‘Tis the season for shopping small and supporting our cherished Vista businesses. Whether you’ve lived in Vista all your life, dropped in from a nearby North County town, or are visiting for the first time, everyone can shop small and make a big impact on Vista’s local businesses this holiday season.
“We have great opportunities and resources to help residents shop locally,” said City of Vista Mayor Judy Ritter. “With so many fantastic places to shop, eat and enjoy in Vista, there really isn’t much need to look beyond our own local businesses.”
Especially as small businesses continue to navigate economic recovery amid the pandemic, shopping local has never been more important. To help inspire a season of small business shopping, starting with Small Saturday on November 27, the City of Vista has compiled the following list to encourage North County residents to support our local businesses with a side of holiday cheer this year.
1) Shop small before going big
Currently, as national supply chain disruptions and supply shortages impact businesses of all sizes, shopping local is a sure way to find in-stock inventory that is made in town. What a big box store or famous name brand business may be out of, could be in stock at a locally owned alternative, so choosing a local business can provide a needed complement to big-box and chains.
Also, starting the habit of shopping locally has significant, positive and beneficial impacts on the entire community. The owners behind beloved small businesses are community members, neighbors, friends and family. They are regular people with unique dreams, and as owner of Re Find Off Main Street Riley Herington noted, community support is vital to the growth and endurance of each local business in Vista. Herington is a native of Vista, and she always dreamed of opening a business in her hometown, which she did when she started Re Find Off Main Street, a vintage clothing and home goods retail shop, in March 2019. “Every big business you know started out small,” said Herington. “Since opening my store in downtown Vista, I have felt so much support from the community and the city along the way. That support has helped my store to be able to grow, thrive and weather the pandemic.”
2) Pass on local love to those you love
Give the gift of local business love by purchasing gift cards from small businesses to share with friends and family this holiday season. A gift card allows the recipient the opportunity to explore a new local shop, indulge in a tasty dinner at an uncharted restaurant, or treat themselves to a relaxing self-care service.
“Vista is home to a vibrant collection of small businesses, and gift cards are an amazing way to help encourage friends and family to shop local,” said CEO of Vista’s Chamber of Commerce Rachel Beld. “Check out the Vista Magazine for a local shopping guide, and the Vista Is Open website is another great resource. After you learn more about Vista’s businesses, I think your holiday shopping list might take care of itself.”
3) Learn the backstory of Vista’s small businesses
It’s no secret that small businesses are special. Each small business is distinctive and the brainchild of someone in the community. Small businesses often provide hand-crafted, diverse and locally based inventory that cannot be found elsewhere, and they can specialize in providing personalized and unique cuisine, merchandise and services.
“Vista is home to an impressive group of entrepreneurs and makers, many of whom are very proud long-time residents looking to give back to their hometown communities,” said Bill Hornung, owner of Humble Pie Communications that supports the City of Vista’s “Vista Is Open” program. “There is something special about learning the backstory and inspiration behind our businesses. It brings companies to life, and oftentimes, after someone learns about the heart, pride and creativity of a Vista business, we’ve created long term brand fans.”
Hear it all from the business owners directly in the Vista Made video series that profiles local innovative businesses.
4) Shop small on Saturday, November 27 and beyond
Shop Small Saturday celebrates the efforts to support local businesses, and takes place annually on the Saturday after Thanksgiving. Shop Small Saturday originated in 2010 during the recession. In 2011, the initiative gained nationwide momentum when the U.S. Senate unanimously passed a resolution in support of the day.
Shop small celebrations often include special promotions, sales and events at participating locations. Join in on the festivities, and set your sights on Downtown Vista. To find a complete list of all the local businesses in downtown Vista that you can fall in love with this Shop Small Saturday, visit www.downtownvista.org.
“Shop Small Saturday is a great day to support local businesses, and maybe even jump start a new habit of shopping small on a regular basis,” said Economic Development Director for the City of Vista Kevin Ham. “This Saturday, when you need a cup of coffee in the morning, shop for a gift, or grab lunch from a café, make an effort to pick a local business whenever you can. The big box stores and major name brands can wait.”
5) Gather at events put on by the community
Live events are officially back! Events continue to return as before, and communities are beginning to gather more and more on a regular basis. Are you looking for live music shows, creative workshops, holiday markets, food and beer festivals, community clean ups, youth camps, parades, art exhibitions, open mic nights and more? The Downtown Vista website and the Vista is Open website are your one stop shops for local events in Vista. Both websites are hubs for community event listings and also provide the public the opportunity to submit listings. Do you have an upcoming local event to promote? Submit it on the Vista is Open and the Downtown Vista events pages. To never miss a beat on local happenings in Vista, subscribe to the Vista is Open newsletter to receive updates on Vista local businesses and community events.
