This post list 5 online alternatives to Amazon that directly support small businesses, women-owned businesses, and black-owned businesses.
This post is not an anti-Amazon article, but rather an awakening to remind us that there's alternatives to Amazon for online shopping. Options we could use to directly support small businesses, women-owned businesses, and black-owned businesses.
“But I love the convenience of Amazon!" you say. Me too!
This list may not replace the times when you urgently need something for your home or if you need something the very next day. But this list could be an excellent alternative to Amazon to find a gift, planning an event, or have spare time for shipping.
Here are the 5 alternatives to Amazon, plus a bonus tip ! There is a way to continue to use Amazon, while still supporting small businesses. Keep reading below...
Five Online Alternatives to Amazon:
1. The Shop App by Shopify
Shop App by Shopify - Similar to Amazon's product search and discovery, the SHOP app connects customers to 1 million online stores that use Shopify’s platform. You may have never heard of Shopify because it first started off as a hosting and e-commerce platform. But fast forward to today, they now host for large companies like All Birds and Tesla, but a majority of the online stores on their platform are small businesses. The SHOP app makes it easier to find and connect with small businesses from around the world.
Pro: Shopify doesn’t take a commission or fee from the sale (unlike Amazon). So all of your dollars goes to the business! Also, the app has an easy to read track your shipment page.
Con: Another app to download to your phone, but this connects you to small and local businesses right at your fingertips.
Bonus Tip: In an effort to make shopping online easier, Shopify also wanted online shopping to be easier on the environment. If you sign-up for Shop Pay, all of your deliveries will be zero emissions produced- at no charge to Shop users or the brand.
2. Etsy
Etsy - The largest online marketplace for homemade, vintage, customizable products, and powered by creatives and small business owners. Etsy is the perfect site to find unique items for finding a gift, decorating your home, or planning an event.
I recently purchased items for all three of those needs in the last month! Instead of instantly looking for a phone holder from Amazon, I browsed through Etsy and found a great shop with handcrafted accessories. The shipping took a week longer, but it was worth the wait knowing my dollars supported a small business and artist.
Pro: Etsy has an app (download on Google Play or the Apple app store) with features like a personalized search history, tagging your favorite items, and easy to use messaging center. I like the ability to contact the store directly for a quick response to any of my questions.
Con: Not all items on Etsy are homemade or crafted, there are mass-produced items on the site, but this list isn’t about the type of items, but where you are spending your dollars.
Bonus Tip: Etsy has an editorial featuring gifts to purchase from Black-owned shops and a community that you can follow that a full list of Black-owned Shops on Etsy.
3. Women Owned
Women Owned - All of the businesses listed on this site are certified women-owned. What does that mean? At least 51% owned, operated, and controlled by a woman. This site is an online directory, rather than an e-commerce platform, but all of the products are offered online.
Some of the items are also carried on Amazon, but the best way to fully support a small business is to order directly from their site. But hey, I get it. Everyone has different situations and timing they are dealing with, so if looking up all the different products is what you can do, that is one way of supporting women in business!
Pro: The list of products is pretty amazing, there is a section dedicated to beverages (yes, included are wines and spirits!) to home and office goods.
Con: You will have to search the list then go directly to the store site, but this site doesn’t take a portion of the sale- so all of your dollars will go directly to the small business.
Hey small business owner! Did you know you can apply for a small business grant? Just thought we would drop this note because small business owners support each other's business, right?
4. Official Black Wall Street
Official Black Wall Street - The most comprehensive list of black-owned businesses website that offer apparel to local produce. This site is an online directory, rather than an e-commerce platform, so the list not only has products but also has services. The website and app is very user-friendly and easy to search for businesses in your neighborhood.
Pro: The Official Black Wall Street also has an app to connect users with locally black-owned stores and services. The list is formatted easily to follow a store on Facebook and Twitter.
Con: You will have to search the list then go directly to the store site, but this site doesn’t take a portion of the sale- so all of your dollars will go directly to the small business.
5. Seneca Women App
Seneca Women App - This app not only provides you with a list of women-owned businesses but also connects you with three of their podcasts that share stories of women who are making an impact in their communities, country, or global-wide change. Also, the app highlights current events and articles that are centered around a positive impact on women's lives.
Pro: The "Shop" section of the app provides a full list of women-owned businesses and recently added more women of color owned businesses. The list ranges from skincare to furniture.
Con: The list is not in any particular order, but easy to swipe up (like how you would on Instagram). Once you find a business or item that catches your eye, you can go directly to the company’s website. The Seneca app doesn’t take a portion of the sale- so all of your dollars will go directly to the small business.
Bonus Tip: I know breaking away from Amazon can be really hard to do or easy to forget of other options. So if you are on Amazon, but still want to support small businesses, check-out Handmade on Amazon.
Handmade by Amazon - Provides Amazon customers options of hand-crafted and unique items on their platform. This feature on Amazon competes with Etsy.
Ordering an item from their Handmade allows you to support a small business while getting the convenience of Amazon’s payment shipping service.
I hope this list opens up the possibilities of exploring beyond Amazon and hopefully finding new and unique products from small businesses. With your support and dollars to these businesses, it will ultimately circle back into families and communities.
Happy shopping!
