3 Reasons to Do Your Mother's Day Shopping at Small Businesses

Mother's Day will be here before you know it. And if you're worried about finding the ideal gift, you're no doubt in good company. 

Of course, part of the stress of Mother's Day might stem from the cost involved. Consumers plan to spend a total of $35.7 billion on Mother’s Day this year, according to the National Retail Federation. That's an increase from last year's record high of $31.7 billion. And on an individual basis, it means plunking down $274.02. 

Seeing as how so many consumers are already juggling sky-high credit card bills due to inflation, that's a lot of money to part with. As such, you may be inclined to do your Mother's Day shopping at sites like Amazon or at big-box stores like Target and Walmart. That might allow you to find low-cost gifts you can afford. 

But if you have some financial flexibility, you may want to do your Mother's Day shopping at a small business in town instead. Here's why.

1. You might find items that are higher in quality

Target might sell a $30 sundress you can buy for your mother, whereas a local boutique in your neighborhood might charge $50 for a similar-looking item. But one thing to keep in mind is that the $50 sundress might last a lot longer than the mass-produced $30 one. So if your goal is to get your mother a nice gift that will last, a small business could be a better bet.

2. You might find items that are more unique

If you buy your mother a gift at Kohl's or from the Gap, chances are, she won't be the only person to walk around town showing it off. If you buy your gift from a small business, you might actually walk away with a gift that's truly one-of-a-kind. If that's the sort of thing you know your mother would value, then it pays to check out your local businesses and see what they have in stock.

3. You might get help finding a gift for the mom who has everything

There are plenty of Target and Walmart employees who are perfectly friendly and helpful. But are they really all that invested in helping you find a Mother's Day gift? 

Sure, those workers will probably point you toward the right aisles if you can't find what you're looking for. But will they spend 30 minutes giving you one-on-one attention? Probably not. 

At a small business, the people who work there might be more invested in ensuring that you walk out happy with your purchase. So you might enjoy superior customer service, as opposed to the good or acceptable service you'd otherwise find at a big-box store.

It's easy to see why finding a great gift for Mother's Day is important to you. But the key to finding a really awesome gift may be to shop locally and shop small, as opposed to relying on the same major retailers you've turned to in the past.