Shopping at small businesses keeps dollars circulating in your community
’Tis the season for finding the perfect gift for friends and family. Keeping your dollars local this holiday is a great way to re-invest in Dayton and its community. In fact, a 2018 study commissioned by American Express found that “U.S. small businesses are responsible for $4.8 trillion in [gross domestic product], equivalent to the third-largest economy in the world.”
About 67 cents of every dollar spent at a small business remains in the local economy. On top of that, “every dollar spent at small businesses creates an additional 50 cents in local business activity as a result of employee spending and businesses purchasing local goods and services, according to the Small Business Economic Impact Study.”
To help make shopping small a little easier, here are a few resources to identify local entrepreneurs offering unique gifts for the holidays:
Digital Gift Guides
Browse through catalogs of gift ideas with links to each local business. Dayton Convention and Visitors Bureau offers a comprehensive list of local businesses and shopping centers with local retailers. The Downtown Dayton Partnership’s Holiday GIft Guide e-magazine features businesses located in downtown Dayton, and Launch Dayton covers a wide range of gifts from entrepreneurs in the Miami Valley in its Launch into the Holidays Gift Guide.
Holly Days at the Arcade Presented by AES Ohio
3-8 p.m. Wednesday, Dec. 6 and Thursday, Dec. 7 and 3-9 p.m. Friday, Dec. 8
This annual three-day event in the Arcade’s Rotunda and Tank event spaces will feature holiday shopping from small business vendors, food trucks and sweet treats, live entertainment curated by Culture Works, family-friendly activities and performances, a cash bar and holiday surprises. New this year is a free shuttle service provided by our friends at Greater Dayton RTA from the Arcade to and from Five Rivers MetroParks’ Sunset at the Market event on Thursday at the 2nd Street Market.
Sunset at the Market
5:30 – 8:30 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 7
The 2nd Street Market, Dayton Arcade and Greater Dayton RTA will be hosting a special downtown Dayton evening of holiday shopping and entertainment. Stop by the Market to enjoy Sunset at the Market featuring roaming carolers, artisans, specialty and prepared food and more. Also an RTA shuttle bus service will be making stops at the Market and the Arcade for Holly Days, as well as the Oregon District Parking Garage between 5:30 and 9 p.m. Shop both locations for a chance to win a vendor holiday basket!
Christkindlmarkt
10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 9
Visit the Liederkranz for the annual celebration of the centuries-old Christmas market tradition that originated in Nürnberg, Germany. Enjoy the ambiance of traditional food, drink and Glühwein! Vendors will offer handcrafted ornaments, beer steins, German collectible items, antiques, unique jewelry, note cards and gifts, paper cutouts, and more. Traditional food and beverages are available on-site or for carry-out.
Holiday Mini Market Nights
4 – 8 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 9 and 16
Come down to the MetroParks Ice Rink on Saturday evenings in December for ice skating and holiday shopping from a variety of local 2nd Street Market vendors. After you skate, pop in to our cozy Comfort Tent where vendors will be set up and find a unique gift someone on your holiday list will love, all while supporting local businesses. Skate admission is $7 and skate rental is $3. Skaters three and under skate for free with a paying adult.
Artist Markets
The Dayton Society of Artists and The Contemporary Dayton are both hosting special exhibitions in their studios featuring affordable works by local artists. “Small but Mighty” at DSA offers works that are 12″ x 12″ or smaller and includes a wide variety of mediums and styles. DSA is open from noon to 5 p.m. Saturdays in December. CoSHOP Holiday 2023, a curated collection of over 500 holiday and winter-themed fine art and fine craft from select community-driven artists and benefitting the arts community and The Co. Hours are 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Wednesday through Saturday, and 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday, with extended hours during Holly Days at the Arcade.
