small business saturday.
i am all about supporting small, local businesses. put me in a mall, and i’m quite likely to break out in hives. i love a good mom ‘n pop shop, and support them regularly without giving it a second thought. so when paper magazine and american express asked me to go shopping on them, well, hey, what’s a girl to do? i was all in, since it’s what i normally do anyway. full disclosure – american express gave me a gift card to shop small businesses, and so – i did! for a full guide to american express’s guide to shopping small business saturday – visit the facebook page here. shopping your neighborhood small shops is fun, and it’s just the right thing to do, so this saturday, head out and shop local, shop small businesses.
this is where i went, and what i bought. a lovely stack of books from phoenix book store in noe valley. i love that place. and ummm, $10.99 for the new gourmet today – it totally helped us out with our thanksgiving dinner! also swooped up the new patti smith dream of life, and a book i’ve wanted for a long time, haruki murakami’s 1q84. i also i picked up a bottle of tawny port from plumpjack on 24th street for a little after thanksgiving day drinkie. nice! they have an incredibly well stocked wine shop.
i stopped in paxton gate – a fun little shop on valencia street in the mission, where i picked up a glass clouche, some moss and bromeliad plant, to create a little terrarium of sorts. just something fun to display. and then i hopped across the street to the curiosity shoppe where i found these wee sweet log salt & pepper shakers, and a scout soap dish with a sentimental little mantra.
Just a bit about Small Business Saturday, it was started last year by the city of New York, Mayor Bloomberg and American Express. It is the day after Black Friday and was created as an easy way to support the local, independently-owned small businesses that create jobs, fuel the economy and invigorate retail in communities across the country. Small Business Saturday became a huge cultural event that drove major traffic and sparked spending at small businesses across the US in a MAJOR way. so, in other words — it’s good for all of us. yay for small business!
• top images via ben thomas.
• sponsored post. compensation in the form of an american express gift card to shop small business saturday was provided by American Express, but all opinions are my own and not the position of american express.
NO WAY! I love that idea! Smart Mayor that Mr. Bloomberg! Great finds :)
What wonderful finds! Shop small, shop local!
Thanks for promoting shop small businesses! My small shop, FIVE ten, is hoping for a great day and an even better Holiday season. Thanks again!
Consumerism has turned so many into lemmings… off to the mall to buy the same outfit their friends are buying. Tres sad.
Here in Toronto, small business neighbourhoods are booming – a real delight to wander around, because so many stores are curated – filled with finds indigenous to the area. We will not be able to help those that are already brainwashed, but would love to see the local consumerism movement follow the success that the food sector is experiencing. Thanks for highlighting! Claudine
So nice to see a post for small businesses, horray!
Love this! Shop small San Francisco!!!
Thanks for the reminder! I’m supporting from afar — and it’s a perfect time to shop at your Shoppe!
Hey, how perfect! I’m so happy to see a post about this important issue. Support small! PS. Loving the glass clouche you found!
I work occasionally in a small business: Loot in Lafayette, owned by Ron Morgan. Come see me today all you treasure hunters of things traditional and come look at our beautiful and softly used furniture items.. Also, lamps, vases, and homemade wreaths by the “Master” himself… Tomorrow I am going to visit a plant-seed store in Petaluma called Baker Creek. Think- Smith and Hawkins’ original store in Sausalito. I haven’t seen it yet but they have taken over the space of a very large old Bank… P.S. I am looking for a partner in crime if anyone wants to talk small business with me. (I am going to have to come over and check out the Curiosity shop!) Other notables in Lafayette that are a must see: Hen House and Souvenir.
love it. We sell at Paxton Gate! have you seen our little alouette toys there? xo
Your pictures are always so lovely!
Just found your blog today and love it :)
Love supporting local business- I think it’s so important for the community!