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It did my heart good to see a full parking lot at our local antique mall on Black Friday.  I hope that means that sales were brisk and merchants there did well.

It’s probable that customers weren’t buying gifts as much as they were buying holiday entertaining pieces – like old tarnished candlesticks, tiered servers and platters and bowls. Holiday decorating items – such as vintage bubble lights and Santa collectibles, usually sell like hotcakes this time of year, too.

But buying gifts to give to others? Not so much. That’s a shame, too. More people should shop antique malls, and here’s why.

Just say NO to cookie cutter gifts

The first reason is a rather selfish one. I simply hate cookie cutter gifts. I’m sorry friends and family who may read this and get offended. One year I got the same discount store kitchen gadget from three of you. Shop in an antique mall and the chance that you’ll gift an identical item to a loved one is pretty slim.

Granted, I realize you need to know someone fairly well to shop for them in an antique mall. Not everyone will be as thrilled as I to receive a pair of vintage peacocks to hang on their wall. You need to know what your recipient collects, what their hobbies are and how they like to decorate their surroundings.  But, correct me if I’m wrong, isn’t it the thoughtfulness that goes into selecting a unique gift for a unique person what gift giving is all about?

Shop antique malls for those one of kind gifts that will be cherished for years.

Supporting small merchants is the right thing to do

Did you know that the economic impact of a dollar spent in a locally owned business will usually generate anywhere from $5 to $14 of revenue in your local economy whereas 80% of a dollar spent in a national chain store leaves your community immediately? I don’t want to get all soapbox on you, but if you’re wondering how all our money winds up in China or in companies that are “too big to fail”, well, there you go.

Antique malls are generally made up of dozens and dozens of little booths run by dozens and dozens of little business people. Therefore, when you shop in antique malls, you’re supporting local micro-businesses that in turn support your local economy. It’s a happy little circle that is a win for everyone in town.

It’s the original green shopping mecca

Reusing old stuff is the green thing to do. Using old, vintiques for their original intended purposes or re-purposing for new uses certainly saves space in our landfills. It also prevents us from re-manufacturing goods of which we already have enough and should be using. Waste not, want not!

Just say NO to a cookie cutter life

Don’t you hate it when you see the dress you’re wearing on someone else? Or your exact sofa in someone else’s house? I do! It makes me feel run-of-the-mill. We’re NOT run-of-the-mill, darn it! We’re originals. Display your uniquess by shopping for and using vintiques.

There are more reasons to shop antique malls — the thrill of the hunt and seeing things that remind you of happy days gone by are two more. Just go, make a day of it. Then, smile when you wrap each unique gift for each unique person on your list.