The holiday shopping season is just getting started and among the flurry is a special focus on small businesses.
Tomorrow (Nov. 28) is Small Business Saturday— it’s a day that encourages consumers to shop small and local businesses. American Express started the day in 2010 to coincide with the shopping boom that immediately follows Thanksgiving. Last year, customers spent $14.3 billion at independent stores on Small Business Saturday, according to American Express.
Nzingah Oniwosan, a Fort-Lauderdale-based jewelry designer, says Small Business Saturday gives her and others an opportunity to grow their customer base.
"I understand the struggle that comes with a small business and trying to compete with places like Target and Walmart,' she says, "With the focus of Small Business Saturday being on small businesses it’s an awesome opportunity for small business owners like myself and hand-crafters to draw attention to what we create."
Oniwosan says she hopes the exposure from Small Business Saturday encourages customers to shop small, not only for the holiday season but year-round.
Want to shop local? Here are five South Florida-based businesses you might consider on Small Business Saturday.
Nzingah Designs
Nzingah specializes in handmade one-of-a-kind jewelry for men and women.
From her artist's statement: "My work as a jewelry designer is an extension of my work as a visual artist. I am influenced by my Haitian heritage and my love and appreciation for African and Asian culture. I am inspired by myriad of colors, texture and movement found in the pieces from those regions. Jewelry for me is a sculpture whose pedestal is the human form."
Instagram: @nzingahdesigns
Kids & Coffee Clothing
Kids and Coffee Clothing was born to represent moms "who require a daily cup (or seven) before taking on the daily grind. Our goal is for our shirts to serve as a high five to a fellow mom, a way to say 'you are not alone."'
Instagram: @kidsandcoffeeclothing
Migdalia
Migdalia is a fashion illustrator and designer. Her art focuses on embodying the power and beauty of women through her Migdalia dolls.
She sells handbags and t-shirts adorned with her drawings as well as prints both framed and unframed.
Instagram: @migdaliapace
Tastebuds Confections
Craving a carrot cake topped with a mini apple pie? A jumbo cupcake topped with waffles and bacon?
From their website: "We take pride in taking combinations that you've known forever and transforming them into new delicious concoctions. Our homemade confections are baked with all natural ingredients that you can pronounce; no preservatives or chemicals here."
Instagram:@tastebudsconfections
Little River Cooperative
Buy edible plants for your own veggie garden or if you're not into playing in dirt buy fresh produce from an urban garden in Miami's urban core.
"The farm is made up of two plots of land, both managed using organic methods of production (although we are not officially certified organic) to produce roughly 20 varieties of vegetables, most of them heirloom, including specialty items like edible flowers, rare herbs and unique baby greens as well as some year-round tropical crops like tamarind, bananas and key limes. We grow everything by hand using simple tools to reduce our carbon footprint and dependence on gasoline."
Instagram: @littlerivercooperative
To find more small businesses to shop Saturday, search #shopsmall or #smallbusinesssaturday on social media. Or if you have recommendations, post them in the comments below.