With the holiday season in full swing, most people are on the hunt to find the perfect gifts to place under the tree.

As more and more shoppers turn to large online retailers, many people are highlighting the importance of supporting local small businesses.

Buying from local small businesses keeps money in the community, explained Jennifer McRae, executive director of the Evans Area Chamber of Commerce.

“When you support that small business, their money stays here. They are supporting other small businesses; their taxes support the community; their kids go to school here,” McRae said. “When you support a small business, you are sending a child to dance class, providing sports for a child and providing for a family in your community.”

With around 80% of its members being small businesses, the Evans Area Chamber of Commerce focuses on educating consumers about the benefits of supporting local businesses.

“Local small businesses also provide part-time jobs for maybe a mom who needs to be home with kids in the afternoon. They are providing jobs for the community in small ways but are still providing those jobs in the community,” McRae said.

Local businesses are also more apt to provide donations and support to community organizations and events, whereas larger retailers may require requesters to jump through numerous hoops and maneuver red tape to receive approval for a donation.

“In Evans and Greeley and the surrounding areas, small businesses support activities like baseball and softball and nonprofits like Habitat for Humanity,” McRae said. “You may not hear about it, but I know more small businesses are putting back into the community in smaller ways.”

Benefits to communities

Despite their name — though a number of factors determine what makes a small business “small” — small businesses have a big impact on the economy. In 2018, the U.S. Census Bureau reported that more than 54% of all businesses had fewer than five employees.

Across the United States, there are 634,285 local retailers and small businesses, according to CapitalOne Shopping. Of that number, 11,881 are located in Colorado.

“Based on collected sales tax and national small business estimates, Colorado independent retailers made up to $85.4 billion in sales in 2022,” the report stated. “American shoppers spent an estimated $3.40 trillion at local stores in 2022, equivalent to 48% of all retail sales.”

While all businesses pay sales tax and other taxes and fees to communities, 68% spent at small businesses remains in the community. Basically, $68 out of every $100 spent goes directly back into the local economy.

As the owner of Cakeable, a small bakery she operates out of her home in Evans, Amber Myers leverages her talents as a baker to support her family and give back to the community.

“I like to work with nonprofits and donate things when I can or just try to be part of causes that my family and I believe in,” Myers said. “When people shop small, the money is going toward things like gymnastics for their daughter or a band instrument for their kid and things like that as opposed to not being sure where your money is going with big corporations. When you support a small business, your money is literally helping out your neighbor.”

Small businesses aren’t just limited to that fashion boutique on the corner. Like Cakeable, they can also be operated out of a home, online or as a restaurant, bar, brewery or service provider.

Places like Makers Mercantile and Studio in downtown Greeley are small businesses that supports small businesses by offering spaces for rent within its brick-and-mortar location. Makers’ rental spaces allow artisans, crafters and other makers, who typically work out of their homes, an opportunity to reach more customers and showcase their items without having to shoulder the heavy overhead costs associated with owning a storefront.

In addition to contributing revenue to cities and towns, small businesses offer consumers more of a “relationship,” often providing much better customer service than many large box stores or franchise service companies.

Sally Otto, co-owner of Makers Mercantile and Studio, said the personal relationships small businesses can build with customers set them apart from larger retailers.

“By starting a business in our own community, our customers include our family, neighbors and friends,” Otto continued. “Their in-store presence allows us to hear their stories, experience their enjoyment of our artisans’ work and connect face-to-face. We go above and beyond because we truly care about those relationships and value the support of our community.”

Otto said the Makers business model allows local artisans and home-based creators to pool their resources to benefit all the vendors with a staffed storefront, marketing and a creative space for workshops.

“This allows the artisans within our mercantile to focus more on creating, teaching classes and growing their own businesses,” Otto said.

As a small business supporting other small businesses, Makers provides consumers with unique products while maintaining a sense of community, Otto said.

“We are fortunate to have a thriving small business community, not just in downtown, but in Greeley as a whole,” she said. “We encourage you to shop locally and be a patron of what makes our city so great.”

Despite being the lone marketing manager, bookkeeper, head baker, artistic manager and other positions required to run a business, one of the main advantages of being a small business owner is the ability to adjust schedules around family needs, Myers said.

“I am taking it a little easier this year so that I can be a little more present with the kiddos. They’re elementary school age so I know time is ticking,” she said. “The fact that I have so much flexibility now — I am constantly reminded about how privileged I am to have that flexibility when I need it and be able to make those decisions for myself.”

For people considering starting their own small business, Myers advises that they should “definitely go for it.”

“You have the ability to pivot if you need to because you’re the only one making the decisions for yourself. If it’s something that they have been thinking about doing, they should at least try. You’re going to discover so much about yourself in the process,” Myers said. “You might discover that it is a great thing for you, but you might discover that it’s not. Either way, it’s going to be fine.”

To learn more about Cakeable, go to www.cake ablenoco.com.

Shopping Small Gift Guide

If you’re looking to support local businesses this holiday season but aren’t sure what’s out there, the Greeley Tribune has compiled a list of boutiques, restaurants, bars and breweries, bookstores and other small businesses in Greeley, Evans, Windsor and around northern Colorado that are privately owned.

Many of these businesses offer gift cards as well as online purchasing options with home delivery or store pickup.

Need some help picking out gifts for friends or family members?

That’s the beauty of shopping small: there’s always someone on hand to help you.

When perusing this list, keep in mind that these are only a few of the many small businesses that operate in and around our region. There are hundreds more that offer a variety of goods, services and products.

For her

Blush Boutique Co., 805 8th St., Greeley, blushbou tiqueco.com

Lilah Blue Boutique, 721 Main St., Windsor, lilahblueboutique.com

Cloz to Home, 120 E. Fourth St., Loveland, cloz tohome.com

Charley & Co. Market, 2310 17th St., Greeley, charleyandcompany.com

Sassy Bagz, 801 8th St., Greeley, sassybagz.com

Country Glitz Boutique, 1357 Water Valley Parkway, Unit 200, Windsor, coun tryglitzboutique.com

Hannah Rachel Boutique, 423 Main St., Windsor, hannahrachelbou tique.com

Accessories With a Flair…And Hair!, 801 8th St., Unit 4, Greeley, acces sorieswithaflairandhair.com

Great gifts for foodies

Mom’s Popcorn, 900 9th Ave., Greeley, momspopcorncolorado.com

Old Town Spice Shop, 130A S. College Ave., Fort Collins, oldtownspiceshop.com

Warm Hugs Mixes and Gifts Boutique, 809 10th St., Greeley, warmhugs mixes.com

The Cupboard, 152 S. College Ave., Fort Collins, thecupboard.net

The Bottled Olive Pantry, 1550 Main St., Suite 130, Windsor, thebottledo livepantry.com

Frank’s BBQ Trading Post, 5943 Sky Pond Drive, Suite E-172, Loveland, franksbbqtradingpost.com

Mountain Man Nut & Fruit Co., 1 Old Town Square, Suite 103, Fort Collins, mtnman.com

Innovative Foods, Inc., 4320 Industrial Parkway, Evans, innovativefoods.com

Don’t forget your furry, four-legged family

Hank’s Pet Food Market, 2287 W. Eisenhower Blvd., Loveland, hankspetfood.com

Poudre Pet and Feed Supply, 516 Main St., Windsor, poudrefeed.com

Wagz Market and Grooming, 132 N. College Ave., Fort Collins, wagzcol orado.com

Doggie Dips and Chips Local Dog and Cat Supply, 265 E. 29th St., Unit C, Loveland, (970) 461-1109

J&T Feeds, 3616 10th St., Greeley, j-tfeeds.com

The Biscuit Barkery of Northern Colorado, 804 14th St., SW Loveland, no cobarkery.com

Gifts for kids

The Nerd Store, 807 8th St., Greeley, thenerdstore.ionsuite.com

Knowledge Bound online retailer in Windsor, knowledgebound.net

Games Ahoy! 982 E. Eisenhower Blvd., Loveland, (970) 685-4263

Marley & Moose, 520 Mountain Ave., Berthoud, marleyandmoose.com

Jackwagon R/C, 2102 9th St., Greeley, jackwag onrc.com

Clothes Pony and Dandelion Toys, 111 N. College Ave., Fort Collins, clothe spony.com

Grand Slam Greeley Sports Cards, Comics and Games, 1020 28th Ave., Greeley, (970) 352-3365

Gifts for him

Don Oscar’s Barbershop, 2918, 10th St., Greeley, donoscars.com

Whiteside’s Boots, Western & Work Wear, 202 19th St., Loveland, whitesides boots.com

Liberty Firearms, 4990 Ronald Reagan Blvd., Johnstown, libertyrange.com

Garretson’s Sport Center, 3817 10th St., Greeley, garretson-sports.com

Becker Safety and Supply, 9217 Eastman Park Drive, Unit 5, Windsor, beckersafety.com

Greeley Hat Works, Inc., 2613 8th Ave., Greeley, greeleyhatworks.com

Bandwagon Retro Sports Apparel, 19 Old Town Square, Unit 137, Fort Collins, bandwagonfoco.com

Executive Detailing, 1010 35th Ave., Greeley, ex ecutive-detailing.com

Manweiler Hardware, 418 Main St., Windsor, manweilerhardware.com

Maker’s Bench, 5000 Goodman St., Unit 101, Timnath, makers-bench.com