Photo by Kristian Summerer for Visit Alexandria
This year’s holiday shopping season is more important than ever for independent retailers. In an effort to support Alexandria's large community of independent boutiques throughout this unparalleled winter, Visit Alexandria announced Monday that three new promotions for shoppers near and far will kick off soon: Alexandria Shop Small Week, the Alexandria Santa-gram Giveaway and the digital Guide to Alexandria Holiday Shopping.
Alexandria’s boutiques are going above and beyond to keep visitors safe this holiday season with the ALX Promise shield and are ready to welcome masked customers. Many are offering special shopping options like online stores, curbside pick-up, private appointments and more. When you shop with an independent Alexandria store, you should expect personalized service and curated gifts you won’t find just anywhere, along with the knowledge you are supporting a local Alexandria family and their employees.
Find out more about Visit Alexandria’s three new retail promotions below or go to VisitAlexandriaVA.com/ShopSmall for these offerings and more ways to support small businesses:
Alexandria Shop Small Week, Nov. 27-Dec. 6
VisitAlexandriaVA.com/Holidays/Shop-Small-Week
Alexandria's biggest shopping week of the year, the first-ever Alexandria Shop Small Week, Nov. 27 to Dec. 6. will kick off with Plaid Friday: Alexandria’s Small Business Black Friday and Small Business Saturday.
Alexandria Shop Small Week is an opportunity to show your support for the D.C. region’s largest destination for independent boutiques with 10 days and two weekends of deals, promotions and Instagram giveaways.
Don your favorite mask or hop online to take part in promotional events including Plaid Friday: Alexandria’s Small Business Black Friday (Nov. 27), Small Business Saturday (Nov. 28), Museum Store Sunday (Nov. 29), Cyber Monday (Nov. 30) and Giving Tuesday (Dec. 1).
Be sure to follow Visit Alexandria’s Instagram at @VisitAlexVA for gift card giveaways Dec. 4-6. Need more reasons to shop small? Enter the Alexandria Santa-gram Giveaway by submitting a receipt from your purchase at a participating independent retailer featured in Visit Alexandria’s digital Guide to Alexandria Holiday Shopping for a chance to win a personalized video greeting from the region’s most beloved Santa.
Learn more about the festivities of the week:
- Plaid Friday: Alexandria’s Small Business Black Friday - Nov. 27: Nearly 50 independent shops, many opening early, offer some of their best deals of the year.
- Small Business Saturday - Nov. 28: Enjoy free parking, prizes from the Elf Patrol and nearly 50 independent boutiques featuring discounts or gifts with purchase.
- Museum Store Sunday - Nov. 29: Enjoy discounts of 20 percent at participating Alexandria museum stores plus 20 percent off Black history merchandise from Manumission Tour Company’s online store.
- Cyber Monday - Nov. 30: Promotional online offers from more than 30 Alexandria boutiques include discounts, gifts with purchase and free shipping.
- Giving Tuesday - Dec. 1: Participating shops and restaurants will donate a percentage of purchases to Alexandria nonprofits through a partnership with the Old Town Business Association.
- Instagram Gift Card Giveaways - Dec. 4-6: Follow @VisitAlexVA for three days of giveaways and your chance to win one of three $300 gift cards to a choice of local boutiques.
- Alexandria Santa-gram Giveaway - Extends through Shop Small Week, Nov. 9-Dec. 20: Submit a receipt from your purchase at a participating independent retailer featured in Visit Alexandria’s digital Guide to Alexandria Holiday Shopping for a chance to win a personalized video greeting from the region’s most beloved Santa.
Alexandria Santa-gram Giveaway: Nov. 9 to Dec. 20, VisitAlexandriaVA.com/Santa
The D.C. region’s most beloved Santa wants you to shop small in Alexandria, this holiday season. New this year, the Alexandria Santa-gram Giveaway is an opportunity to buy in person or online from participating independently owned retailers in Alexandria for a chance to win a personalized video greeting from the big guy himself. Five winners will be selected each week for six weeks of giveaways from Nov. 9 to Dec. 20.
Browse participating retailers in Visit Alexandria’s digital Guide to Alexandria Holiday Shopping and fill your shopping list. Alexandria is the Shop Small headquarters of the D.C. region, and this year, it’s more important than ever to support small businesses as you take part in the seasonal charm of Old Town Alexandria, recognized by Oprah Magazine as one of the Most Magical Christmas Towns Across the World in 2020.
Guide to Alexandria Holiday Shopping Launched Nov. 9
VisitAlexandriaVA.com/Shopping-Guide
Visit Alexandria’s new digital Guide to Alexandria Holiday Shopping features nearly 50 independent retailers and is packed with information about in-person and online store offerings plus more ideas like Black-owned businesses to buy from, where to get made-in-Alexandria gifts and more.
Need more reasons to shop small? Enter the Alexandria Santa-gram Giveaway by submitting a receipt from your purchase at a participating independent retailer featured in the Guide to Alexandria Holiday Shopping for a chance to win a personalized video greeting from the region’s most beloved Santa. As the region’s shop small headquarters, Alexandria’s collection of boutiques offers smile-inducing gifts and personalized service you won’t find just anywhere, along with the comfort of knowing you are supporting a small business.
