“Black Friday” for me means steering clear of the crowds and limiting my shopping to finding the perfect Christmas tree.
But I’m a huge fan of “Small Business Saturday“, which takes place today for the 6th time. Even though it was started by a huge business, American Express, Small Business Saturday is a great way to remind us that when we “buy local”, we support our own communities and neighbors. Click here for a short video about Small Business Saturday from Amex.
I’m headed out to the local Farmer’s Market to find fresh produce, flowers and hand-crafted gifts. And then I’ll pop into the resale shop run by Tomball Emergency Assistance Ministries (T.E.A.M.) to see what goodies they have in store.
The best thing about frequenting the local Mom-and-Pop stores is the relationships that develop with the proprietors.
The lady who sells homemade pet treats at the Farmer’s Market pulls out the cat treats for me as soon as she sees me approaching. My cat demands the dried whitefish that K-9 Campus Cafe makes especially for her.
The great folks at Jane and John Dough Bakery know my son *needs* one of their fresh-baked pretzels and a Mexican Coke. And they always ask about his Eagle Scout project and upcoming concerts.
The owner of Smitty’s Meat Market genuinely wants to know if you like their in-house smoked sausage, and what other products they should carry to complement the variety of smoked meats they offer.
The farmer’s market vendors are all super-friendly and love to talk with customers. My son and I visit almost every Saturday, enjoying the experience as much as the goods that we buy.
A farmer’s market evokes that old-time, small-town, we’re-all-in-this-together feeling.
Shopping at the charity resale shop is a great way to use your retail dollars to help your own community. The money they raise goes directly to assisting local families in need.
