{"id":74570,"date":"2025-11-29T14:40:11","date_gmt":"2025-11-29T14:40:11","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/74570\/"},"modified":"2025-11-29T14:40:11","modified_gmt":"2025-11-29T14:40:11","slug":"holiday-shopping-season-is-upon-us-heres-why-you-should-buy-local","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/74570\/","title":{"rendered":"Holiday shopping season is upon us. Here\u2019s why you should buy local"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

I\u2019m writing from inside a greenhouse at Creature\u2019s Plants & Coffee in Eagle Rock<\/a>, where I\u2019m surrounded by towering Monstera plants, Chinese evergreens and white amaryllis bulbs for the holidays.<\/p>\n

Creature\u2019s, which we included in our guide to 101 great L.A. shops to find thoughtful holiday gifts<\/a>, is part of a stretch of independent businesses on Eagle Rock Boulevard that will offer in-store specials today for Small Business Saturday<\/a>.<\/p>\n

You’re reading the Essential California newsletter <\/p>\n

The nursery and gift shop is more than just a retail space. It\u2019s a community hub, said owner Hope Creature in our Eagle Rock neighborhood guide<\/a>, \u201cbringing people together to explore, learn and connect.\u201d<\/p>\n

Local shop owners are optimistic despite sluggish sales<\/p>\n

Many stores are facing tough times amid economic uncertainty, tariffs, local fires, ICE raids and the recent government shutdown.<\/p>\n

\u201cPeople are being cautious,\u201d said Sonya Gallardo, who owns Highlow Gift Shop<\/a> in Torrance. \u201cI waited a long time to place my orders due to all the tariff uncertainty. I waited until I couldn\u2019t wait anymore and I am seeing that with customers too.\u201d<\/p>\n

During recent visits to Miracle Mile Toys & Gifts<\/a> on La Brea Avenue, I was the only one in the store. \u201cI\u2019m happy for the street traffic from R\u00e9publique,<\/a>\u201d said owner Christina Mullin as she wrapped a gift for my niece in colorful German paper. \u201cI\u2019m hoping that the holidays are going to be the bump that we need.\u201d<\/p>\n

Over at Marz<\/a> on Mission Street in South Pasadena, owner Jasa Cocke was slightly more optimistic. \u201cBusiness has been steady,\u201d she said. \u201cWe have really nice repeat customers. You can park close by, and I do pop-up events that keep things fun.\u201d<\/p>\n

Despite sluggish sales since September, Jill Pearson of H\u00f6mage<\/a> in Pasadena is confident that people will want to shop locally for the holidays. \u201cIt\u2019s hard to resist spreading joy,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n

The absolute delight of in-person shopping<\/p>\n

Last December, after attending the winter market at Plant Material in Altadena<\/a>, I saw how shopping in person can have a lasting effect on the community. At the time, local artists gathered on the nursery\u2019s grounds to share handcrafted ceramics, artisanal foods, jewelry and textiles. A month later, many of them were homeless after the Eaton fire swept through Altadena<\/a>.<\/p>\n

But the community showed up for them.<\/p>\n

High-end stores are fun, of course, and I love perusing designer goods at luxury department stores and local vintage stores<\/a>. But I find it a lot more rewarding \u2014 and so much less stressful \u2014 to park, walk and shop my way through L.A. neighborhoods<\/a> such as Mission Street in South Pasadena, Glendale Boulevard in Atwater Village<\/a>, Holly Street in Pasadena<\/a>, York in Highland Park<\/a> and Larchmont Boulevard<\/a> in Larchmont Village than to find a parking spot at a jam-packed mall.<\/p>\n

Over the past year, supporting small businesses has strengthened our community ties, especially after the devastating fires. Let\u2019s keep it going. For more tips on gift shops, gift-giving and community events happening this season, check out the L.A. Times Holiday Gift Guide<\/a>.<\/p>\n

The week\u2019s biggest stories \"Cars <\/a> <\/p>\n

(Juliana Yamada \/ Los Angeles Times)<\/p>\n

Crime and courtsEducationClimate and environmentWhat else is going onMust readsOther meaty readsFor your downtime \"Photo <\/a> <\/p>\n

Eric Wareheim for Sunday Funday.<\/p>\n

(Illustrations by Lindsey Made This; photograph by Marcus Nilsson)<\/p>\n

Going outStaying inL.A. Timeless<\/p>\n

A selection of the very best reads from The Times\u2019 143-year archive.<\/p>\n

Have a great day, from the Essential California team<\/p>\n

Jim Rainey, staff reporter
Hugo Mart\u00edn, assistant editor, fast break desk
Kevinisha Walker, multiplatform editor
Andrew J. Campa, weekend writer
Karim Doumar, head of newsletters<\/p>\n

How can we make this newsletter more useful? Send comments to essentialcalifornia@latimes.com<\/a>. Check our top stories<\/a>, topics<\/a> and the latest articles<\/a> on latimes.com<\/a>.<\/p>\n