While visiting New York City, sightseeing is a must, yet thousands of people every year travel to the city for the massive retail shopping it has to offer.
Some shoppers are in search of a good deal, while others are looking to buy something that is uniquely uncommon. 
There are several options for the shopper looking for big-name brands, from department stores and designer sample sales to established commercial retail areas.
One area worth taking note of, where retail couldn't be more vibrant, is the stretch of Broadway between Houston and Canal Streets in SoHo (South of Houston).
Comprised of more than 50 blocks, SoHo, once known for its defunct sweatshops, was organically transformed into a desirable neighborhood by artists in the 1970s, living in roomy deserted loft spaces and selling their paintings on the streets.
Real estate investors caught on to the trendy area; storefront rents surged making way for the high-rent retail spaces of today.
If you are the shopper who favors patronizing independent businesses that boast American-made brands and high-quality goods, you will have to take a walk off Broadway's beaten path.
With so little time in New York City and so many interesting small stores peppering the charming downtown landscape, where does one begin to shop?
Allow Free Tours by Foot to introduce you to the much sought-after small shops. Sign up for our NoLIta & SoHo Shopping Day and discover the independent businesses you would never have found on your own.
Enjoy a three-hour day of shopping quality merchants, each with a story to tell. Your guide will also be happy to assist you with questions you may have about navigating shopping in New York.
This shopping day is offered in conjunction with www.ZTrend.com/shop. To ensure a special shopping experience, groups are kept small.
After a day of shopping, attendees are privy to a complimentary map of Meatpacking, highlighting your guide's short list of favorite stores, and restaurants as well as things to do.
