Shop small, shop local this holiday season

Elise Amaral

Gloucester Oneseas, made by Jill Josephson, on display at Present, a seasonal pop-up shop run by local artisans, on Main Street in Gloucester

ELISE AMARAL, Staff Writer
December 2, 2021

As the holidays approach, you’re beginning to think about the special people in your life and what to get them for the holidays. In the Cape Ann area, there are various small businesses you can shop at.

Due to the pandemic, small businesses especially took some hard hits this year. But with restrictions lifted, and customers becoming more comfortable going in and out of stores, it’s time to give back to the community by shopping locally.

Downtown Gloucester and Rockport are accessible to most Cape Ann residents which is much more convenient than driving out of town to the mall or outlet stores. Going to malls or outlet stores can trigger anxiety due to the large crowds and chaotic atmosphere.

When you shop online you never fully know if what you’re getting is what you’re getting. When shopping locally you can see exactly what you’re getting along with the present feeling more sincere rather than artificial. As many local shops are recovering from the pandemic, Amazon is a business valued at more than a trillion dollars. Your local shop owners and artisans need your business more than Amazon does.

With this holiday season especially, news outlets have said to start shopping early in order for all of your presents to arrive in time for Christmas. But if you shop downtown, you’re guaranteed to get it right then and there.

Small shops in Gloucester

Fireflies Boutique

Toodeloos

The Bookstore

Dogtown Book Shop

Mark Adrian Shoes

Design of Mine

Nelson’s

Second Glance

Sample This

Sacred Circles

The Floating Lotus (which also has a Rockport location)