The holidays are the perfect time to shop small and support local businesses, and with Proxi, you can create the ultimate Shop Local guide to help your community discover the best places to find unique gifts, delicious treats, and festive experiences. Whether you're part of a chamber of commerce, a small business owner, or simply passionate about supporting your local economy, Proxi makes it easy to build an interactive, customizable map that showcases everything your town has to offer.

Why Shop Local Matters During the Holidays

Shopping local during the holidays is about more than just finding a thoughtful gift - it’s about investing in your community. When you buy from local businesses, more of the money stays within your town, supporting neighbors and families who live and work around you. Plus, you’re likely to find one-of-a-kind items that you won’t get at big box stores, making your holiday gifting even more special.

Build Your Own Holiday Shopping Guide with Proxi

Creating a Shop Local guide with Proxi is a breeze, even if you’ve never built a map before! Proxi’s no-code platform allows anyone to create an interactive map, and with just a few steps, you can have a map that highlights your town’s must-visit shops and holiday experiences.

1. Start by Collecting Your Local Favorites

Begin by gathering a list of businesses in your community that offer holiday specials, unique gifts, or festive services. You can organize the businesses into categories like:

• Boutiques for Unique Gifts
• Local Artisans and Makers
• Holiday Treats & Desserts
• Experiences: Holiday Events and Markets
• Home Decor & Specialty Shops

Proxi makes it easy to organize your map, allowing users to filter by category or search for specific shops. For example, if someone’s looking for the perfect handmade gift, they can quickly find local artisans in the “Local Makers” category.

Pro tip: If you’re short on time or want to involve the community, use Proxi’s crowdsourcing feature to ask local residents for their favorite holiday shopping spots!

2. Add Locations and Customize the Map

Once you’ve collected your list, it’s time to add each business as a point on the map. You can include key details for each location, such as:

• Business Name
• Address & Hours
• Holiday Specials or Promotions
• Links to Their Website or Social Media

Customize each point by adding multimedia elements like photos or videos showcasing the business. You can also create custom call-to-action buttons, encouraging users to “Shop Here” or “Check Out Holiday Deals.”

Pro tip: Use Proxi’s spreadsheet feature to easily import your list of places! 

3. Customize and Brand Your Map for the Holidays

With Proxi, you can make your Shop Local guide stand out by customizing the design to reflect the festive season and your town's unique vibe. Personalizing your map not only makes it more visually appealing but also helps reinforce local branding and adds a touch of holiday cheer.

Add Holiday Colors: Match your map’s color palette with seasonal hues—think reds, greens, golds, and whites - to give your guide a festive feel. You can easily adjust the background, markers, and lines to align with holiday themes.

Use Custom Icons: Replace default icons with holiday-themed graphics like snowflakes, ornaments, candy canes, or gift boxes to mark shop locations. This small detail adds a fun and festive element to your map that users will love.

Feature Your Brand: Include your local chamber of commerce or community group’s logo on the map to promote your organization while supporting local businesses. You can also add sponsor logos for businesses featured in the guide.

Highlight Special Routes or Areas: Draw attention to special shopping districts or walking routes with custom shapes or lines on the map. Create a visually distinct “Holiday Shopping Trail” that leads users to the best holiday experiences in town.

By customizing the map’s branding and visual elements, you not only spread holiday cheer but also create a seamless, branded experience that reinforces the importance of shopping local this season.

Pro tip: Create personalized CTA buttons that align with the holiday spirit, such as "Shop Here for the Holidays" or "Grab a Festive Treat." These interactive buttons can guide users to click through to business websites or special offers.

4. Share Your Map with the Community

Sharing your map is simple. Once your Shop Local guide is ready, you can share it on social media, embed it on your website, or send it out in newsletters. Encourage local residents to share the map with friends and family, spreading the word about the incredible local businesses in your community.

You can also embed the map behind a paywall or add sponsored locations if you're looking to generate revenue through the guide.

How Local Chambers and Business Associations Can Use Proxi

Chambers of commerce and business associations can leverage Proxi to promote a collective Shop Local guide for their entire town. By featuring a variety of local shops, restaurants, and holiday markets, you can create an all-in-one resource for residents and visitors alike to enjoy the holiday season while supporting small businesses.

You can even organize specific events like Small Business Saturday or Winter Wonderland Market, where shoppers follow your map to discover hidden gems around town and collect stamps or prizes along the way.

Track Success with Proxi Analytics

Proxi's built-in analytics give you insights into how your map is performing. You can track how many people are viewing your map, what locations are the most popular, and even analyze engagement metrics to see which businesses are driving the most traffic. This can help you measure the impact of your Shop Local guide and make improvements for future holiday seasons.

Examples of Successful Shop Local Guides

Looking for inspiration? Here are a few ideas for your holiday Shop Local map:

• Small Business Saturday Tour: Highlight local shops participating in Small Business Saturday with special deals, pop-up events, and festive offers.
• Local Art Walk: Showcase artists and crafters selling their handmade goods during the holidays with a map that guides residents through a local art market or holiday bazaar.
• Holiday Treat Trail: Create a map that points locals to the best spots for holiday treats, including bakeries, coffee shops, and restaurants offering seasonal sweets.

Final Thoughts: Making the Holidays Shine Locally

This holiday season, give back to your community by making it easier than ever to shop local. With Proxi, you can create a map that not only helps residents find unique gifts and experiences but also supports the small businesses that make your town special. The festive season is all about togetherness, and what better way to spread holiday cheer than by highlighting the best your community has to offer?

Ready to get started? Build your Shop Local guide today and make this holiday season one to remember for your entire community!