It’s the Wednesday before Thanksgiving and I just wanted to remind everyone about the upcoming Small Business Saturday.  Have you heard of it?  It’s a day to shop small and help local businesses in a big way!  When you’re thinking about your holiday shopping think outside the big box stores and look around your neighborhood.  There’s bound to be some cute local places with gifts your loved ones will adore!  Instead of the typical Starbucks gift cards give a gift card for a local coffee shop.  Have a friend who works hard for everyone else?  Get her special gift from a local beauty store that she would never buy herself!  Just think of the recipient and their neighborhood and look for shops in that area to get a gift.

In my experience, local business owners are passionate about their store and will be able to make recommendations tailored to the gift recipient.  They also just take the time to go the extra mile!  Just the other day I bought balloons from a local store and they gave my daughter a free one…not a huge deal but it made both of our days and I know that wouldn’t have happened at a chain store.  She even held the door open for me when I left!  Speaking of holding the door for me, multiple local business owners have done that for me and it just shows how thoughtful and considerate they are.

I love this quote:

“When you shop a local business you are not helping a CEO get a third vacation home.  You are helping a little girl get dance lessons, a little boy get his team jersey, a mom put food on the table, a dad pay a mortgage or a student pay for college.” –Unknown

Whatever amount of shopping you do this holiday season, please remember, we are all connected and putting money into your local economy helps us all!

Happy Holiday Shopping!

Sincerely,

Jordan Ilderton, CPA