ACTION OPPORTUNITY: Friday, February 28 is an economic blackout - a day of no shopping (except local/small businesses)! Join me in not shopping this Friday! No big box stores, no gas, no fast food.
I used to be a very strong Target Person. I would visit Target regularly not just as an errand but as a means of entertainment and finding inner peace. It's funny how easily the positive vibe at Target can slip away...
Many people (including me) have reduced their Target shopping as their foot traffic has decreased and their stock value has gone down. But if you're someone who used to buy basically everything at Target, where should you get things now?
First, I don't think completely stopping shopping at Target is realistic for many people, so I'm advocating for a drastic reduction rather than a complete boycott. Depending on where you live and your budget, Target might be one of your only options for buying certain items. With that, there are a ton of alternatives to explore that I'll outline below.
Where to Buy Groceries
Local co-op - you don't need to be a member to shop at a co-op! While sometimes prices are higher than what you'd find at a chain grocery store, co-ops operate as nonprofits and tend to have strong DEI and environmental sustainability values. In the Twin Cities I like the Wedge co-ops and Lakewinds.
Community-supported agriculture (CSA) subscription - this is a box of produce (and sometimes other things) that you get weekly or bi-weekly directly from local farmers over the growing season. I get my CSA through The Good Acre but there are tons of options to explore! Note that some CSAs are not certified organic, but might still use organic practices. It costs a lot of money to be certified as organic, and many small farms can't afford to get certified or may not meet every single requirement. Don't let this be a deal-breaker for you! Farms that have CSAs will often share lots of information about their growing practices so you can decide if their approach is a good fit for you.
Costco - Costco continues to double down on both DEI and cheap hot dogs. What more do you need? That said, Costco can be challenging for small families and people living in spaces with minimal storage. Here are a few of my tips on shopping at Costco for my two-person family:
Don't buy highly perishable things because you won't be able to finish them before they go bad.
Learn how to store produce properly to extend its life. (Maybe someday I'll write a blog about this.)
Buy unripe produce - Costco's bags of avocados come unripe and last a long time if you let them ripen on your counter and then move them to the fridge.
Grow a garden or befriend someone who grows a garden (we always have extra!!)
Farmer's markets - buying directly from the grower or maker eliminates the need for corporations!
Independent grocery stores and specialty stores - bodegas, specialty food stores, local butcher shops, etc. I love going to Asian grocery stores because they tend to have incredible produce at really great prices! A few of my favorites locally:
The grocery inside Asia Mall in Eden Prairie
Weee - an online Asian grocery store that offers both shipping and delivery even for perishable items!
Lund's and Byerly's/Kowalski's (MN only) - I don't know a ton about these companies' policies, but I believe employees are unionized and both are locally-owned companies. Kowalski's typically has some of the best-quality produce in the Twin Cities.
Where to Buy Stuff for Your House
This is a trickier one. You can purchase things like toilet paper and clorox wipes at grocery stores, but they tend to have a small selection and high prices. This is unfortunately an area where I will need to keep shopping at Target or Walgreens. If you have more good ideas for this one, send them my way!
Costco - obviously. If you don't have room to store 600 rolls of toilet paper, consider shopping together with friends and splitting packages!
Grove.com - a B Corp that sells mostly cleaning supplies, household goods, and cosmetics with a vendor diversity program (which they are actively and transparently working on improving) and lots of environmental sustainability practices
Thrift stores - I get a lot of great kitchenwares from Goodwill and Arc!
Buying directly from brands - in some cases, you might be able to order specific products online directly from the brand instead of buying it through a store.
Also, check out this "no buy" guide to kitchen stuff from the amazing Illyanna Maisonet!
Where to Buy Clothes
Buy secondhand!! More and more of my wardrobe is thrifted and once you get the hang of smart thrifting you'll never go back! My general approach is to buy natural fibers (cotton, linen, wool) and look for brands I know and love. A few of my favorite secondhand stores:
ThredUp - online thrift store! It is overwhelming at first, but once you set up saved searches you'll love it. Note that returns have a small fee, so I recommend buying brands where you know your size. (The other thing to keep in mind is that if you know you'll keep a few things and get a great deal on them, you might be wiling to eat the fee if you have to return an item or two.) ThredUp also has a "new with tags" option where you can buy completely new items, which is great for shoes and workout gear.
Nu Look and Fashion Avenue (MN) - two great consignment shops that tend to have great high-quality items!
Where to Buy Beauty Products
Ulta - aside from a brief foray into Sephora in my early 20s, I've always been an Ulta lady. They have an active DEI program and the best rewards program.
Weee - in addition to amazing grocery items, they also have a huge selection of Asian beauty products, including the good sunscreens that are illegal in the US.
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