Say it with us, ‘Kick rocks, Jeff Bezos!’ (Just kidding, no judgment, we’re addicted to Amazon too.)

THIS Saturday 11/26 is Shop Small Saturday, a nationwide effort to highlight small, local businesses (AMEX is a big partner, maybe you’ve seen it?) and we're getting in on the fun!  

The holidays are here folks and we know you’re making your gift giving plans! Don’t forget about your neighborhood businesses, it's time to consider shopping small + local. Here are our top tips for shopping small. 

Buy from a friend! Small businesses are the core of our communities, owned and operated by our neighbors and friends! Know anyone with an Etsy shop??? Local online retail totally counts! These micro businesses directly benefit from your sales and they can be *the perfect* gifts for your most discerning recipients because they have the most unique items- you just won’t see this stuff anywhere else. These are 2 local, online gift shops I think you should know: Hi Sweetheart and Little Fruit Tree Shop. 

Local businesses are hubs for the community. The first thing that comes to mind are coffee shops but yoga studios, specialty food stores, even comic book stores are places where like-minded people get together to share their love of whatever weird, ‘special’ thing they’re into. (Personally, I love homewares that bridge form + function, I’m kind of a minimalist at heart! This shop is AAAAMAZING!)  These owner-operators not only curate their merchandise, they curate an experience and a community that brings people together! (Shoutout to these community builders: Scrimshaw Coffee, Venissimo Cheese, Paleo Treats and SouthCoast Surf Shop.

Shopping local is sustainable. Fast, daily delivery is pretty freaking terrible for our planet. Storefronts buy in bulk which saves on packaging and shipping materials, delivery costs and vehicle emissions. Save a box (or 3) and those weird plastic pillows that you have no use for and shop at a store instead. 

Want an awesome neighborhood? Shop local! North Park, Little Italy, La Mesa- these communities have sustained support from their neighbors. Support the brave people that are crazy enough to bet their own money on making a neighborhood great- they want what you want: to have cool stuff within walking distance. It’s a win-win, it just takes a little time. 

So where do I go? Well, where do you live?? Or maybe you already live in a cool neighborhood and want to spread the love? Come shop in El Cerrito! We’re in the College Area!  Here are some of our favorite neighbors, we know you’ll love them as much as we do! 

THIS Saturday 11/26 we’re having an open house! at our Pop Up Picnic Co shop! Come enjoy a roasted marshmallow + a cup of hot cocoa at our Shop Small Saturday event! We’ll have pre-orders on charcuterie and smores boxes for the season + special deals you can’t get anywhere else- it’s kind of like our #blackfriday. 

• We’re teaming up with our friends at It’s In the Details, a local gift box company that specializes in curated San Diego beer + wine boxes, to offer a special smores kit that you can preorder and gift to clients, friends, family or bring as a hostess gift!   

• The Little Flower florist will be giving away roses to all attendees.

• PLUS- we’re auctioning our services for a cause! A gift box ($200 value), a Pop Up Picnic ($259 value) and a holiday centerpiece ($125 value) are being offered to raise money for a great cause; 100% of the winning bids will go to a local family in need!

While you’re in the neighborhood, checkout these awesome businesses!! 

1. Scrimshaw Coffee 5542 EL CAJON BLVD. SAN DIEGO, CA 92115

Best coffee, best staff, best vibes. Need we say more!? Seriously, go check this place out and grab a bag of beans and a custom logo tee to gift and a bottle of natural wine for your next dinner party. It’s kind of our favorite place, ever, you understand, right? 

1. The Little Flower  5547 EL CAJON BLVD. SAN DIEGO, CA 92115

An El Cerrito staple for more than a decade, The Little Flower is our favorite florist, for so many reasons: THE BEST quality flowers in affordable arrangements and giant bouquets but above all, the owner, Mari is the sweetest lady alive. This is THE SPOT for your holiday centerpieces. Did we mention they deliver? 

1. Pokedon 6345 EL CAJON BLVD STE 1, SAN DIEGO, CA 92115

If you haven’t been to Pokedon, you haven’t lived. They make delicious poke with handmade sauces and specialty accoutrements. If I could only use one word to describe the food it would be fresh. The fish is delicious, the sauces are unique and extremely flavorful and they have vegan poke bowls! A gift card to Pokedon will make anyone in your life that eats food happy. 

1. Pop Up Picnic Co 5545 EL CAJON BLVD SAN DIEGO, CA 92115

That’s us! A local picnic company with a flair for STYLE! We love hosting our guests so that they can show up, sit down and ENJOY! We take care of all the details from food to flowers and we do it with a smile! Our customer service is *pretty great* (we love our clients!)