Black Friday marks the official start of the holiday shopping season. My Black Friday-prep tradition used to involve reading the ads in the Thanksgiving Day paper & planning Black Friday & Small Business Saturday deals shopping routes while the girls watched the dog show.
This year–like the last few–I’m not getting involved with much of the Black Friday hoopla at all, though I do still plan to head out for a bit on Saturday. Maybe I’ve officially turned old. Maybe it’s all the loss I’ve experienced in the past few years. I don’t know. I do know that I’m grateful for what I have, including this site & its awesome readers. And on that note, I want to wish y’all a Happy Thanksgiving.
To the point of this post: I’m shopping small this year. And by small, I mean that almost every present for my friends & family will be something created by a local artist, sold by an Atlanta-area small business, or related to a local attraction or theatre group.
One of the things that helps make that reality is Small Business Saturday. On the day after Black Friday, lots of small businesses have one-day sales to get you in the door, making November 24, 2018, an excellent day to stop by your favorite local spots & shop.
Though knowing me, I’ll still be making the occasional purchase on Amazon this holiday season….speaking of, now’s the time to check out Amazon.com’s Black Friday Deals Week. Some offers may only be available for a few hours or may have a limited supply, so if you see a good buy, snag it before it’s gone. Even better: For a limited time, you’ll get free shipping with no minimum purchase required.
Ready to shop? Here are a few ideas to get you started (a few of these deals will be available on Cyber Monday, too):
Black Friday & Small Business Saturday Deals
On Friday-Sunday, November 23-25, 2018, you’ll save 25%-40% on locally made goods at The Beehive (1250 Caroline Street, C120, Atlanta). This remains one of my favorite spots to shop in the ATL. The boutique collective features everything from housewares & baby goods to jewelry & accessories crafted by local entrepreneurs.
On Saturday, November 24, you can use coupon code “Shop Small” to save 15% on holiday items for your four-legged friends at Pet Works, located at Krog Street Market (99 Krog St NE, Atlanta). You’ll find everything from sleigh bells to Santa hats. While you’re at Krog Street Market, pop by The Collective–a co-op of local artists & craftspeople–where you’ll find everything from succulents to custom bracelets.
Little Shop of Stories remains one of my favorite bookstores (133 E Court Sq, Ste A, Decatur). Their collection of children’s & young adult books can’t be beat. On Saturday, November 24, they’ll be offering some freebies while they last, including a free book table & free goodies to munch on while you shop. Bonus: At 11:00 a.m., Connie Schofield-Morrison & Frank Morrison, the team behind I GOT THE RHYTHM, will be on hand for a presentation & signing of their newest picture book, I GOT THE CHRISTMAS SPIRIT!
On Friday & Saturday, November 23 & 24, many of the vendors at The Market (formerly known as Woodstock Market, 5500 Bells Ferry Rd, Acworth) will be offering booth-wide sales & special markdowns. Though the savings will differ throughout the store, you’ll have lots of options–there are about 180 small businesses that sell their wares at The Market.
During Thanksgiving Weekend, you can use coupon code “GIVETHANKS” to save 25% on Atlanta Movie Tours gift cards (327 Nelson St. SW, Atlanta).
From 12:01 a.m. on Friday, November 23-11:59 p.m. on Monday, November 26, you can take advantage of the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra’s Black Friday sale (1280 Peachtree St NE, Atlanta). Use coupon code “FRIDAY25” to save 25% on tickets to most concerts, including performances from the Delta Classical series, Disney in Concert: A Silly Symphony, Love Actually in Concert, A Very Merry Holiday, Handel’s Messiah, A Festive Family Holiday, E.T. The Extra-Terrestrial in Concert, Rufus Wainwright, Michael W. Smith, Celtic Thunder, Jim Brickman, & more. (1280 Peachtree St NE, Atlanta)
From 12:01 a.m. on Friday, November 23-11:59 p.m. on Monday, November 26, you can use coupon code “SALE25” to save 25% on tickets to select performances of all Alliance Theatre productions during the Alliance Theatre’s Black Friday sale (1280 Peachtree St NE, Atlanta). The deal includes Knead; A Christmas Carol; Approval Junkie; Angry, Raucous, and Shamelessly Gorgeous; Ever After; Ride the Cyclone; & The Wizard of Oz.
On Friday, November 23, all merchandise–shirts, hats, hoodies, & pants–will be 50% off at Dad’s Garage (569 Ezzard St SE, Atlanta). Stop by Will Call at the theatre to browse. Want to save on tickets to Dad’s Garage? You’ll need to shop online to get that deal: On Monday, November 26, all shows in January will be 50% off.
–Jennifer Maciejewski
P.S. Speaking of deals, take advantage of this free treat–Sign up for email updates from Atlanta on the Cheap to stay in the know about free & cheap things to do year-round.
