Resources to Support St. Pete Small Businesses This Holiday Season

By The GreenhouseNews, Resource
This holiday season, The Greenhouse encourages the St. Pete community to support our local makers, entrepreneurs, and neighboring stores and restaurants by shopping small.

Small businesses are a MAJOR part of our local St. Pete economy. In fact, according to SBA, small businesses make up 99% of all businesses in the nation! The global pandemic brings ongoing economic uncertainty, which becomes extremely worrisome for many small-business owners.

The Greenhouse conducted a Small Business Community survey following the Fighting Chance Fund, and from the 767 respondents, 55% felt generally optimistic about their business’s future and identified the following top three concerns:

  1. 74% feel less confident in starting or increasing financial options for their business (i.e. business savings, cash flow analysis, etc.)
  2. 62% feel less confident in identifying new revenue opportunities
  3. 61% feel less confident in surviving through the pandemic

At the same time, many consumers experienced negative impacts to their personal finances due to lost jobs and reduced salaries. As a result, some might be planning to scale back on total holiday spending, and others might be turning to different shopping habits to help keep themselves and their families safe.

Given these identified challenges, small businesses are looking to the holidays to make up for lost revenue they experienced this year. Find out how you can support small businesses in our community this holiday season to help keep the sun shining brightly in St. Pete!

Find local small businesses

  1.  
 
    1. St. Pete Small Business Map
      The Greenhouse launched a new community-sourced small business mapping tool to help connect the community with our local small business locations! Search by business type, keywords, minority-owned business, etc. The tool allows eligible businesses to add their listing to the community resource tool, add your business today! Learn More
    2. St. Petersburg Chamber of Commerce
      The St. Pete Chamber of commerce provides a list of reputable local businesses, and you can call or speak to someone in person about businesses specific to your needs.Additionally, the St. Pete Store works alongside The St. Petersburg Area Chamber of Commerce and Visitor Center to offer a showcase of over 50 local artisans.  Learn More
    3. LocalShops1 
      LocalShops1 has various resources to help you support local needs. This year, LocaShops1 curated a 2020 Holiday Gift Guide featuring local artists and vendors! The guide, in collaboration with Tampa artist Monica Guerrero, features more than 100 gift ideas from LocalShops1 members. Learn more

      In addition to their Holiday Gift Guide, check out LocalShops1 Community Marketplace, www.buylocaltampabay.com, to shop directly from 250+ local makers and small businesses, right from the comfort of your home.  Learn More 

      ALSO visit LocalShops1 Shop Small Holiday Market on November 28, featuring 100 local makers and small businesses, in addition to the more than 50 brick-and-mortar shops and restaurants in downtown Gulfport. Learn more

    4. Green Book of Tampa Bay
      Green Book of Tampa Bay, in partnership with One Community and Deuces Live, wants you to shop local and #BuyBlack this holiday season! For a green economy, holistic sustainability is impossible without the inclusion of all. Check out their new #BuyBlack Holiday Shopping Guide Business owners who want to feature their holiday gift options can register here.
    5. I Love the Burg
      Holiday Gift Markets are popping up all over St. Petersburg, both virtually and in-person, and I Love the Burg has gathered up the local Sunshine City events you can’t miss as you continue to shop small for the holidays. Check out their St. Petersburg Holiday Gift Market Guide!

       

    6. Support Local Artists
      Creative Loafing released a list of local artists, shops, and markets across Tampa Bay where you can find inexpensive items to bring joy to your family and friends this holiday season. Learn more

      St. Pete Arts Alliance’s ArtWalk returned Novemeber 14th with renewed energy, life and most of all ART WORK just in time for Holiday Shopping! The studios and galleries of the Central Arts District, EDGE District, Grand Central District, Warehouse Arts District and downtown Waterfront Arts District will continue to welcome visitors every 2nd Saturday of the month. Also look for the list of galleries that are available to visit online! Learn more

    7. I Love St. Pete Rewards
      Are you a member of the I Love St. Pete Facebook group? The group manages an ILSP Rewards program, highlighting local businesses in the community! ILSP Rewards holders can receive special offers/discounts from participating businesses. Learn more

Did we miss an amazing small business shopping resource you have found helpful? Email us!