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The holidays are finally here. That means holiday music, stuffing our faces and buying presents for everyone we love. During Thanksgiving and winter break, the mall will be packed with busy people, even after Black Friday. Switch it up this year and start shopping local. The best time to start is Small Business Saturday. Shopping local is one of the best things that you can do this holiday season—plus, you can avoid the big crowds while still getting the gifts you need.
Small Business Saturday this year is on November 26. This is an entire day devoted to communities across the country. By deciding to shop at local small businesses, you are actually paying into your own community. Most small businesses pay into the community, but they do not stop there. Small shops are more community-based so they are people who care about the area that they are located in.
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Name-brand stores in malls and online are accessible to most people in America. One of the beauties about shopping at small businesses is that there are unique things that people cannot get anywhere else. Shops and little boutiques have their own brands that they have worked hard to build. When it comes to small business that serve food, they care more about the products that they are serving and how their customers feel. Instead of getting holiday cookies from a factory, try your local bakery or mom and pop shops.
Another thing to remember when shopping this holiday season is that cheaper is not always better. During Black Friday, there are crazy deals; however, you have to fight through crowds of people and get up at the crack of dawn. Also, the deals that big companies offer usually do not last past a season. When it comes to small businesses, their products are carefully chosen. Small shops that serve food care about the quality of the food and make sure it is authentic. The same concept applies to the small businesses that carry local art and jewelry. No matter what small business you step into, the products are good quality because the owners care about everything going out of their doors.
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Most small businesses are one-of-a-kind. They are part of the American dream that proves that people can open any business that they think of and create their own brand. Whether you are looking for unique presents in art, fashion or food for the family, shopping local can satisfy these needs. By shopping on Small Business Saturday, you will be supporting your own community. What could be better than that around the holidays?
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