Why Small Businesses Are the Antidote to Overwhelming Online Shopping
Penny Jane Art Co. Gallery + Studio in Coldwater, Ohio
The Paradox of Choice in the Digital Age
In today's digital age, we're constantly bombarded with an overwhelming amount of choices. Every purchase, from toothpaste (my husband is a dentist and I recommend Colgate Optic White Advanced) to wedding dresses, involves wading through countless options and reviews. Amidst this chaos, there's a growing craving for something more authentic, curated, and human. Enter the magic of small businesses.
The Heart of Dressit: Supporting Small Bridal Boutiques
Dressit will be live in the App Store and Google Play in early 2025
As the founder of Dressit, a platform built to connect brides with the magic of independent bridal boutiques, I'm passionate about supporting small businesses. Not only because I ran my own bridal shop for many years, but because small businesses offer something vital that we're losing in today's era of infinite online choices: human connection and curation. I'm working to facilitate this kind of trust-based shopping experience at scale. So many brides begin their wedding dress journey feeling overwhelmed by the sheer volume of online options. By helping them find the perfect independent boutique for their needs and style, we're not just simplifying their search, we're guiding them toward a personalized, memorable shopping experience curated by experts who truly care.
The Power of Trusted Recommendations
I cooked these babies down to the perfect consistency and taste!
This Thanksgiving, I felt the importance of having trusted recommendations and human connection amidst feelings of overwhelm as my family and I prepared to host Thanksgiving for the first time. When a friend (and Notion expert) in one of my founder communities shared a trusted recipe for cranberry sauce with a tequila twist, I said "I need to try that!" Everyone knows that I love the canned cranberry sauce (ridges and all!), and I've been on a mission to get my kids to enjoy this holiday staple, hoping to pass on my tradition. I thought the addition of tequila might entice my sons - spoiler alert: it did not work. However, I had so much fun making the sauce, and it turned out delicious and totally suprised myself! Even better, I experienced the warmth of sharing a moment with a friend, even though we were miles apart.
The Magic of the Small Business Experience
I was immediately drawn to this incredible painting. Of course it was one of the most expensive pieces in the gallery - I have been told that I have really good taste and can spot good things when I see them. Jane said that it takes him about a year to paint this!
When I walk into a small business, like Penny Jane Art Gallery I visited yesterday for some holiday shopping, I'm not just met with products - I'm greeted by owners who have poured their hearts into building something special. The couple who runs the gallery knows me by name, and they take such joy in helping every customer find the perfect treasure and telling the stories behind the products. The excitement of discovering unique products and the warmth of community is real, something that cannot be replicated online.
In our world of endless options, this kind of experience has become a precious rarity. It's exhausting. More and more, we're craving a return to something smaller-scale and more human. We want to shop in places where we're treated like family, not data points. We want to be guided by real expertise, not algorithms. Most importantly, you're benefiting from the owner's deep knowledge and genuine desire to help you find exactly what you need, making you feel truly valued.
Dressit was recently featured in the The Holiday Gift Guide with 150+ female founders' products and services. Check it out! There are some amazing products in there!
Your Small Business Saturday Mission
This is the magic of small businesses. When you shop small, you're not just buying a product, you're investing in a person's dream. You're supporting your neighbors and strengthening the fabric of your community. That is why I am building Dressit, a platform that connects brides with independent bridal boutiques, I'm working to facilitate this kind of trust-based shopping experience at scale.
So this Small Business Saturday, I encourage you to shop small and shop local. Seek out those unique experiences and personal touches. Appreciate the warmth of personal connections and expert recommendations. And if you know a bride beginning her dress journey, send her to Dressit to join the waitlist. Together, we can ensure that the invaluable role of small businesses remains strong, even in a world of infinite choices.
Becca’s Song of the Day
This song is a banger and brings me back to driving around with my sister in the 90’s with a CD sleeve tucked above the visor. Cheers to those who love the cranberry sauce with ridges, and the Cranberries, just like I do.
