Handmade bag from Gaia Empowered Women: Photo by Jennifer Shertzer

Handmade bag from Gaia Empowered Women: Photo by Jennifer Shertzer

The Small Business Saturday movement that American Express launched in 2010 is still a new cause and clearly can’t compete with the insanity that breaks out at big-box stores on this day year after year. As Bloomberg Businessweek reports, “… compared with the hoopla of Black Friday and Cyber Monday, it was like bringing a (handmade) knife to a gunfight.”

But it’s probably unproductive to compare Small Business Saturday to its extreme counterpart. After all, most of us already shop local whenever possible, and our neighborhood has plenty to offer in that arena. Besides the American Express deal, several stores are offering discounts of their own.

The Shop at Renee Rhyner & Co., an online gallery run by Preston Hollow resident Renee Rhyner, is offering 20 percent off art prints.

Formal wear shop Terry Costa at Preston and LBJ is taking 50 percent sale items.

Flower Road Natural Therapies, based near Inwood and Forest, will have 25 percent off all its aromatherapy products during its event.

Ken’s Man’s Shop at Preston and Royal will offer 20-25 percent off select items.

Those are just a few sales we know of. Chances are, most of our neighborhood small businesses will be offering some kind of deal on Saturday.

Other shops to keep in mind: Remember Hot Mama Aprons from Sparkman neighbor Jennifer Carr? Her online business is still going strong, and she has started making hand towels.

These paintings from Preston Hollow resident Stephanie Leonard (who we’ve featured here) also make great gifts.

Also, take a look back at our December 2013 cover story, which featured three great neighborhood start-ups: Amanda K Jewelry (which is having a holiday trunk show Dec. 13), Kelly Wilson Antiques which specializes in embellishing antique china, and Tumtees — sensory oriented t-shirts for moms with small babies.

For a gift that gives back, check out the handmade accessories (pictured above) from Gaia Empowered Women founded by Preston Hollow resident Paula Minnis, featured in our current issue.