Support Small Business Saturday and ‘Buy Annandale’

If you’re planning to do some holiday shopping, why not consider checking out the small, one-of-a-kind shops in Annandale? If you shop today in neighborhood stores, you’ll be taking part in the first Annual Small Business Saturday initiative on Nov. 27, along with the Annandale Chamber of Commerce’s Buy Annandale campaign.

Small Business Saturday, sandwiched between Black Friday and Cyber Monday, highlights the importance of supporting your local community by shopping in your town’s small shops rather than big box or chain retailers. The idea for Small Business Saturday was first proposed by retail consultant, small business advocate, and blogger Cinda Baxter and is being marketed by American Express OPEN, the credit card company’s small business unit.

When you shop in neighborhood stores, you’re more likely to find a unique gift item, you’ll avoid the mall parking nightmare, and you’ll support your local community and the people who work there. According to the Small Business Saturday website, every $100 spent at a small local business returns $68 to the community.

The Annandale Chamber’s Buy Annandale campaign is aimed at helping local businesses recover as the economy slowly climbs out of the doldrums of the past two years.

Annandale offers a variety of one-of-kind stores with lots of possibilities for your holiday gift list. Here are just a few ideas: AnnSandra (4417 on John Marr Drive) has crystal, dinnerware, and gift items. The Artisans United gift shop (4022 Hummer Road) has pottery, jewelry, and all sorts of handmade crafts. The Amore (4219 John Marr Drive) has cosmetics and skin care products from Korea. Annandale also has plenty of thrift stores, and there are several antique shops, although not as many as in the past.