The holidays are here and that means the fun hustle and bustle of shopping for loved ones has begun. With Covid-19 causing hardships to many small businesses, it’s a great year to start thinking about how you can shop with local stores and service providers that could use your support. Here are some ideas to help you plan.
Nationwide Resources:
Buying local doesn’t have to be strictly in your immediate community, with the help of the web you can find small businesses nationwide through a variety of resources. Here are a few to consider:
- Etsy is full of unique, handmade or vintage items and craft supplies and prides itself on being an American e-commerce website.
- Bookshop is a website that provides a way for you to buy books from small bookstores nationwide. They believe that bookstores are essential to a healthy culture and make it easy for you to contribute to that cause.
- The Product Boss is a website and community built by two women with one mission: to create a platform and resource for product-based women entrepreneurs to connect and succeed.
Portland Area Businesses:
- Hammer and Jacks is an independently owned toy store that believes in the ability that play has to connect families. They carefully curate their collections of toys and offer online shopping through a full toy catalog as well as delivery services.
- The Saturday Vendor Markets in Old Town happen every Saturday from 12-6pm and offer a blend of vintage and new apparel, artwork, and more from local entrepreneurs.
- Buy a Gift Certificate from Organizers Northwest! The gift of organization is such fun to receive. Whether your loved one wants help setting up the pantry of their dreams or creating systems for keep the home organized, we can help! You can buy gift certificates directly on our website and we’ll send you a pretty printed version too.
- Consider buying a portrait session for you or a loved one and support a local creative professional. The PDX Small Business Network has provided a list of local professional photographers here, but you can also head to Instagram or Facebook and search hashtags such as #portlandphotographer or #portlandportraits and find some incredible professionals.
- MadeHere PDX is a storefront and online shopping experience that carries design focused, fashionable products that are made exclusively by artisans in the Portland area.
Additional Resources to Find Local Businesses:
- Portland Monthly Holiday Gift Guide features a list of local shops.
- American Express has launched a searchable small business map to get you started.
Happy Holidays!
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