and show someone you really know them? Many small businesses also offer bespoke services or commissions to make your gift even more special and personal.
3. Small businesses tend to be more ethical and eco conscious. Think locally sourced materials rather than transporting them across the globe. Think eco conscious packaging rather than single-use plastics. No sweatshops or other highly questionable practices in sight!
4. You know who you're buying from. Small businesses have Instagram and Etsy profiles showing you the people behind the brand so you can get to know exactly who you're buying from. Picking something up from a local boutique shop or craft market means you can see and chat to the person who made the items.
5. Gives the economy a little boost. By shopping small, more money is fed back into local communities, in turn helping other local businesses, which help other local businesses, and so on and so forth, helping to boost local economies.
6. Customer service is second to none. No more talking to a robot, trawling through complicated websites looking for answers, or spending hours listening to that dreaded "on hold" music. Small businesses really care about their customers and want to be as helpful as they can possibly be.
7. It's all about the personal touches. Think super cute packaging, personal thank you notes, and often little extras thrown in like stickers or postcards. It's the personal touches that make the whole process feel really special and thoughtful.
8. Doesn't fuel corporate greed. This is a big one. Lots of big corporations have questionable practices like tax evasion, worker and supplier exploitation, and ties to harmful and hateful individuals, organisations and movements, which shouldn't be rewarded!