Small Business Saturday is a relatively new holiday. It only started in 2010 in order to remind people to not only shop online during the holiday season, but to also stop in and visit local shops for some cute and unique gifts. Boy are we thankful for yet another Small Business Saturday! We love a good reason to celebrate around here–especially when it means celebrating the people and the community that are constantly supporting us. 

As a team, we appreciate the reminder of intentionality that this holiday brings. It’s not about going out (or more likely scrolling on Amazon) to buy the most expensive new gadget. It’s not even about buying all the clothing you’ve held in your cart at your favorite store just waiting for Black Friday 50% off sales. It’s about supporting the community that supports you. It’s about shopping small and finding thoughtful and one of a kind items that are only available from small businesses. We may be a little biased, but we like to think those are the best kinds of gifts anyway.

Still, Small Business Saturday goes so much further than just checking things off your Christmas list. It’s an opportunity to explore new local places and to build the connections that only small businesses can offer. Our hope is that once you come to Tala for a cup of coffee or a delicious specialty latte, you’ll find the company to be just as good as the drink, or maybe even better! We are so thankful to have the opportunity to talk and connect with all of you on a daily basis.

I cannot tell you how many times I have walked into work and thought, “I’m so tired” or “I really wish I could spend the day outside today instead of working” and ended up so much more fulfilled because of the people I interacted with on shift. This goes for our loyal regulars who we greet excitedly, to my coworkers, to the new family that wandered into Tala for the first time today. Now don’t get me wrong, I do get tired and 99% of the time I do want to be outside, but if I’m going to be working, I want nothing more than to make connections and build community just from showing up for my job.

I want to set one last thing straight for our Small Business Saturday appreciation post.. Our customers are constantly telling us we make their days with our positive attitudes, chipper demeanors, and, of course, delicious coffee. But I want to confidently tell you that those same customers make our days as they share stories of their weekend adventures or ask what upcoming trips we have planned for our days off. Tala is a small business that thrives because of the love and support of our customers and because those customers genuinely care to support us, as a business and as people. So from all of the Tala staff this Small Business Saturday: thank you! Please come visit us at the shop today so we can hear some of your wonderful holiday weekend stories!