We are grateful for small businesses every day. From placemaking to building community, small businesses have superpowers. Studies show that small local businesses have an even greater positive multiplier in their communities by generating far greater local recirculation of revenue. Every dollar you spend with a small local business is much more likely to go back into the local economy and community and support other small local businesses than big box stores. What’s not to love?
As we get excited for Small Business Saturday later this week by prepping our holiday shopping lists, we can’t help but think of some of our favorite small local businesses: our vendor partners at Little Cholla Market, our seasonal Thursday night pop-up market and gathering place. We just kicked off our Winter season and can’t wait to start our holiday shopping by supporting small local businesses.
Get to know some of our favorites:
Moonstera
Moonstera is known for its really cool plants and good vintage finds. Not sure where to start? Stephanie provides great recs for the best plant match for you! Don’t live in the Valley of the Sun? They have an Etsy shop that ships all across the US!
High Heels and Veggie Peels
Tina of High Heels and Veggie Peels is a farmers market vendor extraordinaire. Whether you want to treat yourself to her fresh, organic produce (think citrus, tomatoes, greens, carrots, and peppers) or her plants, art, freshly baked bread, and desserts, we never leave empty-handed. You can also check out her online shop.
Copper Crescent Botanicals
Nikki of Copper Crescent Botanicals is our dream herbalist. Her passion for the transformative power of plants shines through all her skin care, home care, and self-care products. Nothing says treat yourself or new year, new you like her dreamy natural goodies. Her online shop has it all if you can’t stop by in person.
Voyce Threads
Drew, formerly at Teach for America, runs Voyce Threads - a local business that partners with charitable organizations to design pairs of mismatched socks made in the US. Proceeds from each sock go back to the organization. All the good feels in your heart AND your toes! Shop online here.
Cortez Coffee
Ron and Judith of Cortez Coffee roast their fair trade coffee beans daily in Tempe. They offer subscription bags of coffee from around the world, as well as hot chocolate and coffee fruit drinks. Stock up here.
Kayla & Co
Kayla’s jewelry, accessories, and keychains never fail to delight. A new mom to a beautiful daughter, Kayla of Kayla & Co embodies what we love most about supporting small local businesses. Enjoy her goodies online here.
Lemon Roots Beauty
Jade of Lemon Roots Beauty is the dream kidpreneur. She started her natural beauty business at the age of 10 while looking for ways to nourish her hair and skin. We can never get enough of her products’ lemongrass scent.
Hey Rosie Creations
Acacia of Hey Rosie Creations is a master crafter. She makes everything from keychains and stickers to greeting cards and more. To top it all off, she’s also a private yoga instructor! Check out her goodies here.
Outta town pop
Outta town pop is our go-to for foreign soda, snacks, and their fun Mystery Boxes. Want Danish Fanta that tastes like Strawberry and Kiwi? Or what about Passionfruit Fanta from Portugal? How about some Vanilla Pikachu Oreo Wafers? Hard to control ourselves at their online shop.
Earth & Chain
Earth & Chain features handcrafted jewelry at an affordable price point. From pearl bead rings to heart lock necklaces, we can’t choose!
Willow Jewelry
Feast your eyes on crystal jewelry and accessories made with love in Arizona at Willow Jewelry. From their Crystal Wire Wrap rings to their Crystal Suncatchers good for making your own rainbows, you can also check out their online shop.
Mod & Co.
We dig the small batch, handmade, and minimal jewels for the modern muse at Mod & Co. From chunky gold hoops with fun stones to 90’s inspired bling, where do we even start?
FeBoutique
FeBoutique is known for bringing chic clothing to all the free-spirited babes out there. They promise to always carry something different that speaks to you. You never know what you’ll find – in the best way possible.
Naked Fig Soap
Where would we be without Madeline Harn and her divine soap? Eco-friendly, locally sourced, handcrafted – Naked Fig Soap is the stuff of dreams. We wouldn’t be where we are today without Madeline’s belief in the potential of our vision for Little Cholla – including being one of our first vendors and introducing us to four other core small businesses now at Little Cholla. Want to make your own soap? Madeline leads soap-making workshops! You can also find her beautiful products online.
Local First AZ
We also want to give a huge shout out of gratitude to Local First AZ, an amazing organization that has left an indelible mark on Culdesac’s approach to supporting local businesses. We are honored and excited beyond measure that all of Culdesac Tempe’s businesses will be local – this is in no small part due to the hard work, inspiration, and leadership of the nonprofits, community organizations, and grassroots efforts across the country like Local First AZ championing small local businesses at home.
So whether you want to support small businesses this Saturday by checking out local vendors where you live or across the country online or making an impactful donation to a grassroots organization in your community, shopping small is a powerful investment in the makers and entrepreneurs who support and strengthen our communities year-round.
P.s. – Want to bring the local activity even closer to you? Culdesac’s waitlist is always open!
