Show the Love by Shopping Small this Holiday Season

It’s time to put your money where your heart is, Portland! We’ve teamed up with Prosper Portland, Bricks Need Mortar, Built Oregon, Portland Business Alliance and others to make shopping local easy and safe this holiday season. The ShopSmallPDX campaign promotes small business throughout the city by calling on Portland residents and visitors to be intentional about where they spend their money on Black Friday, Small Business Saturday, Cyber Monday and beyond (businesses can add themselves here). To ensure businesses are adhering to COIVD-19 safety precautions, Travel Portland has launched a safety pledge (businesses can take the pledge here). And finally, Neighborhood business districts are creating holiday magic with dazzling lights, towering trees, wonderful window displays and special deals and discounts to make the season merry and bright. Start planning your shop local adventure today.

Online:

• Portland’s small businesses are the very soul of the city – and many of them, owned by People of Color, could use your business. They are showcased in the ShopSmallPDX Business Directory, where you’ll find inspiration and excitement in a full array of products, services, experiences and gift ideas.
• Take the Portland Pledge to buy all your holiday gifts at small and local businesses. Download the badge to show you care and you are making a difference. Then share your favorite small businesses using the hashtags: #pdxsos, #pdxloveletter and #portlandpledge.
• Crafty Wonderland Month of Makers will host two Virtual Markets (November 28th and December 12^th) and will also be releasing gift guides, interviews, how-to projects and more.
• Portland Indigenous Marketplace is hosting a virtual Black Friday event on November 27th with Native-made products and artist interviews via Facebook Live.
• Mercy Corps Northwest Made Holiday Market features products made and sold by local businesses with new selections added daily.

Neighborhoods:

• Alberta: Gnome for the Holidays kicks off December 5^th and will feature a gnome hunt at neighborhood businesses, a virtual tree lighting and a ‘My Peoples Virtual Storefront’ pop-up market. Plus, Blind Insect Multicultural Gallery will be hosting a special art exhibition featuring 36 multicultural artists from all over the US. Visit albertamainst.org for more details.
• Beaumont: Fremont Holiday Fest is on December 4^th. Activities include Santa and Mrs. Claus in a store window with picture taking outside, live music, wreaths for sale, letters to Santa, reindeer ornament kits, popcorn, cider and hot cocoa and food bank donations. Visit beaumontvillagepdx.com for more info.
• Central Eastside: Discover the merchants and makers of the Central Eastside via Instagram as they count down to Small Business Saturday.
• Division/Clinton: Bright Lights, Warm Hearts kicks off on November 27^th and will feature lighted window displays at neighborhood businesses and opportunities to support local charities. On Small Business Saturday, participating businesses are offering 10% discounts off their shops when you show a receipt from another participating Division/Clinton business.
• Downtown: Mike Bennett’s Winterland will showcase winter-inspired cutouts made in collaboration with BIPOC artists on display at local businesses. Parking will also be free on Saturdays through December 26th.
• Hawthorne: Hawthorne businesses will be putting up lights and decorating with snowflakes. A Holiday Tree will be on display at SE 41st Ave after December 1st. Visit hawthorneblvd.com for more info. Plus, Rhys Scholes Hawthorne History book, ‘Portland’s Hawthorne Boulevard’ is now available at hawthornebook.com.
• Hillsdale/Multnomah Village: Golden Ticket launches on November 27^th. Receive a Golden Ticket when you shop at local, participating businesses. The Golden Ticket can then be redeemed at a neighboring participating business to receive a discount or a gift with purchase. Both districts will have holiday lights on trees and buildings on SW Capitol Highway as well.
• Montavilla: Play BINGO and win a $100 Gift Card! Now through December, Montavilla is hosting a virtual BINGO contest! Each week a new group of businesses will be featured. Visit 4 participating businesses in person (where applicable) or online each week to receive an entry to win.
• Old Town: Saturday Outdoor Vendor Markets will continue through December 19th. Each market features a unique blend of new and vintage apparel, artwork, and other unique retail items offered by local entrepreneurs. This weekend the market will host Aliyah’s Boutique.
• St Johns: Light Up St. Johns will have lighted trees in the downtown corridor of the district, a holiday tree in St. Johns Plaza and, for the kids to decorate at home, IQ Credit Union has ‘make at home’ ornament kits. Plus, check out the ‘I Am a Small Business’ interview series this Friday on Instagram.

This list is non-exhaustive so look for more events to be announced soon. Be the change by keeping your hard-earned money ‘home for the holidays’ and shopping exclusively at Portland’s small businesses this holiday season.