Small Business Saturday lands on November 30 this year, the Saturday right after Thanksgiving. It's the one day of the holiday shopping season built around independent shops, cafes and restaurants instead of big-box stores. The hard part isn't wanting to shop small. It's knowing where the good independent places are, beyond the two or three you already visit.
Here's how to find them online, plan an easy route for the day and make your visit count for the businesses you choose.
What Small Business Saturday is about
Small Business Saturday has been around since 2010 as a counterweight to Black Friday. The idea is simple: spend part of your holiday budget at locally owned businesses on that Saturday, and keep doing it through the season.
For a small shop, a strong holiday season can make the whole year. Your purchase also tends to stay closer to home. Local owners hire local people, use local banks and accountants, and sponsor the youth teams and school events in your town.
How to find independent shops near you online
Search with your town and the type of shop
Searching "gift shop" alone tends to bring up chains and national websites. Try the type of shop plus your town or neighborhood: "vintage clothing Main Street," "independent bookstore downtown," "local toy store" plus your city. Then skim past the big names.
Browse a local directory by category and state
Directories that organize businesses by category and location make it easy to see what's in your area at a glance. On Listings Junkie you can browse shopping and retail, clothing stores and specialty and gift shops, or start from your state on the locations page. Our guide on how to use Listings Junkie to find local businesses walks through it step by step.
Look up your downtown or main street group
Many towns have a downtown association, merchants' group or chamber of commerce that publishes a list of member shops, and some put together a Small Business Saturday map or passport. Search your town's name plus "downtown" or "shop local" to see what's planned.
Ask your neighbors
A quick post in a neighborhood group, such as "What's your favorite locally owned shop for gifts under $30?", can turn up places you've never heard of. For tips on getting useful replies, see asking your neighborhood group for a recommendation.
Check the details before you go
Small shops often change their hours for the holidays. Some open early on Small Business Saturday, some host events, and some close for Thanksgiving weekend to rest before December.
Before you head out:
- Check the hours on the shop's listing or website, and call if you're not sure.
- Look for events. Some shops offer treats, live music, raffles or a small gift with purchase that day.
- Check parking. Downtown streets fill up fast on busy shopping days. Look for a public lot or plan to walk between stops.
- Bring a list. Shops get crowded, and a list helps you shop with purpose instead of browsing until your feet hurt.
Plan a simple shop-small route
The most fun way to spend the day is to plan a short loop. A route that works in almost any town:
Start at a local coffee shop or bakery.
Grab breakfast and ask the barista where they like to shop.
Hit two or three shops on the same block.
Gifts, clothing, books or home goods.
Stop for lunch at an independent restaurant.
Lunch is often less crowded than dinner on a big shopping day.
Finish at a shop with gift cards or services.
A salon, spa or local studio for the hard-to-shop-for people on your list.
If your town has a shared vendor market, it can cover a lot of ground in one stop. The Collective Furniture & Vendor Market, listed on Listings Junkie, describes itself as a large indoor marketplace in Crestwood, Illinois with furniture, home decor, artisan products and booth space for local vendors, which means many small sellers under one roof.
Gift ideas from independent shops
Not sure what to buy? Here are a few ideas that are easy to find at local businesses:
- Vintage and one-of-a-kind finds. Home decor, furniture and vintage pieces make gifts nobody else will have. Vintage Groves, an example on Listings Junkie, offers home decor, furniture and vintage items from its spot on Louisiana Avenue in downtown Perrysburg, Ohio.
- Local food and drink. Candy, baked goods, coffee beans, hot sauce or a gift basket from a local market.
- Clothing and accessories. Boutiques often carry pieces from smaller designers.
- Flowers and plants. A local florist can make a centerpiece for a holiday table or deliver a plant to someone far away.
- Experiences and services. Gift cards for a massage, haircut, car detail or dinner out. Our guide to buying gift cards from local businesses covers what to check before you buy one.
Make your visit count
Spending money is the most direct way to help a small business, but there are a few free extras that help almost as much:
- Sign up for their email list or follow them. You'll hear about restocks, sales and events, and it gives the owner a way to reach you all year.
- Tag them in your photos. A quick post of your purchase introduces them to your friends.
- Leave a review after your visit. A few specific sentences help other shoppers find them. How to write a helpful review of a local business shows how to do it in five minutes.
- Come back in January. The weeks after the holidays are often slow for small shops. A return visit then is a real boost.
Shop small online, too
Not everyone can get out on a busy Saturday, and that's fine. Many local shops sell online, take phone orders or offer curbside pickup. Small U.S. businesses that sell mainly online count as small businesses too. If you're shopping from home, check whether your favorite local shop has a web store, and look for independent sellers before defaulting to the biggest websites.
Frequently asked questions
When is Small Business Saturday this year?
Saturday, November 30, the day after Black Friday and two days after Thanksgiving.
Do I have to spend a lot to make a difference?
No. A coffee, a card or a small gift all count. Coming back after the holidays and recommending the shop to friends matter just as much.
How do I know if a shop is independent or part of a chain?
Look at the shop's website and listing. Independent businesses usually talk about their owners, their story and their town. If you're not sure, ask at the counter. Owners are usually happy to tell you.
What if I can't shop on that Saturday?
Shop small any day of the season. Every independent business on your list would be glad to see you in December, too.
List your business for free
Create a verified listing on Listings Junkie and give the customers in your area one more place to find your business name, address, phone and website.
