2020 has been anything but ordinary. But, some things never change. Taxes, laundry, and last minute shopping for holiday gifts are things you can always rely on.
Many businesses have been devastated by shutdowns and some have closed their doors forever. People are wanting to shop small and local to support their favorite places more than ever. It’s no secret small businesses are some of the biggest affected by sweeping regulations and by in large, do so with grace, appreciation, and humility.
Shopping small usually means going to craft fairs, downtown shops and markets, or fall festivals to find unique gifts. With people staying home and large events canceled – you might be wondering how you can still support your favorite small business.
Here are some easy ways to shop small from home this holiday season. Even better, most of these can be purchased at the last minute if you’re into that sort of procrastination.
You don’t even have to wear pants (we won’t tell).
Give the Gift of Choice: Gift Cards
*Communal groan* Yes, gift cards sound boring. But the ugly truth is gift cards are popular because people love them.
Shopping small doesn’t mean you have to be stuck with deciding which cross-stitch pattern your partner wants on a custom sweater or picking out their preferred scent of goat’s milk soap.
Restaurants, crafters, therapists, photographers – you name it and they most likely offer gift cards and certificates. Here are just a handful of often local and small business ideas to fill every stocking (or inbox) with cheer:
Restaurants
Coffee shops
Wine shops
Bakeries
Florists
Pottery makers
Furniture makers
CBD makers
Massage therapists
Acupuncturists
Candlemakers
And they’re offering gift cards online. You can print out the receipt and wrap it up if you’re someone who has to have a three-dimensional gift. You can also email the gift card instructions to the recipient and save a tree.
You can even time the email to send exactly when you want which has a twofold benefit: it leaves no room for forgetting to send it and you don’t spoil the surprise by sending too early.
Just imagine: waking up on Christmas morning to an email (ugh not another holiday card from my dentist), but wait – it’s from your favorite pottery store. So you open it and OMG it’s a gift certificate! And you can finally buy that serving bowl you’ve been eying (guilt-free too!). You read the cute personalized message from the sender and immediately text them a screenshot of what you ordered.
See, gift cards don’t have to be lifeless and unoriginal.
Restaurant + Meal Delivery Gift Card
If you want to be the most loved gifter, purchase a gift card to their favorite restaurant and a gift card for a meal delivery service.
When quarantine began, everyone pulled out their dusty kitchen appliances and got crafty. Old bananas didn’t stand a chance and if lucky, you learned how to slow down and enjoy the process of cooking again or maybe for the first time.
But everything tires after a while – including hand grating parmesan for that not-so-new linguine in spicy chorizo sauce dish.
Gift cards to your loved one’s favorite local restaurant is a perfect way to give a gift of yummy food and a night off from the kitchen. If you don’t live nearby or readily know their favorite place – ask them or someone else in the family where they love.
If you want to be more sneaky, head to Facebook or Instagram and look up #theirtown and #theirtownfood. You’ll be inundated with pictures and recommendations of restaurants in their area.
Free food that comes to your door is next level love. This is why the meal delivery service is clutch. Yes, most of these companies are not small or local – but there are a few that are locally owned. Plus, the drivers are local. They get paid and tipped for every delivery they make. The main thing you have to figure out is if the restaurant uses that service.
Service-Based Gifts
Along with tired home chefs, people are tired of cleaning their house, staring at their neglected shrubbery, and trying to decide how to make their backyard look less...like their backyard.
And even if gifting cleaning or yard work services would be super lame in 2019, it’s safe to say trying to make our bubble as welcoming as possible is very on-brand from 2020.
Thankfully there are tons of small service-based businesses that can help with these home care woes. You can do a one time purchase for yard work or landscaping, or buy a few months worth to really make the recipient love you big. Here are a few service ideas you can most likely find in your neck of the woods:
House Cleaning:
Deep cleaning
Light cleaning
Cloth diaper cleaning (yes that’s a thing)
Carpet cleaning
Car washing
Window cleaning
Meal Service: We all know about Hello Fresh and Blue Apron, but many local chefs are hanging their own chefy shingle and offering ready-made meals. These can often be picked up or dropped off contact-free too!
Yard Work:
Grass cutting
Dog poop pick up
Tree limbing
Landscaping (thankfully most flower bulbs, shrubs, and trees can be planted year-round in most places!)
Weed pulling
Direct Sales Gifts
Ok, ok, ok – don’t close the browser! MLM (multi-level-marketing) companies are definitely not small. And there can be some very aggressive, annoying, DM assaults happening right now from your high school classmate you haven’t talked to since ‘92.
We aren’t talking about them. And as much as people like to trash MLM companies – just like gift cards – but the truth is, our families and friends do make money (however much or little) when you purchase things through them.
People are focusing more their time on their previous ‘side hustle’ as they’re forced to stay home and teach algebra to their kids and attempt to pay their bills at the same time. MLMs allow people (especially women and moms) to work odd hours, work remotely, and squeeze in promoting their business during nap time.
And not all of their stuff is bad!
There are some great brands out there that use direct sales/MLM strategy. Many of these brands are focused on women and include things like:
Makeup
Skincare
Nails
Essential oils
Kitchen appliances
Health shakes
But there are a few geared towards men like shaving products, finance packages, pet care, and CBD products.
Many of these companies offer starter packages and holiday sets so if you’re unsure what to buy someone, you can get them a sampling of a few things. Plus, if you had questions – your high school friend probably has some great ideas, helpful insights, and suggestions to give you.
Subscription Boxes
From everything from a wine club membership to your favorite small wine shop to toys and puzzles – there’s a box for everyone on your list. Many subscription boxes are not small companies, but they do exist! Here are two lists of small businesses who offer monthly subscription boxes:
You can join a book subscription at a local bookstore if they offer them – or check out this cute independent bookstore in Delaware that will send a hand wrapped book once a month.
Show Big Love When You Shop Small
Hopefully, this guide helps you find those last-minute gifts while keeping your promise to shop as small as possible this holiday season. Make sure you don’t get too wrapped up (har har) in the stress, drama, or consumerism that many online stores aim to bring.
When it comes down to it, giving someone a gift lets them know you’ve thought of them. And when you buy from a small business, chances are that thoughtfulness means more than usual.
Plus, when you shop small you actually give two gifts: one to your loved one and one to the business owner.
Happy Holidays and Stay Well – Stephanie and TKC
Stephanie Klein is a medical copywriter focused on creating content to grow your business and save you time. Check out what people are saying!
