Support local businesses this holiday season 

It’s more important now than ever to support small businesses during the holiday season. Many local stores now offer online ordering, which can simplify the gift-buying process while keeping dollars circulating in the Dayton area.  

According to the Small Business Administration, for every dollar spent at a small business in the U.S., approximately 67 cents stays in the local community. The Saturday after Thanksgiving has been known as “Small Business Saturday” thanks in part to effort from American Express consumer credit company and its efforts to showcase local businesses. The agency recently released details from its self-reporting segment regarding the impact of 2021’s Small Business Saturday.  

“The results of the American Express 2021 Small Business Saturday Consumer Insights Survey show that total reported projected spending among U.S. consumers who shopped at independent retailers and restaurants on Small Business Saturday reached an estimated $23.3 billion1, up 18% from $19.8 billion in 20202 and an increase from pre-pandemic spending in 2019 ($19.6 billion),” the agency says.  

About 78 percent of the 523 U.S. small-business owners and managers who took part in 2021’s Small Business Saturday said holiday sales will help decide whether they can keep their doors open in 2022. But larger retailers often dominate the holiday shopping space by offering steep discounts, some of which begin as early as October. “Small businesses can’t always compete with the blockbuster deals that have become really popular on Black Friday,” said Walter Frye, vice president of global brand management at American Express management. 

Need ideas for local gift-giving? Here are a few suggestions to get you started: 

• Winans Chocolates + Coffee: With 21 locations throughout the Miami Valley and Columbus areas, there’s a Winans shop offering its specialty coffees, chocolates and other goodies close to home no matter where you live. Check out the top-selling Ohio-shaped basket to remind family members who left the Buckeye State what they’re missing out on!  
• Dorothy Lane Market: The local grocer has curated a selection of items you can only get in Ohio and assembled gift baskets with these products. Of course, you can never go wrong with a gift of a Killer Brownie. 
• Dayton History: Pay homage to the Gem City’s past with T-shirts, notecards, coasters, jewelry, books, toys, games and much more at the museum store at Dayton History’s Carillon Historical Park. Bonus: Bring family or friends visiting for the holidays to check out the park, including the famous Carillon Tree of Light.
• The Dayton Art Institute: Another local museum’s gift shop is brimming with local merchandise, as well as items inspired by the museum’s collection. This is a great way to incorporate functional art into your life, or give the gift of beauty to the art-lover on your list.
• Downtown Dayton Gift Guide: There are more than 100 local merchants in downtown Dayton, and the Downtown Dayton Partnership has rounded up hundreds of ideas for products or services for sale that would be just the right addition to anyone’s holiday haul.  

• Front Street Warehouse: Swing by one of the open house weekends for access to dozens of local artists and artisan merchants for one-of-a-kind gifts, or pick up gift certificates for classes, workshops and other experiential art activities. 

• Downtown Dollars: The first of its kind digital gift card launched in 2020 in response to the pandemic, but has stuck around as a handy, one-size-fits-all stocking stuffer that’s redeemable at more than 80 downtown businesses.