Shop Small for the Holidays
Black Friday is right around the corner ready to kick off the holiday shopping season. Discounts, sales and promotions abound, pulling shoppers into big box retailers. And while big national chains aren’t a bad place to shop, terra alma prefers to support small businesses in our local community. We are passionate about helping emerging brands, entrepreneurs, mom-and-pop shops, and all other small businesses find their perfect locations. So instead of focusing on commercializing the holidays, we choose to shop small and create experiences.
Small Business Saturday is the perfect time to support local retailers and start your holiday shopping by finding unique, one-of-a-kind gifts for your loved ones.
Some of our favorite shopping places are retailers we have found spaces for in metro Atlanta. Here are a few we think you might like as well:
Dress Up Boutique is a women’s boutique clothing store with 16 Southeast locations. Dress Up started with a visit to the mall. Derrick and Danielle Case visited the local mall with Danielle's sisters and were exhausted after browsing through endless stores with the same premise - overpriced clothing that lacked style and had the same items month after month. After the final store, Danielle told Derrick, "This is ridiculous; we should open our own store. We should offer new styles every week, make it affordable and on trend." That idea led to the first Dress Up store in Dahlonega, Georgia in August 2009, just five weeks after that trip to the mall. Over the years, Dress Up's heart has never changed - to keep changing the world, one dress at a time.
Savannah Bee Company is hive central for products made from honey, including signature body care and exclusive honey.
Spindle is an Atlanta cycling staple and a destination for custom and stock cycling bags and accessories that started in 2013. The Spindle has developed a style all its own creating custom and stock bags for on and off the bike.
Club Champion helps the golfer in your life develop the perfect swing. Better education equates to better fitters and a better golf game.
Rak Outfitters sells top brands in traditional southern fashion and outdoor style. Discover the best outdoor clothing and equipment brands to make exploring nature a fun, warm and safe adventure.
And of course, there’s always room for gift cards from your favorite restaurants! Speaking of restaurants, why not make time to visit a few while you are out shopping?
Here are some that we love:
Chattahoochee Food Works located on the upper Westside is the perfect solution when everyone in your shopping party wants something different to eat! With 31 food vendors, the Chattahoochee Food Works has lots of options!
Crumbl Cookies will satisfy your sweet tooth. Known for their famous chocolate chip cookies, the menu rotates to provide four to five specialty flavors weekly!
Honey Bubble offers a wide selection of milk and clear bubble teas in a modern-industrial hangout.
Highland Bakery serves breakfast, brunch and lunch all day long. Favorites include Cilantro Corn Cakes, Crab Cake Benedict, Jalapeño Focaccia bread to sweet potato pancakes.
Land of a Thousand Hills helps coffee drinkers to celebrate specialty coffees while directly supporting a network of Rwanda coffee farming communities, providing the farmers with living wages, education, healthcare and clean water.
Novo Cucina introduces a fresh approach to eating Italian with a marriage of culinary tradition with innovative casual making it fun and delicious.
Sotto Sotto is a cozy Italian eatery offering pasta, risotto and other Italian classics, along with an all-Italian wine list.
Zocalo is a modern, upscale Mexican restaurant featuring fresh ingredients and bold flavors. Various tequilas are available to enjoy in a stylish space with vibrant décor.
Set up your holiday shopping for success. Start with a list of gift ideas and then create a list of shopping places. Historic train towns and adaptive reuse projects are fun places to start. Make shopping more fun by stopping for a coffee or hot tea, making time for lunch and treating yourself to a gift to commemorate your shopping adventures.
