Small Business Saturday is today: Share your favorite local retailers

Today, November 24, is Small Business Saturday and many area businesses and smaller online retailers are offering great deals!

What are your favorite local small businesses for holiday gift shopping? Let us know in the Comments section.

Wondering why to shop local?

According to iheartretail.com:

* Small businesses donate 250% more than larger businesses to non-profits and community causes. (Source: Seattle Good Business Network)

* If you spend $100 at a local business, roughly $68 stays in your local economy. If you spend the same at a large business, only $43 stays in the local economy. (Source: Civic Economics Study in Grand Rapids, Michigan)

Sarah Hall, the WRAL Go Ask Mom editor, has put together a great list of a dozen local businesses run by parents who are offering products that they have developed.

The list includes monogrammed hand bags, scratch cakes, wrapping paper and other items with black Santa Clauses, a baby swaddle blanket, chore and reward charts, hand painted glasses, bowls and more, natural skin care, unique jewelry with a Chilean influence, hand etched drink ware, authentic jerk marinades, and home decor.

Click below to see the full list of local small businesses from the annual Made By Mom Gift Guide.

Announcing Go Ask Mom's 2018 Made by Mom Gift Guide!

For another great list of local businesses to consider, check out the article below from WRAL's What's On Tap. It includes multiple Raleigh and Carrboro small businesses with a wonderful variety of unique gifts.

Shop local this holiday season

And please share your favorite local retail and restaurant small businesses in the Comments section.