‘Tis the season to shop small, especially on the Saturday after Thanksgiving. Small Business Saturday — the annual event that encourages holiday shoppers to patronize local entrepreneurs — falls on Nov. 29. It’s the perfect opportunity to spend locally at your favorite shops, restaurants and makers. By keeping your dollars at home, you’ll be supporting local growth and sustainability.
Community support is crucial to small business success. Small businesses comprise 99.6% of all businesses in the state and employ over 1.7 million people, reports the Small Business Development Center at the University of Georgia.
Sixty-eight cents of every dollar spent at a small business in Georgia remains in the community. This spending fosters thriving economies and helps preserve the unique character of Georgia towns.
Let’s go!
After the turkey leftovers are put away, take some time to make your holiday shopping list and map a course to hit as many local stores as possible on Nov. 29. Then, head out with family or a group of friends for a fun day of shopping and enjoying unique experiences.
Use these ideas featuring some Walton Gas customers to make the most of your day.
- First, breakfast. Fuel up for the day ahead with freshly made doughnuts, breakfast sandwiches, a smoothie or hot coffee from Ray’s Donuts in Decatur, a place some reviewers proclaim is “the best doughnut store in Dekalb County.”
Ray's Donuts, Decatur
- Seek unique. Support local makers and entrepreneurs by shopping for unique gifts, crafts and home goods treasures at Painted Tree Boutiques in Snellville.
- Look into books. Treat yourself to the latest Christmas-themed romance novel or gift a title by a Georgia author from the selection at Walls of Books, which has stores in Athens, Watkinsville and seven other Georgia towns.
- Count on candy. A box of candy never misses as a thoughtful gift for a customer or service provider. If you’re in Snellville, pick up a box of handmade, creamy pecan pralines from Candy World Drinks & Treats.
- Treat with meat. Shopping for someone who loves outdoor grilling? Think meat for an unusual yet welcome gift! The butchers at family-owned Ferguson’s Meat Market in Cumming have succulent steaks or a cut of pork for barbecue. Or, treat your smoked meat-loving friends to a gift card from DAS BBQ, which has two locations in Atlanta.
- Munch some lunch. Take a shopping break to savor an oven-fired pie made with homemade dough at Hearth Pizza Tavern in Sandy Springs or satisfy your craving with a smash-burger and hand-cut fries at Baddie’s Burger House in Watkinsville and Athens. On the way out, pick up a gift card for your neighbor.
Hearth PIzza Tavern, Sandy Springs
- Play ball! For the youth baseball or softball player in the family, purchase a membership to The Yard @ Wire Park in Watkinsville. The indoor training facility offers one-on-one lessons, camps, clinics and league play.
- Pamper your pet. Don’t forget the furry friends in your life. Find pet toys, clothing, collars, treats and premium foods at In the Ruff Pet Stuff in Flowery Branch.
- Indulge in self-care. Put yourself first by trying a mindful movement class taught by bilingual (Korean and English) instructors at K-Pilates Studio in Suwanee. Or, relax with a massage or skin care at Snellville’s Spa Stinny.
Spa Stinny, Snellville
- Do dinner. Wind up Small Business Saturday by treating the family to dinner at a local restaurant. For casual dining, sit down at Amigo’s Mexican Restaurant at Peerless Mill in Rossville. Call ahead for reservations to indulge in chef-driven Crust Pasta & Pizzeria in Alpharetta. Or, dive into a steak dinner at Pilgreen’s on Lake Dow in McDonough, one of the oldest full-service restaurants in metro Atlanta.
- Finish with fun. After a busy day, kick back and relax while exploring Snellville’s new Crooked Can Brewing Company or Moe’s & Joe’s Tavern, an Atlanta favorite since 1947.
Small businesses are the backbone of Georgia’s economy. Participating in Small Business Saturday is one way to invest in your community’s present and future. Your small gesture can create a ripple effect that makes a long-term impact.