Why shopping local is the Christmas gift that keeps on giving
This Christmas season, we’re shopping small. And we’ve got four awesome reasons why we think you should, too.
We get it - Christmas shopping can be overwhelming. In an age where infinite online deals are just a click away with the promise of arriving on your doorstep tomorrow, the temptation to purchase from big retailers might make sense on face value. But before you let the commercial madness sweep you off your feet, consider this: shopping locally generates benefits that extend well beyond the gift itself. So as the silly season fast approaches, we wanted to give you four big reasons you should consider shopping small this Christmas.
1. It reduces your environmental impact
It is no mystery that purchases from commercial giants generate harmful environmental impacts that can feel overwhelming to consider.
But don’t despair - shopping small is a powerful way to counteract these harms. While shopping local may not always be accessible for everyone's budget, the Christmas season is a great opportunity to consider doing so if you have the capacity.
By shopping small, you minimise waste and keep those carbon emissions down amongst other great things. At Al Elé, for example, we implement slow fashion production methods and are continually reassessing our efforts. Fashion shouldn’t cost the earth, nor does it have to.
2. It allows you to discover genuinely unique gifts
Ever experienced that moment when you and another person gift the exact same item to a loved one? Yep, it's awkward.
Because small businesses typically produce unique, or even one-of-a-kind items, shopping small prevents these sticky little run-ins. Love and time has been poured into the creation of every item, which are generally produced at a higher quality so that your item can be treasured for years to come. Not to mention, locally produced items express the creativity of local culture in a way that cannot be captured by commercial giants. So by shopping locally, you are directly supporting the invaluable continuation of creative culture across communities.
3. It supports gender equity
Did you know that women are represented significantly more in leadership across small businesses than in commercial industries? Within the context of small enterprises, women typically experience less structural barriers than they would within larger commercial businesses. So by shopping small, you are far more likely to be supporting women creators.
Even if the creator you purchase from is not a woman, local businesses typically support each other in a capacity that supports women creators. For example, at Al Elé, we not only work closely with other local businesses along our production lines, but we also offer products from other women-owned small businesses in our Ivanhoe store.
Check out their amazing products below:
Jewellery and accessories
Jane Finch Jewellery
Two Plums Design
Denz and co
Ritchel Monaghan
Soi Body
Big Al and the Machine
Earrings: Jane Finch Jewellery
For pets
Biggie's Raw Pantry
Howler Collection
Laila and Me
Comfy Tails
Pet wear: Comfy Tails
Homewares and Prints
4. It bolsters community strength
Ultimately, shopping locally is a meaningful way to give back to your local community, or to support a community if you are a visitor. By shopping small, you play a role in diverting monetary power away from harmful commercial activities whilst simultaneously redirecting that power into the hands of locals. This is because shopping small boosts local economies, creates local jobs, and therefore builds community strength and independence. It all adds up, and contributes towards those societal shifts we all want to see.
That’s why we call shopping locally the Christmas gift that keeps on giving — its benefits create lasting ripple effects that strengthen and enrich local communities for years to come.
Looking to shop local this Christmas? Drop by and say hello at our Ivanhoe store!
