It is official. The busiest shopping weekend of the year is upon us! This Saturday is Small Business Saturday, a chance to celebrate all of the extraordinary local businesses in our communities. Whether you are browsing or searching for something specific, we encourage you to get out and support local! We guarantee you will be in awe of the talented and creative people behind the beautiful businesses nestled in your neighborhood.
We reached out to some of Mississippi’s finest local businesses, and asked them to share what inspired their business, and what makes shopping local so special.
“I own SummerHouse, a high-end 7000 sq. ft. furniture boutique located at The Township in Ridgeland, MS. With my talented staff of designers we work on design projects all across the country as well as sell furnishings, accessories, lighting, rugs and art directly off the floor. I opened SummerHouse in its current location in April of 2006 after a fire destroyed my original store in Fondren. I was an independent designer and couldn't find what I was looking for in Jackson for my clients. I felt there was a strong need for soft modern, cleaned up traditional looks from companies not seen before in the Jackson area.
It brings me a great deal of pride to bring jobs to my community. I employ 20 fabulous hard working Mississippians. And I know my customers! I know this area and how my customers shop and their needs. My kids go to school with their kids. I know most of them by name and that means so much! You don't get that when you shop at a big box store."
“I started working in my uncle’s clothing store, which was located in Maywood Mart when I was 15. I fell in love with retail, especially Men’s clothing. Because I grew up in Jackson, I have a passion for our city, and in order for Jackson to thrive everyone needs to support our local merchants.”
“In the past couple of years, since I've become a small business owner, I've really come to realize the importance of shopping local! Local businesses give any city a unique flavor that can only be added by small, one of a kind shops and companies. Among other things, shopping local is more personal!
I love being the owner of my own business because I don't have any big corporate figurehead to report to. If I have a weird or different idea for product or marketing, I can just do it! That's very liberating and exciting!
Don't ever let anyone tell you that owning a small business is easy... Even though The Lovely Bee doesn't have a brick and mortar store (yet!), having a business is a LOT of work! But so very rewarding!”
“I personally prefer to shop local as much as I can. Not only is it a practical benefit by keeping revenue within the area, but also a personal satisfaction from connecting with and fostering a local community. Locally there are so many great artisans, farmers, and craftsmen that put their heart and soul into what they do. I would much prefer to patronize a local craftsman than send money outside of the community via a big box store.”
Carrie Golden Lambert
Marketing & Sales Director, Monmouth Historic Inn
Marketing & Sales Director, Monmouth Historic Inn
“I love working at Monmouth, because it embodies all that is so special about Natchez - history, beauty, and an interesting story. Monmouth was restored in the late 1970's by people that fell in love with the property and its unique story; the current owners felt that same pull and work tirelessly to keep the legacy going. We have an incredible gift shop on the property, which our guests and locals love. It's imperative that people shop locally, because that which makes a town unique, like Natchez, can only be found in local shops. If those shops aren't supported financially, they cannot survive, and neither will that which makes the town unique. So please remember to shop local to save your town and all that you love about it!”
{Blog by Mitchell Walters}
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