Give Local
Austin lands on list of best cities to shop local — and here's why
![Charm School Vintage](https://austin.culturemap.com/media-library/charm-school-vintage.jpg?id=31659065&width=2000&height=1500&quality=65&coordinates=0%2C0%2C0%2C0)
Ahead of the craziest shopping weekend of the year, Yelp has released a report ranking the top cities for shopping local; unsurprisingly, Austin takes the No. 15 spot.
The top 20 list was determined by analyzing millions of Yelp reviews. Cities received a "gifting score," based on reviews mentioning the word "gift" at businesses in shopping categories that are popular during the holidays. Austin is the lone Texas locale on the list.
Yelp says 64 percent of Americans plan on shopping local during the holidays. Each shopper plans to spend an average of $258, meaning nearly $40 billion will be pumped into independent retailers.
For those needing inspiration, Yelp has provided a list of the 10 best Austin shopping destinations, which is dominated by boutiques and South Congress spots.
Parts & Labour, Atown, and Uncommon Objects are lauded for their eclectic array of goods, while Blue Elephant Boutique, Charm School Vintage, Beehive, and SoLa come highly recommended for women's clothing and accessories. For the young ones (or young at heart), visit Toy Joy and Monkey See Monkey Do.
Austin's local flavor doesn't stop there. On Saturday, November 28, you can take advantage of Small Business Saturday, a national initiative to support independent businesses. For more gift-giving ideas, check out our latest recommendations for where to shop.