If you haven't heard yet, Saturday, November 27th, is Small Business Saturday - a day to shop locally and support your small businesses. It's about time! According to the U.S. Small Business Administration 99.7 percent of all the nation’s employer businesses are small businesses. Data also show that they employed 57.4 million Americans or 50.6 percent of the non-farm private sector workforce in 2005.
What is a small business, you may be wondering. SBA defines a small business as a concern that is organized for profit; has a place of business in the U.S.; operates primarily within the U.S. or makes a significant contribution to the U.S. economy through payment of taxes or use of American products, materials or labor; is independently owned and operated; and is not dominant in its field on a national basis. The business may be a sole proprietorship, partnership, corporation, or any other legal form. In determining what constitutes a small business, the definition will vary to reflect industry differences.
Basically, it's not a chain store. But I like to focus on the really small, local businesses. So here is my list of suggestions for places to visit this Saturday if you live in the Chicagoland area - - they are the businesses I shop at, the ones run and operated by the people who conceived of them, the Mom and Pops, especially green and fair trade focused:
Oak Park -
Green Home Experts: Home goods store with many everyday items, and some fun, unique gifts. We bought some green school supplies there.
Geneva -
Peaceful Parlour: New green store with lots of great gifts. Just bought some unbelievable glass straws for the stockings.
Evanston -
Healthy Green Goods: Home goods store with the added expertise of owner and Doctor, Marny Turvill.
Andersonville -
The Galleria: a great selection of products from many of the smallest, most independent businesses around.
Green Genes: Babies, kids, adults, great gifts and lots of one of a kind fun stuff.
Women and Children First: Excellent book store, longtime Andersonville favorite.
Lincoln Square -
The Book Cellar: local bookstore that supports local authors.
Northcenter -
Bellybum Boutique: Mom and baby boutique. I like to get stuff for myself at this store. Mommy needs nice things too!
Hyde Park -
The Fair Trader: definitely the place for gift buying and giving.
Running around shopping and need to refuel? Try one of these local favorites with yummy, local, organic, gluten free, vegan or any combination of these kinds of foods.
Uncommon Ground (Edgewater/Wrigleyville)
Need more suggestions on local small businesses to patronize?
Please leave your comments on your local favorites.
Happy Shopping!
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