You know I’m all about shopping small. And when I say small I don’t mean bringing home a small amount of bags from a shopping spree. That’s the wrong kind of “shopping small”. When it comes to shopping quantity, my motto has always been go big or go home #amiright? What I’m talking about is shopping small businesses and supporting small business owners. Shopping small doesn’t have to end with Cyber Monday.
The thing is – there are SO many small shops and mom bosses out there that go unnoticed because they don’t have a big wig marketing department to promote their brand and business. That’s where word of mouth comes into play. I thought it would be a good idea to tell you some of my favorites that you may have never shopped with! Perhaps I’ll give you an idea or two for some Christmas gifts! Your hubbies can thank me later.
I’ve been impressed with each of these companies in both their customer service and their personal relations departments. I love getting to know the face and name behind the business. I love knowing that when I’m purchasing I’m helping a family. A little girl that wants dance lessons, a mortgage that needs to be paid, a soda and cookie that desparately needs to be purchased and consumed before the offspring witness it. Whatever it may be, I like supporting a dream.
- JandGHandmade. I have been buying bows and clips from Jennifer for 4 years now. I absolutely love her style. We became Instagram friends and she quickly became my virtual friend. I guess you could say we went to 3rd base in the virtual friend playing field. It’s rather serious. I love the quality of her hand made bows. They’ve lasted me through 2 girls. That’s about as impressive as having a bag of beef jerky last you more than 1 hour of a road trip. Basically, impossible. My girls have, pardon my French, givin’ those bows hell. Somehow the bows come out conquer. Keep it up Jennifer. Your ironclad bows are totes my faves!
- OliveTheThings is hands down (or haaaands up, they’re playing my song, butterflies fly away) my favorite handmade kids clothing shop. I did a whole blog post about this cute shop and Kimberly, the gal behind the sewing machine, a while ago. She is so talented and I am still waiting for her to get the hint that I … cough cough want her to make homemade rompers in my size cough cough. If you have a little one to buy for this Christmas, be sure to check out her shop. You will not be disappointed.
- GraceandCruz boutique has the best handmade bedding you’ll ever lay eyes body on. .. What?.. You don’t climb in your baby’s crib and lay your body on their bedding? Well somebody has to test the comfortability of the bed. Gwen asks me to lay with her every night when I am leaving her room. “Lay down me Mom! Lay down me!” And when I say asks I really mean she bullies me into doing it. And more than 100% of the time I give in (because I am slightly scared of my child). It’s just so sweet to snuggle with her in bed and have her caress my face and whisper “don’t go Mom, don’t go”. I’d give anything to actually sleep with her and not get kung fu’d in the baby maker. At least our bedding from GraceandCruz is soft and makes up for the hair pulling and toe nail scratchings I incur when I meet her night time request of climbing my 25 year old but into her crib. Seriously, now that I think about it, my kids have palace-worthy bedding that would suit a sultan in Agriba. While I’m over here going on 5 years of sleeping on 20 thread count sheets. They’re like sandpaper. Only the best for my toddlers who can literally sleep on any surface including the crumb encrusted hard wood floor. #momoftheyear
Welp folks, those are just a few of my favorite little shops! I’d love to hear your favorite shops! If my followers say it’s a good shop, then I know it’s worth my time and money! And if you recommend one, it would basically be rude of me NOT to buy from them. That’s rule of thumb. That’s what I tell my hubby. Fact.
If you have a small shop yourself, PLEASE leave a link below so I can grow my list of small shops to support and drain my accounts this December! Thanks for reading friends! Happy Holidays!
Join me next week on how to successfully deplete all your accounts of their funds in 30 days. It’s gonna get crazy.