Small Business Gifts We Want To Keep For Ourselves

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We’re back with one of my favorite gift guides we do all year—small business gifts. Let’s not forget about this time last year when we were all at home in the deep dark days of the pandemic, scrambling for ways to support those in our community. But this year, we have a whole new set of challenges. Mainly shipping delays.

With the massive delays we’ve seen all over the country, people are wondering how (and when) they’re going to get a particular item on their holiday shopping lists when there’s no guaranteeing your gift of choice will be available or arrive on time. Meaning now is the perfect time to head out and support your favorite small businesses to grab what they already have in stock. So today, we’ve highlighted some of our favorite small business gifts from across the internet as well as our local (to us) favorites we think should be on your radar. And if you’re looking to support small businesses from the comfort of your own couch, you’re in the right place.

WAYS TO SUPPORT SMALL BUSINESSES

Check in with your wedding vendors: Check in with your wedding vendors this holiday season (or vendors that you dreamt of working with) for smaller offerings other than their traditional wedding related services. We’ve seen florists offering seasonal wreaths and arrangements, photographers offering beautiful prints and catering companies rolling out full holiday meals for purchase.

Buy Gift Cards: If you’re not sure what you want to gift someone but want to send a token of your affection send a gift card from your favorite local mom and pop shop. Places I can think of off the top of my head include: my local craft beer shop, bookstores, record shops, or the recipient’s favorite restaurant for a fancy feast. And digital gift cards are environmentally friendly, no need for wrapping paper here (unless you insist).

SHOP YOUR INSTAGRAM STORIES for Small Business Gifts: Did you know there are a ton of small businesses using their Instagram stories to show off and sell their products? If you’re asking us, seeing a video of a potential gift makes all difference, you can actually see the details! (Pro tip: find a maker/designer/shop you like and follow them! Be on the lookout for promo codes or exclusive sales.) We’ve found some of our favorite gifts and deals this way while typically interacting with the designer/business owner themselves instead of an automated system, which makes for a much more pleasant buying experience and often leaves us coming back for more.

Hit up The ETSY Marketplace: Etsy has been our go-to for artisan gifts for years. Because why? The options are endless, you can find unique goods, and you’re supporting small businesses! You’ll see a bunch of our favorites from Etsy vendors below but know there is so much more to see over on the site. And if an item you love is sold out be sure to check the related items section at the bottom of the product pages 😉 (Another pro tip: make sure to triple check shipping times so you know you’re ordering a gift that will arrive by the time you need it)

Now let’s support some small businesses! Drop your favorite small business gifts in the comments and let us know your favorite products and why you love them. We’re always looking for items to add to our dream wish lists and you’ll probably find a few to add to yours as well.