Get ready to shop outside.

Mayor Bill de Blasio signed an executive order Wednesday allowing retail businesses to operate outdoors in time for the holiday rush.

Businesses can apply for the “Open Storefronts” initiative and will be able to utilize the sidewalk directly in front of their store from Oct. 30 to Dec. 31. 

The plan was modeled after the “Open Restaurants” initiative that has allowed restaurants to offer outdoor dining.

“Let’s apply that same idea to small businesses, retail businesses all over the five boroughs that so much need additional business to survive,” de Blasio said at his daily press briefing. “But it’s hard to do if you have a small space and restrictions in place. Let’s liberate the outdoor space for them as well and help these small businesses to continue.”

The mayor encouraged people to buy local in an effort to support the city's small businesses. Nearly 70% of sales for these retail operations come during the holiday season, according to Jonnel Doris, the commissioner for the city's Department of Small Business Services. 

"We all appreciate this amazing stuff online, but let's really double down on our local businesses here in the city," de Blasio said. "This is going to be the toughest year for small businesses."

Businesses can erect 5-foot-tall outdoor storefronts 5 feet out from their doors. They will be required to allow an 8-foot clearance for pedestrians to pass by. Stores can utilize street space if their street has already been designated part of the open streets program. They can also put up temporary signage and collapsible umbrellas and tents, but will required to put them back at the close of each day. The move will also allow businesses to open up the space inside their premises to allow for better physical distancing.

The mayor said his goal is to make the application process easy for small business owners, who can join together with businesses on their same block to apply for an “Open Street.”

The initiative can impact over 40,000 small businesses in New York City.

“We need to find new solutions. We need new ways to help everyone and I want to focus on small businesses that have been through so much,” de Blasio said.