9 Reasons to Shop Small this Holiday Season

9 Reasons to Shop Small this Holiday Season

As the holidays approach, it's never too early to start thinking about how and where we shop for gifts. And while big retailers may be convenient, shopping small has many advantages.  
Read on for a roundup of 9 reasons why choosing small businesses for your holiday shopping is the way to go.

1. Support Local Communities

Buying from local shops keeps more money in local communities, boosting local jobs and development.

It’s like giving a gift to a family or town—not to a nameless, faceless international conglomerate. 

2. Find Unique, Thoughtful Gifts

Say goodbye to generic presents. Small businesses often offer handcrafted, one-of-a-kind items that tell a story.

Your loved ones will appreciate the personal touch, and you'll love knowing you'll be gifting the special people in your life with gifts they won't already have or would buy for themselves. 

Take Anthem's song lyric candles, for example. Not only are these made to order so available in very small demand, but they are personal, depending on the recipient's choice of artist, song, and music.

Plus, the inventory is constantly growing, so you'll always find a new assortment of song lyric candles to choose from meaning that the perfect gift is just a click or two away. 

3. Get Better Customer Service

Shopping small means getting to know passionate owners and staff who genuinely care. They’ll go the extra mile to help you find just the right thing because they're personally invested in their products and offerings. 

4. Feel Connected to Something Bigger Than Yourself

Shopping small helps you support your neighbors—or people who could be your neighbors, in the case of online shopping from small businesses. This fosters a sense of connection and belonging that you simply cannot replicate when you order on Amazon. And while perks like super-fast shipping are pretty compelling, they're ultimately just another way big businesses push out small ones. Shopping small is your way to support the Davids in w growing world of Goliaths. 

5. Be Eco-Friendly

Small businesses tend to make environmentally conscious choices, like using less packaging or sourcing locally. This means your purchases have a smaller carbon footprint. 

At Anthem, we make sustainable choices whenever we can, including the use of soy in our candles and 100 percent canvas totes. Plus, our glass candle vessels are reusable. While are candles to boast a long burn time, the vessel will maintains its meaning and can be used afterwards for holding pencils, makeup brushes, office supplies, and much more. 

6. Encourage Creativity and Innovation

Small business owners are creative powerhouses, always coming up with new ideas and unique products. When you buy from them, you’re fueling that innovative spirit.

Anthem is the perfect example of this. We created this company because, after a very difficult and stressful year in our lives, we realized what a vital role music had played in getting us through it. We often thought about the song lyrics that meant something to us, and realized that we'd love to capture that in a candle—as lighting a candle shares therapeutic benefits with listening to music.

While we started with one simple Noah Kahan candle, we've gone on to encompass many different musical artists and styles, and we're always adding more. In fact, every time we hear a new song we love or revisit an old song with lyrics that speak to us, we can't wait to make a new song lyric candle. 

Not only that, but launching Anthem also helped us tap into an unknown creative reservoir, and we are always adding new products to our offerings—from canvas totes to inspired wine glasses. 

7. Support Real People and Their Dreams

Every small business has a story. Behind each one is an owner working hard to make their dreams a reality. Your purchase is a way of saying, “I believe in you.”

As mentioned earlier, Anthem was born during a difficult time in our lives.  In helping us realize our passion, it's also given us new purpose. Every time someone purchases one of our products, we are filled with a sense of happiness and joy that they might inspire someone else the way they inspired us. 

8. Enjoy Custom Options

Want something special? Small businesses often provide personalized options, making your gifts extra memorable. Here at Anthem, we take requests from customers all the time for new song lyric candles.

We also offer custom song lyric candles and other unique, personalized products. You provide the lyrics, and we'll create the perfect candle in our signature retro-inspired design style. 

9. Make a Big Impact with Every Dollar

Your money goes further when you shop small, supporting local  people that big chains don’t. We can promise you that every dollar you spend at Anthem makes a difference the lives of the people who made the products you buy.  Our products aren't just made with love and care, they're also sold with gratitude and appreciation. 

Shop Small, Shop Anthem Candle Co

This holiday season when you're filling out your holiday shopping list, we hope you'll consider Anthem Candle Co's products, including hand-poured, soy candles featuring unique song lyrics and inspiring sayings; inspired totes, colorful and creative drinkware, fun and funky stickers, unique phone cases, and more.

Whether you're looking for the perfect gift for everything from a loved one to a Secret Santa, stocking stuffers, party favors, or holiday decor and decorations for your own home, you'll find a huge assortment of fresh and festive items at Anthem. As a very small,  woman-owned business in our first year of operations, a purchase from  you not only makes for a special gift but also supports our new business. We're thrilled to off 

So, when you’re ticking off your gift list, remember: shopping small isn’t just about buying—it’s about giving back. Happy holidays and happy shopping from Anthem Candle Co. 

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