I was spotted supporting **The Market 1115** in Manchester (here for more) they have over 30 vendors on Small Business Saturday (Image credit: Firestone)

Small Business Saturday: Keep Your Dollars Local and Your Community Thriving

Picture this: It’s the Saturday after Thanksgiving. The leftovers are dwindling, the holiday rush is in full swing, and there you are, deciding where to spend your hard-earned dollars. Enter *Small Business Saturday*—a day to shop small, think big, and leave corporate conglomerates to their billion-dollar spreadsheets.

Here’s why supporting small businesses isn’t just a nice idea—it’s a downright essential, noble, and frankly, more enjoyable thing to do:

1. Your Community: Love It? Then Fund It.

Every time you buy that handcrafted candle, artisan sweater, or locally roasted coffee, you’re not just buying a product. You’re helping pay for a kid’s soccer cleats, fixing the roads you drive on, or a neighborhood’s dream. Big box stores? You’re funding their CEO’s third yacht, and let’s be honest—how many yachts does one person need?

2. Unique Finds > Generic Buys

Small businesses offer what Amazon can’t: personality. Need a gift that screams “I care about you as a human being” instead of “I clicked the first Prime option”? Local shops have your back. You’ll find treasures, not assembly-line tchotchkes, and you’ll walk away knowing your gift won’t show up at the white elephant exchange five times over.

3. Jeff Bezos Doesn’t Need Another Mansion

Look, we’ve all clicked “Add to Cart” at 2 a.m. But one Saturday a year, let’s rebel against algorithm-driven purchases. Shop small, and you’re sticking it to the man in the best way possible—by investing in real people who actually care about their customers.

4. Economic Karma

Here’s the magic of shopping small: For every dollar you spend at a local business, 67 cents stays in your community. That’s money for schools, parks, and pothole-free streets. Spend that same dollar at a chain, and most of it leaves town faster than a holiday shopper spotting a mall parking spot.

5. Small Businesses Are the OG Social Networks

Think about your favorite small business owner. They know your name, your favorite order, and possibly your dog’s birthday. Can your mega-retailer do that? Didn’t think so. Shopping small is about human connection, and in a world of endless scrolling, that’s worth its weight in gold.

The Wit of the Matter

When you shop small, you’re not just spending money; you’re making a statement:

- “I believe in quality over quantity.”

- “I support the underdog over the overlord.”

- “I will not be a cog in the corporate machine today, thank you very much.”

Plus, isn’t it way more satisfying to tell someone, “I got this at the cutest little boutique” instead of “Oh, I clicked on an ad for this while doomscrolling last week”?

So this Small Business Saturday, step away from the faceless giants and into the warm, quirky embrace of your local shops. Spend your dollars where they matter, support dreams instead of dividends, and give your neighborhood the love it deserves. After all, you can’t spell *community* without *U*. Well, you *technically* can, but you get the point.

Small Business Saturday

New Haven, Tailored

Bards Clothing