News
5 Reasons to Shop Small This Small Business Saturday
This year, Small Business Saturday falls on November 30th—a day dedicated to celebrating and supporting small, local businesses like ours. This special day, launched in 2010 by American Express, encourages shoppers to prioritize independent, woman-owned, and community-focused businesses during the busy holiday season. While it’s tempting to turn to big-box stores or online retail giants for convenience, there are countless meaningful reasons to shop small instead—especially if you’re searching for unique, handcrafted crystals, spiritual tools, and gifts infused with love and intention.
Here are five reasons to shop small on Saturday:
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You Support Local Dreams Instead of Corporate Profits When you shop at a small business, your purchase helps someone pursue their passion. Your support helps us source high-quality crystals, design beautiful spiritual tools, and create an inviting space for our community. Every sale makes a tangible impact—whether it’s helping us stock shelves, pay rent, or expand our offerings to serve you better. In contrast, shopping at big-box stores or online giants funnels your money into corporate profits far removed from your community. Shopping small is an intentional vote for your neighbors, their passions, and the businesses that make your town unique.
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Your Money Stays in the Community, Not in Corporate Headquarters Shopping small means your dollars stay local. Businesses like ours reinvest in the community by supporting other local artisans, creating jobs, and giving back to causes that matter. Every crystal, handmade jewelry piece, or spiritual gift you buy supports not just us but also the many other small businesses we collaborate with. When you shop big-box stores, profits are funneled to distant corporate offices, with little benefit to your town. By shopping with us, you’re building a stronger, more connected community.
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You Get Unique, Personalized Products Instead of Mass-Produced Goods At our crystal shop, every product is thoughtfully chosen or handmade with love. Whether you’re buying an ethically sourced crystal, a custom gemstone bracelet, or a spiritual tool designed to support intention setting, you’ll find gifts that are as unique as the people you’re shopping for. Unlike mass-produced items from big-box stores, our products carry the care and personal touch that can be felt by the recipient. When you shop small, you’re giving gifts that have heart, story, and soul—perfect for creating meaningful moments this holiday season.
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It’s an Eco-Friendly Choice Compared to Shipping Giants Shopping with a local business like ours is an eco-friendly choice. We work with nearby suppliers and prioritize sustainable practices to minimize our environmental impact. When you shop locally, you avoid the excessive packaging and long shipping routes that come with online giants and big-box retailers. Each purchase helps reduce waste and transportation emissions, making your support a meaningful step toward sustainability.
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You Build Meaningful Relationships Instead of Transactional Experiences Shopping at a small business like ours is more than just a transaction—it’s a chance to connect. We’re passionate about sharing the stories behind our crystals and the energetic properties of our handmade products. When you shop with us, you become part of a community rooted in care, collaboration, and intention. In contrast, shopping at big-box stores can feel impersonal and disconnected. Supporting small businesses means fostering relationships that add depth and meaning to your holiday season.
This Small Business Saturday, November 30th, is your opportunity to make intentional, impactful choices about where you spend your money. By shopping with a small, woman-owned business like ours, you’re supporting dreams, reducing environmental impact, and investing in a brighter future for your local community. Let’s make this Small Business Saturday unforgettable. Visit our shop to discover unique, personalized crystals and gifts made with love, and experience the joy of supporting your community. Together, we can create a ripple effect of positive change—one thoughtful purchase at a time. Shop Small. Shop Local. Shop with Intention.
Environmental Importance of Sustainability in the Crystal Mining Process
Let's talk about the environmental importance of sustainability in the crystal mining process.
We just received this from one of the mines we work with in Brazil, and it made us really happy to be reminded that we partner with and buy from people who care. And we thought you might enjoy the read.
"Crystal mining is an activity that can have a significant environmental and social impact. The extraction of these precious minerals can be dangerous and destructive if not carried out responsibly and consciously. That is why sustainability in crystal mining is crucial to minimize environmental impacts, protect the health and safety of workers, promote social responsibility, and ensure long-term financial sustainability.
By adopting sustainable practices in crystal mining, it is possible to reduce the environmental impact of the activity. Rehabilitation of degraded areas, reduction of energy and water consumption, and minimization of greenhouse gas emissions are examples of sustainable actions that can be implemented in crystal mining.
In addition, the adoption of sustainable practices can help protect the health and safety of workers involved in crystal mining. Proper training and the use of personal protective equipment can minimize the risks of accidents and occupational diseases.
Social responsibility is also an important aspect of sustainability in crystal mining. The adoption of fair and equitable practices, such as involving local communities and promoting economic and social development initiatives, can help create a more just and equitable environment for communities affected by mining.
In summary, sustainability in crystal mining is crucial to minimize environmental impacts, protect the health and safety of workers, promote social responsibility, and ensure long-term financial sustainability. It is important that companies adopt sustainable practices in crystal mining to ensure a more just, equitable, and sustainable future for all."
Thank you for being a part of us all working towards a better the planet. |
Why is Shopping Small and Local Important
Why is Shopping Small and Local Important
An opinion piece by Lou
Have you been hearing “Buy Local”, “Support Local,” “Shop Small,” “Shop Women-Owned” a lot lately? Sometimes it feels like it’s all that’s being talked about, and seems to be a big movement in the last few years, and especially this year. But do you know what it actually means?
There is so much that goes into these sayings so let’s break it down.
What does shop small mean? It means to shop from small businesses, supporting small locally-owned shops over big business.
Here are some deeper thoughts: shopping at small businesses does some truly amazing things. It’s awesome to buy from a store that knows you as a person, from people who are there to help you get exactly what you need. Maybe they make all of their own products, or source from other small businesses, creating a beautiful community of support.
Is buying from small businesses easier? Sometimes- you can definitely get a more personalized shopping experience from a small business, which can make finding that special something easier. But sometimes shopping small isn’t the most convenient. Small businesses don’t usually employ a lot of people, so if they are out of stock and they make their own products it takes time to get things made and ready. Or maybe there’s an item they don’t have in stock at that moment and they need to order it for you. The wait might be longer than if you bought it online, because perhaps they don’t buy in bulk, or are buying from another small maker. This can be frustrating - especially when you know you can get that exact item or a very similar item from Amazon. But there’s a HUGE difference in buying from Amazon and buying directly from the maker or a small business.
You can choose to support the faceless ‘big business.’ OR, you can choose to buy from a small business and help someone in your community, and maybe even make a new friend. That maker or entrepreneur has invested everything into a dream, working hard to succeed with their passion. They often work long, hard hours, and this year, probably just barely staying afloat. Small businesses are trying hard to stay open and keep their few employees employed. Shopping at a small business is supporting the single mom, the person who quit their job to finally pursue their dream, the person who invested their life savings into an idea, and the young family wanting to make the world a better place.
Ok what is the big deal about buying local AND small? You are supporting your local economy which in turn gives back to the people in your community; it creates jobs!
Shopping local is also best for the environment. By buying from a local business you can bypass shipping, saving money all around. It also reduces waste, because reducing shipping eliminates the need for packaging and lowers the amount of single use plastics. Buying from local shops also cuts back on emissions; the ‘footprint’ of your item is smaller, reducing pollution from the decrease in shipping. Lastly, shopping locally also helps you meet and know the people in your area. There are so many talented makers here in the Pacific Northwest, and we love supporting them the best that we can. Shopping local helps your neighbors to pay rent and keep the doors open. It can come at a higher sticker price, but it’s worth it to know that your money is staying in your community- which helps you, too!
This holiday season, and going forward, let’s work hard to make intentional purchases. Make sure to spend your money wisely, supporting the people and places you want to be around for the long haul.