Every year, between Black Friday and Cyber Monday, falls Small Business Saturday. This annual event is sponsored by American Express, and it is a day dedicated to supporting small businesses across the country. This year, Small Business Saturday falls on November 28th.
If you’re a regular reader, you know small, local businesses are near and dear to my heart. You also know that there are a ton of these shops around Charlotte. I did a post about some of my favorite small businesses a couple years ago, and I still love each of the spots I named in that post. But there are a number of spots – some new, some not so new – I’d like to update you with.
- Special to Small Business Saturday is a pop-up event in SouthEnd. In addition to SouthEnd’s usual 200 retailers, 75 vendors and fashion trucks will be a part of the event. Check out Historic SouthEnd Charlotte’s blog post about it!
- If the pop up event is too much for you and you’re looking for just one SouthEnd spot to check out, I’d have to go with Atherton Mill & Market. There’s a great selection of local vendors – from local honey and meats to jewelry and soaps. It’s not to be missed!
- CLTCH is a great new little accessories boutique in the heart of Plaza Midwood. It opened this summer, and it has a great selection of classic and edgy “outfit makers.”
- Vestique has been around for a few years, but this Dilworth boutique has some awesome finds at great prices.
- Located in the same Dilworth shopping strip as Vestique, Pour Olive will delight the culinary genius in you…or the culinary geniuses you know. Their flavored olive oils and vinegars – and the pairings of them – add up to utter deliciousness!
- Paper Skyscraper is one of Charlotte’s greatest locally-owned shops! Also located in Dilworth, this is THE spot for fun, funky gifts as well as Charlotte-related gifts.
- It’s not really a local business in and of itself, per se, but the NoDa Farmer’s Market inside the Neighborhood Theatre is FILLED with great local vendors. It runs Saturdays from 9am to 1pm – including on Small Business Saturday. For their latest, be sure to like their Facebook page!
- Salvaged Beauty in NoDa is an awesome antique and vintage shop located beside Free Range Brewing. Can’t make it to NoDa? Check out their Etsy store!
- I can’t even begin to talk about local small businesses without mentioning Charlotte’s great breweries. Take a peek at my past posts about them!
- While you’re out shopping, be sure to support small, local businesses with your dining choices, too! Charlotte’s lucky in that some great restaurants are locally-owned. Places like Pure Pizza in Plaza Midwood and 7th St Station in First Ward, Price’s Chicken Coop and Mr K’s in SouthEnd, Queen City Q in Uptown and Matthews, Pinky’s Westside Grill in Wesley Heights, and Mert’s in Uptown are all locally owned and operated…and tasty! (Note: These are just a few of my favorites. Let me know your favorite locally-owned restaurants!)
- You can also support small businesses on social media on Small Business Saturday. Check in at the places you’re shopping and post pics of the stuff you’re finding, and use the hashtag #ShopSmall in your posts!
So what are some of your favorite locally owned small businesses? What other spots do I need to check out? Comment here to let me know!
