It would be an understatement to say that 2020 has been a tough year for Oregon retailers.
Many are still struggling to recover since being forced to briefly close at the start of the coronavirus pandemic, while others have shut their doors for good. More than half of 60 small businesses surveyed in September by Bricks Need Mortar, which advocates for independent Portland retailers, reported that their sales were down 50% to 90% compared to the same time last year.
The final weeks of the holiday season could be vital for those businesses. Holiday sales in November and December account for nearly 20% of annual retail sales across the country, according to the National Retail Federation. For some types of retailers, that figure is significantly higher.
With coronavirus cases spiking and public health restrictions in effect, holiday shopping might look different this year, but there are still plenty of ways for shoppers to support local retailers in the next few weeks – without leaving their homes.
Here is a list of virtual markets, online marketplaces and small business directories that make it easy for shoppers to support Portland and Oregon vendors this holiday season.
Crafty Wonderland usually draws thousands of people to its annual holiday market at the Oregon Convention Center, but opted to go virtual this year due to the coronavirus pandemic.
Their annual holiday market will be held online on Saturday, Dec. 12 from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Local vendors will be live on Instagram during that time.
Crafty Wonderland has a list of vendors on their website that consumers can support through online purchases, even after the end of the holiday market.
The Portland Bazaar has supported local artists, makers and small businesses through its annual holiday market since 2011. This year, organizers decided to take the bazaar online.
Consumers can support local vendors by making purchases directly from the Portland Bazaar website.
Built Oregon, a nonprofit that works with small businesses and retailers across the state, launched the Built Oregon Marketplace in October to give consumers a one-stop-shop for supporting local small businesses.
Shoppers can purchase items directly from the site and Built Oregon will ship goods for free to any state.
The marketplace has split available goods into different categories to appeal to a wide range of shoppers, from “Gifts for Little Ones” to “Gifts for Pet Lovers” to “Oregon Artisan Food Gifts.”
Mercy Corps Northwest’s seventh annual Northwest Made Holiday Market is taking place entirely online this year. The market will be open until Dec. 30.
The market features local vendors, including more than 60 businesses owned by women or people of color from across Oregon and includes a wide range of products, from homemade hot sauces and kombucha to skincare, stationery and jewelry.
Customers can search for goods by category. Mercy Corps Northwest is continuing to add new items throughout the month.
PDXSOS, an initiative launched by Bricks Need Mortar, went live in March to support local retailers impacted by coronavirus health restrictions. The website includes a list of small businesses by category so consumers can easily find vendors they want to support.
PDXSOS has also put together a list of ways to support small businesses and is asking consumers to sign a pledge to shop local this holiday season.
The City of Portland launched ShopSmallPDX.com in November to highlight virtual markets and enable customers to search for local small businesses. Businesses can sign up to add themselves to the website as well.
The website includes a directory and links to hundreds of local businesses that are offering safe in-store or virtual experiences. Shoppers can search for businesses by location and category.
The Makers Union PDX marketplace highlights local makers and artists and allows shoppers to buy goods directly from their website.
According to the website, 15% from each sale will be donated to the Black Resilience Fund, an emergency fund supporting Black Portlanders.
City Shoppe, which launched this year, is an online marketplace featuring small businesses in Portland and the rest of Oregon. The organization also has marketplaces for New York and Seattle vendors and is expanding to other cities.
Shoppers can browse from a list of small businesses or search by category. The website says it will offer free shipping on all orders.
Did we miss any virtual markets or online marketplaces? Email: jgoldberg@oregonian.com
-- Jamie Goldberg | jgoldberg@oregonian.com | @jamiebgoldberg
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December 12, 2020 at 02:28AM
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