It’s not too late to shop local

There is less than a week until Christmas! Are you still trying to find the perfect gift for your Secret Santa? When it comes to holiday shopping, I tend to leave things to the last minute. It’s NOT procrastination. I actually enjoy shopping during the week before Christmas. I like getting out into the neighborhood, visiting independently owned shops, and enjoying the festive (and sometimes frantic) mood on the street.

There are many reasons to support locally owned businesses and you can do some of your shopping right from home…even from small and micro businesses. I love supporting PTA colleagues, clients and entrepreneurship students when I shop – these are local business owners who sell great products and services, operate with integrity, and provide excellent customer service.

Here are a few local gift ideas from my list:

• Buy fashionable, fair trade products from around the world from 12 Small Things.
• Give an aspiring cook a class gift certificate from The City Kitchen.
• Find beautiful handcrafted jewelry for a special someone from Corey Egan or Alicia Van Fleteren
• Discover the perfect outfit or toy for a child at Fiddlesticks, or
• Get great women’s running apparel and gear from See Jane Run.

Since my first small business was a food business (the cheese store Cheshire Cheese) and my next small business was a café (Mad Hatter Tea), my gift-giving always includes food… either homemade or locally bought. We are blessed in San Francisco to be surrounded by small businesses making amazing food. How about a box of chocolates from Socola Chocolatiers or Belinda Chocolates, a jam club membership or jam cookbook from Blue Chair Fruit Company, tea from T-We Tea, or plum pudding with brandy butter from Clairsquares? The possibilities are endless.

So, support your local businesses this season and let’s keep our holiday dollars in the local economy. Hit the streets (or go online) and share in the good feeling that your support will bring to local small businesses this year.