To ask how you will be supporting small businesses this christmas?

[sprockerdiles]

Has anyone got any good ideas?

We have a family run greengrocers near us so will be ordering a veg box from them rather than a supermarket. Going to try and source some presents locally too rather than resorting to Amazon.

Anyone else?

A lot of small businesses sell through Amazon

Gift vouchers for local afternoon teas/beauty treatments etc. Means they'll get some money now.

Buying xmas presents from the local craftspeople who have had a terrible year and even now a lot of outdoor markets are closed.

I’ve ordered several of my presents from businesses on this thread: www.mumsnet.com/Talk/Christmas/4034228-Independent-online-shops

Using the local butcher for our Turkey and then for our steak pie.

I’ve brought some presents from Etsy and my family are big readers so I’ve brought books through bookshop.org which supports independent bookshops.

It is difficult to know what to do for the best, small businesses have definitely been hit the hardest and it’s important to try and help them as much as possible especially because they are less likely to have been helped by the government. However high street stores are the biggest employers in retail so it’s also important to help them as well.

Also when I used to have a very small business (probably more hobby) I used to sell through Amazon and eBay so not all purchases through Amazon actually go to Amazon.

one of my presents is someone who loves wax melts and the cat charity i work for ahs an etsy style online shop at the moment all small home made items so i have bought my friend wax melts from them rather than a big chain shop i dont have many presents to buy as i give my grandchildren money

I'm doing the same as I always do -

Meat from local farm shop
Fruit and veg from local green grocer
Decorations from local shop
Some gifts from small crafters / business

I'm very lucky to have some amazing small businesses near me, a gin distillers and a brewery a mile from me, some very talented artists and designers in my friendship group etc. Bit I have always bought local where possible.

I will be supporting whoever can give me the product I want at the best price available, with ease of purchasing it.

So if that’s cheaper with next day delivery on Amazon, other websites and/or shops need to up their game and offer better.

Coffee’s, lunch / dinner and takeaways from small businesses.

I’m going to buy my husband a box of local ale.

We buy a veg box and local milk and you can buy extras such as jams, chutneys, etc so I’m going to buy some as gifts.

You could buy gift vouchers for local businesses.
We are going to buy some presents from toy master which is a smaller chain.

Buying in shops instead of online to reduce packaging.