Will You Choose to #ShopSmall This Year?

I have yet to make an official “Black Friday” purchase this year, although the ads have been pouring in for weeks. I would rather #shopsmall and support the businesses that are the heart of my community, and those I believe in. That's why I've been looking forward to Small Business Saturday, and I'm excited about Women-Led Wednesday today.

I applaud and admire the makers, the artists, the builders, the visionaries and all those who use their own two hands to build a life for themselves and their families. It takes tenacity and heart.

My grandmother was an entrepreneur, a florist, who learned the trade later in life after emigrating from the tiny island of Jamaica. She designed gorgeous bridal bouquets and funeral arrangements in her home workshop – in between cooking lunch and changing diapers for her nine grandchildren.

My grandfather and my father were sugar-cane and rice farmers turned nurserymen when they moved to the States. It was back-breaking work with long days grueling in the summer sun and cold nights fighting to protect their tropical plants from winter frost. After years of toiling in the Miami heat, my father opened a printing business focused on custom apparel and promotional items, which he has now been running for more than two decades.

Even my mother had the entrepreneurial and creative spirit. She worked full-time in an office, but kept her side hustle strong – decorating wedding and birthday cakes, crafting Christmas ornaments, and baking made-to-order cookie bouquets.

All of these examples taught me the value of hard work and the importance of choosing where you spend your hard-earned dollars. That’s why I volunteer with SCORE, a nonprofit affiliated with the National Small Business Administration that offers business mentoring and education for entrepreneurs. And it’s why I choose to #shopsmall and #shopwomenled when possible.  

When you shop at a small business, you are encouraging entrepreneurship, boosting the economy, creating jobs, fostering community and supporting a dream.

It may seem almost unavoidable to not make some purchases at large retailers this holiday season. However, I will also be supporting small businesses and women-led businesses both online and in my community, and I encourage you to do the same. 

Below are a few of my favorite women-led and small businesses in my community. Who are yours? Please share in the comments.

• Martha of Miami – South Florida culture-inspired apparel and accessories 
• Melissa Emily Collection – Candles, bath and body products and home decor
• Plum Flower Creations – Handcrafted jewelry
• Heist – Leather goods and accessories
• Laurie Duncan Art – Ocean-inspired art and design
• Beauty for Real – Makeup and skincare products
• Christian Casuals – Custom and Christian apparel and promotional products

Lisa Cawley Ruiz is a content marketing manager at Kaufman Rossin, one of the top CPA firms in the U.S. She has more than 15 years of experience in marketing and communications and is a “recovering” journalist. You can reach Lisa at [email protected] or via LinkedIn.

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Disclaimer: This content is not sponsored or endorsed by any of the brands mentioned nor by American Express, Small Business Saturday?, White Cloud Communication, Wild Rye, or Women-Led Wednesday. The opinions expressed here are my own and are not intended to represent the views of my employer or any company.