The #1 place to shop for Beach Decor

 

Did you read my list of Top Places to find the best Beach decor?

If not, find it here!

Today I’m going to break down #1 on my list — shopping small local businesses!

Did you think I’d say the #1 place would be to shop with us here at Anchored Soul? Well, of course we’d love for you to shop with us, but we know we don’t carry everything you might be looking for!

I’ve always loved doing this in shops around me in TN, but I always REALLY loved searching for small businesses to shop from while on beach vacations.

Now, I live in Florida, so it’s all local AND beachy for me!

You can find some of the best stuff from small businesses!

You may find local artists with one-of-a-kind pieces or shops that carry other small artists like me!

There are now over 300 shops around the US that carry my signs. Each one of these stores also supports other small businesses just like mine and carries products from small manufacturers. I suggest you start with this list if you don’t know where to look for great small shops!

When you shop small, you have the potential to directly touch the lives of so many people!

Let’s break this down…

You come to Amelia Island and visit Island Vintage Market's booth inside of Antiques and more where I have my signs.

You buy one of my signs.

You’ve immediately just supported a minimum of 5 local families! The booth owner, the cashier working the counter, the shop owner, my own family, and the family of the ladies who cut the wood for my signs! If you purchased other products from the other small businesses in the shop, you’ve supported many more local families!

This is the difference ONE shopping visit can make! When you buy from another small business carrying my signs, you are supporting my business and creating the same chain of support in their shops!

The best decor, plus making a direct local impact? Ahhhmazing, right?!

How do you find these local shops to support and grab your cute coastal decor from?

• Check out my list, of course.
• Google “beach decor near me” or home decor shop, gift shop, etc.
• Look at hashtags on social media for the towns you are visiting—look for #shopsmallameliaisland, etc.
• Look for vintage and antique shops that will usually have a mix of vintage, handmade, and local artists.
• Find the local shops in major shopping centers. Yes, you can find a small business in a shopping center strip right nearby chain shops!
• Find a downtown area and walk around checking out the local shops.
• Ask the locals! Ask at your hotel, ask your server at a restaurant. Talk to the locals because they can tell you the hidden gems!

There are lots of companies that sell only to small shops and not the big stores. You can find brands like Park Hill, Creative Co-op, Mud Pie, and other brand names you recognize and love in your favorite local shops.

You’ll also find amazing displays in local shops! Most corporate stores have a required way to display items, but with local shops, there is no limit to the amazing displays and rearranging they can do!

They will likely have lots of different setups of decor all mixed together to showcase how you can use it in your own homes, but ALSO they will likely be able to take the time with you to put together a tray, or a tablescape with items around the shop! So you can get inspired AND get help if there’s something you love but you are stuck on how to use it. Or if you have a certain spot in your home you are looking to decorate, bring in a photo and ask for suggestions!

You’ll meet locals when you shop local! Unless a cashier at Target is slow and has time to chat—you likely aren’t striking up much small talk with them. But someone in a small shop is much more likely to jump right in and tell you their favorite other shops, local restaurants, and best beach spots.

You never know what you’ll find shopping local. The one-of-a-kind art piece options or that vintage piece your grandma had that you’ve been searching for a replica of forever! It’s exciting to look around and see what you will find!

If you are shopping on vacation, you probably have lots of spare time to look for beach decor! Rainy days might keep you from the beach or the pool, but not from shopping!

Buying something on vacation like a magnet, mug, T-shirt, or other beach-themed items will help you remember the fun you had on your trip. And help you look forward to your next!

Some locals completely count on tourists to keep their business running—and we all know how tourism slowed the past couple of years, so lots of shops are still making up for lost income!

What’s there to lose shopping small and shopping local for your beach decor?

Nothing! Just lots to gain for you and the small businesses counting on you!

Even if you don’t purchase something every time in every shop, you can still get inspired by what you see and share it with others looking for a place to shop while on vacation!

If you have a favorite small, local spot, please share it below! I’d love to feature some other small shops and let them know about our signs that they can carry in their shops!

And of course, we’d love for you to support our shop online or in person on Amelia Island!

We've also got a whole list of local places on Amelia Island to support and shop that that you can check out here!