Save the Soul of Society: shop SMALLer.

Is that too much to ask for the month of December? Is it even more audacious to ask that this method be incorporated in 2021 and beyond?

Your community & local businesses need you more than ever during the holidays; basically, buy your gifts and make purchases from places that don't already make millions (or billions). The numbers make a dent and speak for themselves. Your challenge, should you choose to accept it: NO Amazon, Target, Walmart or big brand/label name/made in China gifts this month.

There is so much power in each dollar we spend. The more dollars you spend with big names, the more power you give them; directly and indirectly.

The Bible verse "Love thy neighbor as thyself" sums up what needs to happen. Supporting your local boutiques, companies, businesses, from the mom-and-pop shoe repair place to the vendors at your outdoor green markets, many if not all of these people (and their families) live/come from the vicinity that you live/work. If the pandemic has taught me anything through the highs and lows of confusion and unrest, it's this: if we don't recognize our power when we unify as citizens in our own communities, we will not be able to truly move forward, truly heal, or truly fix the needs that we ALL have in common.

The livelihoods of your local/family-owned businesses are rooted in their relationships, reputation, and funding of the service/product that they offer in that particular community. When you "support" one of them you are literally feeding their family, putting one of their kids through school, putting gas in their tank, paying for one of their permits to run the business, fixing something that broke last week in their shop, the list goes on and on. Whereas when you take numerous trips to your "local" Walmart or checkout on Amazon regularly, you are simply fueling a monster and filling the pockets of the billionaires that run them & the stockholders who benefit from their success.

Below I've listed my favorite go-to alternatives when it comes to purchasing gifts and a large part of some specialty items I need/want throughout the year. I hope that starting today, you will adopt them as your own alternatives too!

Graphic by Adria Adams

ETSY

The wonderful handmade, unique, gem-finding world of Etsy. My shopping experience has never been the same since becoming both a buyer and vendor on this platform.

I've listed some of my favorite vendors here to start with but you will easily find yourself lost in this world of seemingly endless possibilities executed by creators all over the globe. Just when you think every idea has been thought up, Etsy will help you discover that the human mind both captures and exceeds what we can imagine.

From Canada to Rhode Island, a small village in Chile to Lithuania, or Paris to an island off the coast of Spain, Texas to Alaska; Etsy's talent is not limited to one continent. Every vendor also has a unique story, from college students expanding their interest in crafts to a farm-owner who was once a nurse & now spends their time making dream catchers, to mother-daughter owned storefronts that donate a percentage of their profits to care for their city's veterans; your purchases are going to something and someone real. There is something so rewarding and empowering to every transaction done when you connect to the humanity behind it. The cherry on top is the things you find are thoughtfully curated, made-to-order/handmade, and are usually one of a kind.

UNcommon Goods & Kikkerland

These two brands act as a "manager" of sorts to their artists. They represent and feature quirky, fun, original products from a variety of entrepreneurs. Many of the products they sell are also part of the inventory at local boutiques, museums, and physical storefronts in several big cities like Seattle, San Francisco, and NYC.

You can find your city's *local* Kikkerland vendors here and take a look at their incredible giftable items here.

UNcommon Goods will also not disappoint but their items are highly in demand & sell out regularly so you'll have to move fast!

BLICK

This one was slightly unexpected for me since I just frequented their shops for project supplies like I would Michael's or JoAnn's but they started to have a section dedicated to gifting that I so enjoyed browsing through when entering the front doors as well as after checking out. This particular section of the store got bigger and better, next thing I knew I was buying more gift items than actual art project supplies lol.

Chronicle & Knock Knock

These brands are a happy blend of educational, witt, creativity, and smart ass'ness. Whether you want to get more organized, have interesting table-top books for your guests to skim through, give a gift that has substance, or just have a good laugh, you will find exactly what you're looking for with either choice.

TDM (The Detox Market)

I've often used products from this brand to convert many of my friends, colleagues, relatives, and acquaintances into adopting an organic personal hygiene regimen. I'm such an advocate for earth-friendly, holistic, non-toxic, green living and TDM offers so many things to make that transition attainable and sustainable.

Honorable mentions: KITSON & Richard's Variety Store

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