11 Reasons to Shop Small

When you think about buying from small shops and home businesses, the first thing you always hear about is how you’re helping a family put food on their table, and skates on their kids’ feet. And that’s great, and we love it, but there’s a few more reasons that shopping from small shops is hands-down my favourite way to fill my shopping cart. And it’s got a lot to do with yoga pants, hot coffee, and avoiding the general public. Getting excited? You should be.

1 You don’t have to leave your house.
Yes. You can do ALL of your shopping from the comfort, safety, and silence of your own house. No busy malls. No fighting kids into car seats. No putting on real pants. One swipe of your home screen, and the small shop world is your oyster.

2 No Security Tags
How many times have you gotten home, and realized that the cashier forgot to take off the security tag? So now, you’re googling how to remove an ink tag without the police showing up at your door, or being forced to go all the way back to the store, hope you haven’t lost the receipt yet, and beg them to help you out. Small shops don’t have security tags.

3 Thank You Notes
When was the last time that your Amazon order came with a hand-written card? Or a delightfully stamped label? Or a custom designed poly-mailer? Never? Yeah, that’s what I thought. Small shops put that little extra flair into your parcel delivery.

4 Quality Over Quantity
Yes, there’s the whole quality thing. When you know what you’re buying has been made by hand, in someone’s home or small shop, and they’ve attached their own name to it, you know you’re getting their very best work. Because if it’s not, they risk you telling the internet, and nobody wants that attached to their name.

5 Individuality
You’re an individual. You’re unique and awesome and one-of-a-kind. So, why would you dress in the exact same shirt that everyone else in your town is wearing? Why would you want to blend in? Small shops, means smaller inventory. You’re a limited edition. Your wardrobe should reflect that.

6 Parking Space
Yes. Parking. You know where I’ve always got a reserved seat? On my couch. And it’s grooved just the way I like it. Nobody crosses the lines. Nobody dents my doors. I’m never out of command start reach. When you shop small, you don’t have to park. Because you don’t have to drive. Because you don’t have to leave your couch.

7 Line Ups
There is nothing I hate more than trying to corral all of my children, and get them to stand still in a line up, while also making sure they don’t grab the Kinder Eggs that are strategically (and horrifically) placed at the perfect height for a two-year-old to see. I realize they do that on purpose. I understand why they do it. That doesn’t make me like it. You know who doesn’t have line ups or Kinder Eggs? Small Shop checkouts. In fact, most let you use PayPal, so you don’t even need to remember your credit card number. That’s real love.  

8 Squeaky Shopping Cart Wheels
Maybe it’s just a personal curse that I have raging against me, or maybe every single shopping cart in the world just sucks. Either way, I have a definite knack for picking that one cart that squeals, shakes, or gets stuck the entire time I’m shopping. Small Shop shopping carts consist only of a delightfully tasteful emblem in the corner of your screen. That’s it. Just a button. A button that doesn’t squeak.

9 Window Shopping
I love window shopping. It’s honestly one of my favourite past times. But, gas prices are high, and my tolerance for leaving the house is at an all-time low, so window shopping can be a bit of an ordeal. Not when you shop small. You can window shop at as many shops as you can open windows for. All. At. Once. You can load that cart with as many wish-list items as you want, and put them back without having to hide them behind a pair of snow boots because you really don’t want to have to walk back to that end of the store. Not that I’d do that. Often.

10 Wine
When was the last time you were allowed to wander through the mall with a wine glass in your hand? Probably the last time you bought a wine glass. Was it full? I’m going to bet it was not. Truth: I did almost all of my Christmas shopping this year with a wine smile, and if that’s not reason enough to shop from home, I don’t know what is.

11 Supporting a Dream
Yes, there’s that whole supporting a family’s dreams thing, too. I could, in theory, do a lot of my regular shopping online, from big box stores and overseas websites, but it feels good to know that what I’m buying is really having an impact on someone’s life, in a huge way. Every dollar I spend goes directly to the person who deserves it, and that’s a pretty great feeling. Shopping small might seem like a little thing, but to those makers, designers, creators, and dreamers, you’re the reason they get to do what they love. And there’s not much better than that!

Kelsey Kitt is a work-at-home-mom of three in northern Alberta. When she’s not chasing kids around, she is also a freelance copywriter, wine lover, and Parental Guidance content creator. You can follow her and all her family’s adventures on Instagram at @mommydoesntlie.