With Christmas less than 48 days away and Hanukkah only 43 days away (12/20-12/28/2011), the holiday shopping season is officially upon us! As you start putting together your holiday gift list, I would like to encourage you to think about taking the Handmade Holiday Pledge this year.
The Pledge:
I pledge to support a handmade holiday this year by making gifts myself or by buying from handmade artists and crafters.
This is not meant to be an all or nothing sort of thing. Even if you just purchase one handmade gift or make a batch of cookies for your neighbor - you are upholding the pledge! The handmade holiday pledge is meant to encourage your creativity and to support small businesses that are striving to create beautiful, unique, and high-quality items for the special people on your list.
Some benefits of buying handmade...
- Give the gift of uniqueness! Handmade = unique, custom, one of a kind, different, special.
- Economical Gift Giving - in these difficult financial times we are all looking for ways to save some money. When you buy handmade you are often times buying directly from the creator/maker/designer, so you are saving on traditional retail costs! Many crafters also offer quantity discounts if you by many of the same/similar items. So if you find something you would like to give to your co-workers, ask about quantity discounts to save more!
- Avoid the long lines and hassle of shopping malls during the holiday season
- Excellent customer service! Many handmade vendors truly appreciate YOUR business and tend to show that appreciation with a variety of "little gestures" that make your shopping experience with them pleasant and memorable
- Custom items - many handmade businesses are more than happy to work with you to create a one of a kind piece in the colors/theme you are looking for. Just ask!
- Support small businesses. Many handmade artists and crafters are folks just like you that are trying to either bring in some extra income for their families or make a living doing what they love. In buy buying from a handmade artisan you are helping to support these individuals.
Where to buy handmade...
Handmade is all around you! Here are a few ideas on where to start looking.
To help you out with the Handmade Holiday Pledge, I will be posting regular Holiday Gift Guides over the course of the next few weeks with handmade gift ideas for all the people on your list. I will also be posting links to DIY gift projects for quick and easy gifts you can make too.
So join me and take the Handmade Holiday Pledge! Leave a comment below saying that you are in! Grab the Pledge button (in the sidebar) & post it on your blog/website, or post it on Facebook or Twitter to get your friends involved too.
Do you have a great holiday gift idea or tutorial? Email me or leave a comment below, and I might post it in my next gift guide!
Happy Crafting!
2 comments:
I couldn't agree more! I come from a family of small business owners, so I've been thinking this way for a long time. I've already ordered an ornament for my Son & DIL's new home from an Etsy shop!
That is awesome QuiltDragon!
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