One Stop Shopping
Holiday shopping at the Farm Hippie is a must, if you want to avoid mall madness
and knock out your shopping in one stress-free stop. With more than 170 local
producers, craftspeople, and retailers under one roof, you’ll find a gift for anyone on
your shipping list.
Why Shop Local?
Local businesses care about their customers. They are your neighbors, their kids go
to schools with your kids, and they face the same issues as the rest of their
community. At the Farm Hippie, there are many events throughout the year where
vendors are available to meet with customers because they value those customer
relationships.
Studies show that an average of only 10 to 15 percent of a box store’s revenue is
returned to their local community compared to local businesses that return 50 to 65
percent of their revenue to their local community. Local businesses also pay sales
taxes to the city and county they are located in which means the money you spend
goes toward funding and supporting public schools, parks, and service workers.
Shopping locally provides consumers with a unique and authentic experience as
well as quality products that can’t be found anywhere else. Additionally, you don’t
have to worry about getting the items shipped in time.
How to Support Small Businesses
With shopping options such as Farm Hippie, it’s super easy to shop local and still find
what you need. Check out these tips to bring small businesses to your mind during
this holiday shopping season.
Shop Small First
Instead of turning to a national department store, shop small first. Businesses like
the Farm Hippie which supports many small businesses are a great option because can
find such a diverse selection in one trip. Also, these unique options will give you
fresh ideas for the people on your list.
The Farm Hippie has options such as Padres Pio’s Peppers in Oil, which is a perfect
gift for the foodie in your life. If you are looking for sourdough snacks for your next
holiday party give Pretzel Bites from Comfort Carbs Bakery a try.
We also have cute planters and succulent arrangements, macramé wall hangings,
soaps and body products and so much more! You can also find that perfect holiday
decoration that is sure to complete your display.
Commit to Shopping Small Businesses for 24 Hours
Choose one day during the holiday season to dedicate to shopping small. Start the
day with a cup of coffee from a local cafe, do some holiday shopping at
neighborhood markets and end the evening at your favorite local restaurant or a
takeout order.
Ask your friends about their favorite stores or local businesses, but you can also
take a stroll around downtown, chat with locals, or even check out local pages on
Facebook for new ideas. This will give you a new view of your town and find new
businesses to try.
Share Your Experience
Even if you don’t find something to buy, share your experience via social media or
word of mouth. This exposes your friends and family to new businesses or ideas
they’ve never known about.
If you bought something for yourself, show off your purchase with a post on
Instagram or Facebook and tag the small business. If you don’t want to ruin the
surprise of a gift you bought someone else, then you can share other items they have
in their store or just share a post from their page.
Leave A Review
One of the best and easiest things you can do as a customer is leave a glowing
review. Even if it’s been a while since you used a service or shopped at a store, show
your favorite businesses some love during the holidays with a fresh review.
Make Holiday Meals from Local Ingredients
There are so many benefits to shopping for local ingredients and it’s important to
support local food producers. Farm Hippie makes it easy to get various local
ingredients in one trip.
Although fresh produce might be limited in the winter months, vendors such as
Aunt Neny’s has homemade ingredients. Options include homemade vanilla and
infused sugars, which are perfect for all the baked goods on your list. The Heirloom
Acre has seasoning blends for any recipe on your holiday list. Queen City & Co. has
infused oils and kinds of vinegar, which will take any dish to the next level.
Farm Hippie has a wide selection of dairy including natural French-styled yogurt
from Amelia’s Creamery; milk from Swan Bros Dairy; various kinds of cheese from
Herrick’s Smoke House and More! These local ingredients are sure to add a special dash to your holiday dishes.
Shop Local for the Holidays
These are just a few ideas to get inspired to shop locally for the holidays. Share with
us your favorite local holiday gift ideas, whether it’s a local business with gift cards,
or a new experience to try!
Written by Kayla Kamp Owner of Replenishing Farms and Advocate of Local Food
and Farmers.
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