Online Directories Can Help You Buy Local this Holiday Season

Heading out for some last-minute Christmas shopping this weekend? Want to stay local but don't know where to start?

Before you walk out the door, don't forget to consult Patch Places. Our directory contains hundreds of Redmond shops in one place, and all the listings have been verified by real people—meaning they go beyond just a phone number and address.

You can filter the listings by type of shop and services offered, or use the map on the right side of the screen to find other businesses located nearby.

Think Redmond, a city-sponsored buy local program, has also launched a new business directory that includes several local shops. A discount card featuring deals from participating business is also available.

“Shopping in Redmond not only helps our local economy, it also has far-reaching effects such as lowering carbon emissions released into the atmosphere as residents travel shorter distances to shop,” Jill Smith, R-TRIP community outreach coordinator for the City of Redmond, said in a news release. “It saves time and gas for the shopper, helping them reduce stress and save money.” 

Another good resource for holiday shoppers is our . This weekly feature profiles notable people around Redmond, including business owners. Our most-recent retail-oriented columns highlight the owners of , , ,  and .

Still need more ideas? Redmond Patch blogger Melissa Goss-Halbert has written about several of her favorite shops on our Local Voices platform. Some of her picks include , and .