8 Ways to Support Local Small Businesses This Halloween

Small Business Saturday is coming up in November—it’s the Saturday after Thanksgiving. But you don’t have to wait that long to support local small businesses.

The National Retail Federation predicts Americans will spend some $9.1 billion on Halloween this year—a record high, up from $8.6 billion last year. Why not spend some of your dollars with local small and independent businesses?

Here are eight ideas for ways consumers can support local small businesses this Halloween.

1. Get creative with your holiday costumes.

Instead of picking up costumes at a huge chain retailer or ordering from Amazon, think outside the (big) box. Head to a local craft store for all the fixings to make your own costumes. Check out thrift, vintage, or consignment stores for clothes you can turn into costumes.

Feeling really creative? Hit up a local tailor or seamstress to put together a custom-made costume to your specifications.

2. Order in.

Halloween falls on a Tuesday this year—which means you’ve got to rush home from work to get the kids costumed before all the treats are gone.

With no time to squeeze in a home-cooked dinner, why not order from a local, independent restaurant? Pick dinner up on the way home or have it delivered.

3. Cater your Halloween get-together.

Throwing a Halloween party for the gang? Save time fussing over refreshments (and spend it creating your costume instead) by enlisting a local restaurant to cater your event. If you plan to serve adult beverages, make it more festive by hiring a bartender to mix up spooky Halloween cocktails.

4. Get Fido ready to strut his stuff.

Sixteen percent of Americans plan to dress their pets in costume, the NRF reports. Many communities even host pet parades or contests where owners vie to display the dog with the best costume. Make sure your dog is ready to shine by having a local groomer get them squeaky clean.

5. Head to a haunted house.

Many local communities put on haunted houses to raise funds for charitable organizations. Often, local businesses sponsor the events or sell food, beverages, or products there. Find a nearby haunted house that you can visit to support local small businesses that are sponsoring it.

6. Create your own haunted house.

Want to make yours the scariest house on the block? Get off that stepladder and call a local company that puts up Christmas decorations to see if they’ll decorate your house for Halloween.

Looking for some scary stuff to spook the kids? Local party rental, stage prop, or film prop rental companies might have decor you can rent that rivals anything on the big screen.

7. Get in style.

Need an elaborate hairdo to complete your costume—like hair extensions for a realistic mermaid look or colored tresses to give an anime character that finishing touch? Visit your local hair salon to get braided, bleached, and styled for the big night.

You can even have them do your makeup or give you a lesson so you can re-create the look yourself.

8. Protect your pets.

With an endless parade of costumed revelers ringing the doorbell and yelling, Halloween can be a scary night for dogs and cats. It can also be dangerous if your pet dashes out the front door while you’re handing out candy. Play it safe by putting Fido or Fluffy in a local kennel for the evening. They’ll rest easy, and so will you.

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from Fundera Ledger https://www.fundera.com/blog/support-local-small-businesses