Shopping guide for Small Business Saturday

I worked in retail as a teenager. Holidays were hell — long lines, grouchy customers and insane messes to clean up. I haven’t set foot in a mall on Black Friday, or within the month of the December for that matter, ever since. So for those of you with an aversion to crowds, I gift you with my local shopping guide for Small Business Saturday, taking place on November 30th.

San Diego is chock full of great little shopping spots with unique one-of-a-kind items to fit even the pickiest on your Christmas list. If you skip out on Black Friday and opt for Small Business Saturday you won’t be required to circle a mall parking lot for twenty minutes hunting for a parking spot.

First up on my list is The People's Movement in Encinitas. They offer hip eco-friendly shoes, t-shirts, and wallets. They use organic, eco-conscious materials and up-cycled plastic bags cleaned from Bali and California. You can find their products at Surf Diva in La Jolla and The Den in Encinitas.

In South Park, Graffiti Beach offers up California cool. They have everything from geeky t-shirts, funky socks, Bamboo framed sunglasses, art work, and jewelry, to whimsical dresses. Holiday store hours begin Friday, Nov 29th: Daily 10am to 8pm.

North Park’s Pigment is my personal favorite local boutique. It's a great little store for window shopping. They have an in-store plant lab that offers a wide variety of succulents and other plant products to create your own terrariums. They have a diverse selection of home décor and furniture, unique books, jewelry, and stationery. On Small Business Saturday, Pigment will host a jewelry trunk show from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.. It will feature handmade jewelry by local designers as well as featured designers from other parts of the U.S.