With so much uncertainty currently surrounding the economy, now is our time to step up as consumers and support the small businesses we want to stick around. This means if you have the choice between curbside pickup at your local mom-and-pop versus Amazon, do your best to support the mom-and-pop when possible! I realize this is a tough time for all of us, but we can still do our part to shop small. Here are a few companies I love supporting – I encourage you to check them out!
- Get bread from your local bakery. It is typically much more fresh (baked that day) and has significantly less – if any – preservatives. My go-to bakery is Great Harvest Bread Co. which has locations nationwide. My husband has an intolerance to many forms of processed carbs (aka grocery store breads/desserts) but has no problem with the bread I buy from Great Harvest because they use such higher quality ingredients. Healthier foods = stronger immune system!!
- Try out some aluminum-free deodorant. The lymphatic system, also known as your body’s sewage system, is an extremely important player in immune health. Your axilla (armpit) houses a large portion of the lymph nodes in your body, making it very important to use nontoxic products in that area. I have tried several brands of nontoxic deodorants, but by far my favorite is Native Deodorant in Coconut & Vanilla. This stuff actually works – I can say that with confidence because I’ve used it through several very humid South Carolina summers.
- Check out your local boutiques’ Facebook, Instagram, or websites to see if they have online ordering or curbside pickup. Also, remember Mother’s Day is coming up on May 10! A few of my favorite boutiques are Bronwen Jewelry and Hide Alchemy (handmade leather goods) – both perfect for gift ideas.
- If you don’t need anything right now, you can always show support with gift cards!
Remember, the brick and mortar stores we love can only stay in business as long as they can pay the bills! It’s up to us to show our support whenever we can! If you have additional recommendations, drop them in the comments below!