This Year, I Resolve to Shop Small!
A lot has changed since last January, and frankly, committing myself to goals like getting in shape, or drinking less soda when times feel uncertain is really challenging especially when my couch looks more comfortable than my tennis shoes. With tragedies and long-standing injustices around every corner whether racial, financial, or otherwise that make personal goal setting, while important, feel small in comparison to the larger problems in the world.
So this year, I’m resolving to shop small whenever I can! The beauty of shopping small is that it enriches local communities by supporting the business owners and artisans that live HERE. Here are some great ways to get started:
Follow @lemonhearted on Instagram! They share wonderful local businesses in the Orlando area, new and old all the time. Their blog also has a shopping guide that breaks down local finds by neighborhood!
Then get some food! Visit restaurants, or order take-out directly from locally-owned restaurants like DaJen Eats, Chicken Fire, BCupcakes, Hawkers, Tako Cheena, Buttermilk Bakery, DG Donuts, The Glass Knife, and more! Hot tip, ordering directly from the restaurant, rather than using a delivery service like UberEats or Doordash, allows business owners to keep a larger share of the sale.
After that, ask yourself what you care about...
Care about the environment? Check out local thrift and antique stores. Shopping second-hand helps keep things out of landfills, and can sometimes save you a pretty penny!
Want to support BIPOC, LGTBQ, or Female Entrepreneurs? Visit stores and restaurants owned by these people! I have recently fallen in love with Miscellaneous Market just between Winter Park and Downtown, which is both black and female-owned. Visit Se7en Bites for a tasty meal and support LGBTQ owners. There are tons of lists and websites online you can find simply by searching “____ owned business in my area” that can direct you to businesses that need your support!
Want other Ways to Engage?
Do you follow someone on social media who creates content, art, or sells things online? Shop their online stores, and post about it and tag the seller/content creator when you do! You can also shop using “Swipe Up” links to make sure that your favorite creators earn commissions.
It’s important to remember that “shopping small” won’t always mean small price tags. A locally owned gift shop is budgeting to restock their shelves with items they believe will be most profitable, and may not be able to price match a bigger retailer with a bigger purchase budget. Artists may have poured several days into a project they sell online, and it is only fair that they charge a price that allows them to continue creating while earning a liveable wage. Shopping small also means that you might need to wait a little longer on shipping, or make the trip to a brick and mortar location, which isn’t always convenient. What I can promise you is this: When you commit a few moments to think about all the lives your shopped-small purchases will positively impact (owners, employees, and their families!), it makes those inconveniences incredibly worthwhile.
-Cassie
