How to do it:

Small businesses rely on the holiday season for survival. If you plan to participate in an economic boycott, focus your efforts on the big box stores, but don’t skip Small Business Saturday.

• Many farmer’s markets re-open for a holiday market
• Ethnic groups may host fairs with craft booths, food and entertainment
• Consider inviting friends to drop a link to their business on a post before Small Business Saturday (and find out about your friends’ cool side-gigs!)
• If you have a friend who is a skilled craftsperson, ask if you can trade something for a gift. Be realistic about the time they’ll spend, and pay for their materials.
• the Chamber of Commerce may offer gift certificates good for any local business.

Buy resistance gifts for like-minded friends.

• Buy t-shirts or totebags from places like NPR (National Public Radio), the ACLU (American Civil Liberties Union), NorCal resists (super cute!), or EFF (Electronic Frontier Foundation).
• Explore charity offerings. Saving the Blue is partially funded with photography worthy of museum framing. Your local zoo sells fun toys your grandkids would like.
• Buy something symbolic: RGB’s dissent collar, or one of Citizen Ruth’s many feminist and resistance branded goods.
• If your recipient is fascinated by a particular endangered animal, look for a gift sponsorship from a conservation group.

Give experiences, or go practical

• subscriptions to great news, puzzles, or recipes
• a membership at a co-op, maker’s space or museum
• Gift festive food! Create a custom soup-kit, an all-in-one afternoon tea or charcuterie board for game night, or find fun, local food gifts like “spice bombs“. (No affiliation — we just live nearby.)
  NOTE: we’re seeing food-related scams proliferate. Check new sources OFF social media.
• Give a practical splurge, like a professional interior cleaning of their car or a personal chef for a special event. Look for local folks.
• If you know someone who has always wanted to learn some skill or ability, gift them lessons. It could be a kit with instruction from you, or formal lessons in the community.