Skip the Stress & Support Local This Holiday Season
Looking for great deals on local goods? Check out GOA’s 12 Days holiday auction!
Holiday shopping can be exhausting, expensive, and frustrating. Crowded big box stores are a mess of over consumption- you’re likely to leave with a cartload of things you don’t want or need. Online shopping? Scouring Amazon for deals can lead to a black hole of “will they like that?” or “maybe that one” or “maybe I need to read all the reviews before I buy.” Not to mention how challenging it can be to find trustworthy information on brands. I once fell for a greenwashing Instagram ad (“our profits go to Reforestation Organizations!” - yeah, right) AND got my credit card hacked by the fraudulent business. Ba, Humbug.
Gift an experience! Check out Bike Rentals from Littleton Bike & Fitness in the GOA 12 Days Holiday Auction.
Last year, I decided to do most of my holiday shopping with local New Hampshire businesses and got to tailor it to my friends and families’ interests. Some of my favorite purchases: bike rentals from Littleton Bike & Fitness for my uncle, a Microtech Vest from Ragged Mountain Equipment for my dad, and a Powder Hour course for myself (treat yo self!) from Hilary McCloy Performance Physical Therapy. This year, I’m actually looking forward to holiday shopping. Besides the reduced anxiety, there are plenty of reasons to shop local this holiday season.
Here are a few:
River & Stone natural soy candles made right in Gorham, NH, can be found in the GOA 12 Days Holiday Auction!
Dollars to the Community: According to an American Express economic impact study, $0.68 of every dollar spent at a small business in the U.S. stays in the local community. When you live in or frequent a small town, local business owners are your neighbors, your hiking partners, your community leaders. I love gifting products and experiences that support the businesses where I live, like River & Stone Candle Co., Big Day Brewing and Hub North in Gorham, NH.
Trust the Quality: Our local outdoor businesses excel in offering personalized customer service and high-quality products. When you wear a Burgeon Tuckerman Hardshell, you know it was designed right in Lincoln - in the mountains, for the mountains. If you walk into Ski the Whites in Jackson, NH, you get to talk 1-1 with a shop rep about your specific outdoor interests and the best gear for you.
Local Biz Gives Back: Small and locally owned businesses are part of the fabric of our communities, and many incorporate social responsibility initiatives into their business models. For example, the NH-based merino wool company Minus33 recycles gently worn returns and garments to assemble kits for Search and Rescue missions in New Hampshire, Vermont, and Maine.
More Sustainable: Local businesses typically have a smaller carbon footprint than large corporations due to reduced transportation and streamlined operations, contributing to more sustainable practices. You can also buy consignment items (great for yourself or as gifts!) from places like Franconia Basecamp, an independent, local outdoor consignment and retail shop that focuses on increasing access to the outdoors while reducing the environmental impact of the outdoor industry.
Shopping local can lead to a better experience for you and a more impactful purchase for small businesses. If you’re looking for great deals on local gifts, check out Granite Outdoor’s 12 Days Holiday Auction. Our members have generously donated products and services to help promote local shopping and raise funds for GOA. But don’t stop there - support these businesses all year round!