Holy crap, can you believe this crazy year is nearly over? Not saying that next year is going to be any better (I sure hope it is though) but man has this year hurt us all in so many ways. Whether we’ve suffered loss of a loved one, loss of a job, loss of community, or any other form of loss, we’ve all felt it, especially our local small businesses. They are feeling the most economic loss right now.
While it is easy, convenient, and safe to shop online aka on Amazon, these big box companies don’t need our support right now. With more and more local shops suffering from forced closures or lack of customers there are unfortunately more and more local shops closing their doors permanently. It’s very sad to see but I am here to hopefully help make shopping local easier on you with some simple tips to help you find what you’re looking for.
1. Google – I don’t know about y’all but Google is pretty much my best friend. Not that I believe everything on the Internet but it helps me get to the info that I am looking for real quick.
If I am looking for a local store or business around me I like to use the “near me” search feature. So say I’m looking to buy a new T-shirt, I will simply type into the Google search bar “T-Shirt stores” and then usually “near me” will auto-finish. If it doesn’t you can simply type the near me part yourself & it will give the same search results. Google will then give you a list of stores/websites/businesses and even a local map of where you can find T-shirt stores near you! It’s really that easy.
Another awesome tool to use from Google is Google street view. I like to go for drives with my husband and my little Monster (aka my French Bulldog Elton). Sometimes we’ll pass by a cool looking street with a bunch of shops & businesses/services. I’ll always try to keep a mental note to come back or to look them up but I never remember to do that. But then I realized if I could at least remember what street or area I was in then I could easily just use Google Street View to find me those stores! Go to Google Maps, type in the street or neighborhood you were in, then drag or click on the street view icon & zoom around the neighborhood looking for cool stores you saw.
Two super easy ways to use Google to help you find local stores & businesses in your area!
Something to note: Many stores have started to set up e-commerce. If Covid has taught us anything it’s that Home is the safest place in the world. So if we’re all staying home, then we’re all shopping online! Check to see what online features they have; website, online orders, curbside pickup, delivery. If not give them a call & see how they’re maneuvering with the virus. Whatever information you may need to keep yourself & them safe.
2. Yelp – Yelp is my jam! It’s one of my go-to’s when I’m scouring the world for yummy vegan finds. In this case it will help us find local yummy vegan finds like, restaurants, shops & services. Just type vegan restaurant, vegan hair salon, or what it is that you are looking for & just like Google, the matches will show up in a map or list version. Yelp usually has all of the businesses information & reviews from other customers just like you. A bonus way to support local is to rate them & leave a positive review after you’ve had one with them.
3. A Billion Veg – Is like Yelp but for vegan stuff exclusively. A Billion Veg is only a few years old so it still has some expanding to do, which is actually how you can help this company grow itself. When you use their search engine or share a review you help grow A Billion Veg’s community. So type in whatever it is you are looking for and it will help source it for you. It works best for restaurants but I think it will keep getting better as it grows.
4. Drive Around – Much like in Google Street View, just take a drive around and see what’s out there.
5. Start a Facebook Fundraiser – This is not only a good way to support local but also a good way to make a donation in someone’s name as a gift! I recently started a Facebook Fundraiser for my birthday for my local SPCA & was so surprised to raise $500! It was so exciting and fulfilling to see my friends donate on my behalf. I highly recommend this as a gift idea. It’s a gift that keeps on giving haha I know so cheese.
6. Support Vegan Only Local Restaurants – Vegans are still growing in terms of popularity so that means there are fewer vegans to support vegan only restaurants. I pretty much only support or eat at Vegan Only restaurants because I want to make sure that my money is keeping their businesses open. A Vegan Only restaurant is just a restaurant that only serves vegan food, not that you have to be vegan to eat there, in case that wasn’t obvious. Gift Certificates to places like these would make a great gift & the perfect way to support the business. You can also try to eat or order takeout at places like these over the holidays & when you don’t feel like cooking.
7. Support Local Produce/Farms – A more broad way to support local is to try to buy locally grown produce when shopping at your grocery store. You could take it up a notch and find local winter/seasonal Farmer’s Markets. I’ve seen some markets, even the local Christmas Market, go virtual this year. So that might be a great way to support local & to stay safe.
8. Rate & Review Them – As mentioned in the Yelp section, rating & reviewing a store or business with positive remarks is a great way to support local brands. It doesn’t cost you a thing but it does help keep the companies’ reputation strong. When a company has a good reputation more customers are likely to try them out. And then the cycle continues, making them a successful popular company!
Bonus Support – Sometimes local can be extended broadly to mean indie or small brand or person. I have many artist friends that are selling their artwork online now to help cope with the loss of work. Commissioning a painting or buying something in their stock not only makes for a unique gift but it also helps to keep your friends going. There are lots of vegan indie makeup/skincare brands that you could look for and support as well.
I hope these tips & suggestions are helpful. Feel free to add any further suggestions in the comments below. There are so many clever ways to help keep our local economies going so let’s share them together.
Let me know what other suggestions you have for supporting local down below!
A Vegan’s Guide to Supporting Local this Holiday Season
Love supporting the small businesses. Great tips.
Great ideas! I never though of using a big search engine, like Google, to search locally. But it makes total sense with the “Near me” feature. I also love supporting vegan restaurants. That’s especially important now as so many have struggled for over a year.
Exactly! And if we don’t support them we’ll lose them and go back to 20 years ago when I had no restaurant to eat at haha.
These are all such great ideas! And I just found out about a Billion Veg! I love their app. What’s your username? I would love to give it a follow!
Oh yes! I’ll follow you back. I’m still super new on it myself. I think when I first downloaded it there wasn’t as much stuff on as there is now. Which would be awesome to contribute to that thinking back haha. I think my username is ablogaboutstuff. And thanks for the comment <3