The good stuff from Pittsburgh, once a month.

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Why the YinzMart Newsletter exists

Most of us already want to shop local. The hard part is remembering who makes what, finding out when something new drops, and hearing about the pop-up before it’s over. The YinzMart Newsletter is our answer to that problem. Once a month, it gathers the best of Pittsburgh’s small businesses into one short letter so you don’t have to go hunting.

YinzMart.com is a Pittsburgh-first online marketplace. Every seller on the site is based in Pittsburgh or the surrounding region. There are no national sellers, no overseas drop shippers, and no megabrands. The newsletter follows the same rule: every story, every product, and every link points back to someone making or selling something right here.

Local discovery instead of algorithms

On giant marketplaces, what you see is usually decided by ad budgets and sales velocity. A neighborhood candle maker or a family print shop can get buried under thousands of look-alike listings. The YinzMart Newsletter is put together by people, not a feed. We pick a small number of makers and products each month and tell you why they’re worth a look, so local businesses get seen for their craft and their story rather than for how much they spent on ads.

Where your dollars go

When you buy from an independent local business, more of that money tends to stay in the community. Research compiled by Civic Economics and shared by the American Independent Business Alliance found that independent retailers recirculated about 48% of revenue locally, compared with about 13.6% for chain retailers. That’s the local multiplier effect: the shop owner hires a local accountant, orders from a local printer, and spends at the corner restaurant. Every issue of the YinzMart Newsletter is a small nudge to keep that cycle turning in Western PA.

One letter, not a firehose

We know your inbox is crowded. That’s why the YinzMart Newsletter goes out once a month, twelve times a year, and never more. Each issue is designed to read in about three minutes or less. If you only have time to skim the headlines over coffee, you’ll still walk away knowing one new local business and one thing worth buying.

How to get the most out of the YinzMart Newsletter

A monthly letter is only useful if it actually reaches you and you know what to do with it. A few simple habits help.

Make sure it lands in your inbox

Email providers sometimes sort newsletters into a promotions or spam folder. After you sign up, look for your welcome email. If it’s not in your main inbox, move it there and add the sender to your contacts or safe-senders list. That one step usually keeps future issues of the YinzMart Newsletter where you’ll see them.

Use your welcome gift

New subscribers get a code for 10% off YinzMart-made goods, sent right away after you join. Keep that welcome email handy and read the details that come with your code, since it applies to YinzMart-made products. It’s an easy excuse to try something new from a local maker.

Click through to the maker

Every spotlight in the YinzMart Newsletter links to a local maker. Take a minute to visit their shop page on YinzMart, read their story, and follow them. Even if you don’t buy that day, a follow and a share help small businesses stay visible. You can also browse every seller on our Shop by Vendor page.

Save the dates

The ‘Burgh Happenings section rounds up pop-ups, markets, and events where you can meet makers in person. Put the ones you like on your calendar right away. Showing up in person is one of the best ways to support a small business, and many makers love meeting the people who buy their work. Our local events page is another good place to check between issues.

Forward it to a friend

If an issue features something your sister, neighbor, or coworker would love, forward it. Word of mouth has always been how Pittsburgh small businesses grow, and the YinzMart Newsletter is built to be shared.

Who the YinzMart Newsletter is for

You don’t need to be a die-hard shopper to get something out of a monthly local letter. Here’s who tends to enjoy it most:

• People who want to shop local but don’t have time to research every small business in the region.
• Gift givers looking for Pittsburgh-made presents that you won’t find at a big-box store, from Yinzer apparel to small-batch hot sauce, candles, jewelry, and art.
• New Pittsburghers who want a friendly introduction to the makers, markets, and neighborhoods that give the city its character.
• Ex-pats and family out of town who miss the ‘Burgh and want an easy way to keep a little Pittsburgh in their lives.
• Small business owners who are curious about selling online locally and want to see how other makers tell their stories.
• Anyone who believes a strong local economy matters and wants a simple monthly reminder to act on it.

If any of those sound like you, the YinzMart Newsletter is a low-effort way to stay connected.

For Pittsburgh makers: the YinzMart Newsletter and your business

The newsletter exists to celebrate local sellers, so it’s worth understanding how it fits with your shop.

Start with a YinzMart storefront

Spotlights, reviews, and new-arrival roundups come from the businesses selling on YinzMart. If you’re a locally owned Pittsburgh-area business with quality products, the first step is to apply to become a vendor. You can read more about how selling works on our Get Listed page and in our FAQs.

Give us a story to tell

The Maker Spotlight and Owner Profile sections are about people, not just products. Shops that share how they started, what they make, and what makes them proud of Pittsburgh are much easier to write about. Clear product photos, honest descriptions, and an up-to-date shop page all help. If you have news, a new product, or an event coming up, email us at admin@yinzmart.com. We can’t feature every business in every issue, but we love hearing what our vendors are working on.

Share the issue you’re in

When your shop shows up in the YinzMart Newsletter, share it with your own followers. Cross-promotion is part of what makes a local marketplace work: your customers discover other makers, and their customers discover you.

A closer look at each section of the YinzMart Newsletter

If you like to know what you’re signing up for, here’s how we think about each part of the letter.

Maker Spotlight

This is the heart of every issue. We introduce one local small business and the person behind it: how they got started, what they make, and where you can find them. Many Pittsburgh makers began in a kitchen, a basement, a garage, or a family shop, and those beginnings are part of what makes their products special. The goal is for you to finish the spotlight feeling like you’ve met someone, not just seen an ad.

Owner Profile

Running a small business is hard work, and owners rarely get to talk about it. The Owner Profile is a short, honest Q&A about what it really takes: juggling production and orders, finding customers, pricing, and making time for family. Shoppers get a peek behind the curtain, and other small business owners often find a tip or two they can use.

Honest Review

We pick a product we love and give it a real, no-fluff take. What is it? Who is it for? Is it worth it? The review is meant to help you decide, not to oversell. If something is better as a gift than an everyday item, we’ll say so.

New Arrivals

New products are added to YinzMart regularly as more local businesses join. The New Arrivals roundup hand-picks a few of the freshest drops so you can see them before everyone else, whether that’s a seasonal candle, a new hoodie design, or game-day gear.

Subscriber Deals

Some offers are reserved for YinzMart Newsletter readers, including discounts on YinzMart-made goods and early access to new items. Each deal comes with its own details in the issue, so read the fine print before you check out.

‘Burgh Happenings

Online shopping is convenient, but nothing beats meeting a maker face to face. This section points you toward pop-ups, markets, and community events where you can shop your favorite local makers in person.

Shopping local beyond the inbox

The YinzMart Newsletter is a monthly reminder, but supporting Pittsburgh small businesses happens all month long. Here are a few simple, free ways to help between issues:

• Follow and share. Follow YinzMart and your favorite makers on social media, and share posts that catch your eye. Visibility is everything for a small shop.
• Leave a kind word. If you loved a purchase, tell the maker. A short note or review can make someone’s week and helps other shoppers decide.
• Encourage your favorite shops to join. Know a local business that would be a great fit for YinzMart? Point them to our vendor application.
• Show up. Stop by local pop-ups and events. Support doesn’t always have to be a purchase; showing up matters.
• Think local first for gifts. Birthdays, holidays, housewarmings, and thank-yous are all chances to give something made in Pittsburgh.

Small choices add up. When enough people in a region make them, local businesses stay open, neighborhoods stay lively, and more of the money we spend keeps circulating close to home.

Your inbox, your rules

Signing up for the YinzMart Newsletter should never feel like a trap. We’ll never sell or share your email, and you can unsubscribe anytime in one click from the bottom of any issue. For more on how we handle information, see our Privacy Policy. If you ever have a question about your subscription, reach out to us at admin@yinzmart.com and a real Pittsburgher will get back to you.

YinzMart Newsletter FAQs

How often does the YinzMart Newsletter arrive?

Once a month. That’s twelve issues a year, and never more.

How long does it take to read?

Each issue is written to be read in about three minutes or less. Short sections, quick takes, and links if you want to dig deeper.

What’s inside each issue?

A Maker Spotlight, an Owner Profile, an Honest Review, New Arrivals, Subscriber Deals, and ‘Burgh Happenings. Not every issue will look identical, but every one celebrates people making things in Pittsburgh.

What do I get for signing up?

New subscribers receive a code for 10% off YinzMart-made goods, sent right after you join. Subscribers also get first dibs on new drops and deals reserved for newsletter readers.

I signed up but didn’t get my welcome email. What now?

Check your spam, junk, or promotions folder first and move the message to your inbox if you find it. If it’s still missing, email admin@yinzmart.com and we’ll help sort it out.

Will you sell or share my email address?

No. We’ll never sell or share your email.

How do I unsubscribe?

Use the unsubscribe link at the bottom of any issue. It takes one click.

Are the businesses in the YinzMart Newsletter really local?

Yes. Every seller on YinzMart is based in Pittsburgh or the surrounding region, and every link in the newsletter goes to a local maker.

Is there another way to keep up with YinzMart?

You can follow YinzMart on social media, browse the shop, or learn more about our mission on the About page. The YinzMart Newsletter is simply the easiest way to get the highlights in one place.