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Small Business Saturday is back and Louisville has a lush ecosystem of small businesses, independent businesses, and local entrepreneurs.

Today—and all throughout the holiday season— is a great time to support the creativity, inventiveness, and dedication of small businesses, and celebrate their contributions to their local and regional economies.

Here are 12 of the many small businesses in Louisville to support this week and beyond!

Atomic House of Hair 2201 Grinstead Dr. and 1201 Goss Ave. Ste. 2Book an appointment as soon as possible at this woman-owned hair salon in a repurposed filing station in the Highlands or on the second floor of a larger building (above Forage) in Germantown. Atomic House of Hair is a Davines exclusive salon, and their focus is on lush colors. Each stylist has a distinctive technique and the interior design of the space as comfortable as it is elegant. Atomic House of Hair
Mama Tried Tattoo Parlour 1052 Bardstown Rd.This appointment-only custom tattoo parlour in the Highlands not only pursues artistic excellence but also engages with the community by collaborating nonprofits like KY Health Justice Network. Owner and artist Lyndi Lou loves bright color tattoos and textural black work; artist Jared Stacy specializes in black and gray realism; artist Victoria Kurtz specializes in bright color flora and fauna; and Bob Million has a passion for Japanese folklore; and first year junior tattoo artist Heather Taylor loves all things kawaii, so the aesthetic options are truly beautiful. Mama Tried via Instagram
Discoveries 1315 Bardstown Rd.To a Bardstown Rd. window shopper, Discoveries might look like a women’s clothing boutique, but a step inside reveals much more than that. This small business stalwart is a treasure trove of accessories, jewelry, artifacts, and other gifts sourced from around the world. Discoveries via Facebook
Barret Babes 970 Barret Ave.Situated in a repurposed shotgun house on Barret Ave. in Germantown, Barret Babes is an unexpected wonderland of vintage clothing, handmade jewelry, vintage glassware, local art, live plants, an apothecary including CBD products, and tarot card readings. Co-owners Cheyenne Coffey, Iva Gorman and Althea-Lane Ford opened their doors in 2021 and we feel like they’ve always been there. Barret Babes via Facebook
It’s a Stitch 1860 Mellwood Ave. Ste. 177ALocated in a studio space at Mellwood Art Center, It’s a Stitch offers alterations for evening and formal wear. And because the owner Ruth has 75 years of experience and has worked in clothing factories in and around Louisville, she can make alterations to any other type of garment too. Mellwood Art Center via Facebook
Ultra Pop! 960 Barret Ave.Independent owner Owner Paul LePree curates an ever-renewing collection of designer toys, blind box figures in resin and vinyl, art and design books, local art, and pop cultural ephemera. Linger at the check-out counter after your purchase your weird items (because they are definitely going to be weird) and enjoy LePree’s display of Japanese figurines from his personal collection. Ultra Pop!
Destination Comics 5031 Shelbyville Rd.Located on the far end of a strip mall off Shelbyville Rd. in St. Matthews, Destination Comics is an LGBTQ-owned small business who sell more than comics. Subscribe to your favorite monthly series, and then check out their Funko POP! assortment, high-end anime figures, vinyl model kits, and apparel, among other geek cultural gems. Destination Comics
Set & Setting 1512 Portland Ave. Studio 11Set & Setting is a teeny tiny bookstore located in a studio space at PORTAL + ARTPORTAL in Portland. Kaleigh Basso describes her small business as “a one-woman show from curation to fulfillment to marketing” and her online business as “an online bookstore with big aspirations.” Only steps away from Wiltshire Pantry, this bookstore is ideal destination for a friend date (or a date date). Set & Setting via Instagram
The Opposite Shop 2509 Portland Ave.Young Authors Greenhouse is a creative writing and tutoring nonprofit based in Louisville who work with students between the ages of 6 and 18 to develop their writing and storytelling skills. The storefront of the nonprofit is The Opposite Shop in Portland and all proceeds from go back to the writing programs of Young Authors Greenhouse. The Opposite Shop
The Breeze Wine & Coffee 1247 S. Shelby St.Co-founder Sarah Height and Chelsea Moore launched their shop in a booth at the Logan Street Market in 2019, but have since relocated to the space adjacent to their natty wine bar Canary Club. The wine shop and coffee bar are thoughtfully curated with of natural wines, local beer, imported sake, and small batch mocktails along with enticing displays of small batch chocolate, creative confitures, cookbooks, and hand-made housewares. The Breeze Wine & Coffee
Idlewild Butterfly Farm and Insectarium 1100 Logan St.Idlewild Butterfly Farm and Insectarium is a truly unique destination in Louisville that offers native butterflies of Kentucky as well as education on insects, and who also work to protect and increase pollinator habitat. Their storefront in Shelby Park also features a gift shop curated with items from other small businesses and fair-trade imports including butterfly wing jewelry, preserved insect specimens, children’s books and toys, and garden art. Idlewild Butterfly Farm and Insectarium
Stix-N-Stonz 2234 Dundee Rd.This small business was established in 2012 and has continually renewed its inventory of metaphysical products and its menu of services. Anyone on a quest for crystals, sage, jewelry, candles, tarot cards, spiritual books, psychic readings, or house blessings and cleansings need quest no further Stix-N-Stonz. Stix-N-Stonz via Facebook

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Aria Baci is a writer and critic who has been working in print and digital media since 2015 for outlets as varied as Design*Sponge, Geeks OUT, Flame Con, and The Mary Sue. She is passionate about literature,...