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Behemoth



Are you boycotting Amazon? I am. This has been a big shift for me since I had become quite reliant over time to all of the conveniences that Amazon provides. I didn’t have to go out and deal the with holiday shopping crowds. Shipping was prompt, easy, and often free. I could browse through a seemingly endless variety of goods and it always felt like I could get “a better deal.”

And this was always the big elephant in the room when I contemplated getting out of the house and patronizing local small businesses . You might even say it blocked the door. 

After I came to the realization that Amazon was not “a better deal” - -  because of all of its related baggage - - very gradually the idea of shopping small became more feasible to me. I had always supported it in theory, but between a desire to be frugal and, in recent years, concerns in re being immune-compromised, I felt stuck. 

What an incredibly successful business model Amazon has become, gradually convincing us that shopping any other way would be more expensive and less convenient. It would almost be irresponsible to spend one’s money elsewhere. 

Ten years ago I wrote about my unease with Amazon becoming the Buy N Large of our generation. But it took me a really long time to do anything in my own life to push back on the relentless retail giant.

As I approach my second holiday shopping season without everything from A to Z, I am just beginning to feel free of the behemoth that has been blocking my door. It has made a huge difference to me to say to myself, “Well, what if Amazon just isn’t an option? How will you shop?”

It’s remarkably freeing, actually.


Not everyone can or wants to boycott Amazon. This is not a post to tell you what to do. 


This morning I woke up prepared to write about small business Saturday and I realized how much my own reliance on Amazon has kept me from being the kind of small business supporter that I really want to be. I can do better. 

There are many Small Business Saturday events all around the county today. A few suggestions:

I’m curious about the new market venture at the restored Caplan’s building in Old Ellicott City. I’m giving their Small Business Saturday event a shout out because YOLO Health and Wellness will be there. I’m a fan of her all natural self-care and home cleaning products. 


Apparently there’s an event today at the Elkridge Assembly Rooms. (Forgive the image, it’s a screen grab from Reddit.)



I still haven’t been to the Assembly Rooms. Someday. Maybe 2026 will be my lucky year.

You won’t be surprised that I’ve saved the best for last. Any day of the year is a good day to visit an indie book store. In Howard County that would mean The Novel Refuge, Backwater Books, Gramp’s Attic, Queen Takes Book, and Second Edition Books. (Let me know if I missed any.)

For an even more delightful shopping experience, patronize some mom-and-pop restaurants/coffee shops/cafés while you are out and about. 

Yum.

You are invited to give a shout-out to your favorite small businesses or any Small Business Saturday events in the comments section.


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