‘Tis the season to shop until we drop!
The holidays can be a crazy time of overwhelm and stress. Between buying gifts, hosting and dealing with family drama, it’s a shock that we love the season as much as we do!
When stress, overwhelm and exhaustion hit, who do we turn to first? Did the word ‘Amazon’ and ‘Free Two Day Shipping’ pop into your mind?
Don’t get us wrong, we love a good Prime Delivery, but when it comes to holiday shopping, our hearts are small… with small businesses that is!
So, to help save you the stress and overwhelm of holiday gift shopping, we’ve found some of the best small businesses to shop online this holiday season whether it’s for mom, your best girlfriend, business partner, or in-law.
And if it’s just not in the cards to purchase from a small business this holiday season, there are tons of FREE ways to support them.
What is small business Saturday?
Before we jump into some of our favorites, let’s look ahead to Saturday. What makes this day so dang special anyway?
Small Business Saturday is like Black Friday but rather than supporting big-box stores, we have the opportunity to support local makers and artisans. Instead, we are collectively supporting the hands that craft and build your products and services.
This holiday was started back in 2010 amidst the recession to help build up and drive more Christmas shopping towards small businesses.
So, if you’re looking for the ultimate gift guide with locally and artisan made goods, you stopped at that right place! Let’s dig into the best small businesses to shop online!
What’s the best part of this list? It’s not only relevant for the holiday season.
These small businesses are thankfully open year round with plenty of online shopping available for your next birthday, anniversary, housewarming or gathering-of-any-kind celebration.
So go ahead… click that bookmark on your browser bar! Because why do we need a special holiday to shop online from small business owners and entrepreneurs alike!?
What can you expect from this list?
You can expect a curated list of small businesses with high standards and big hearts both near and far.
We are firm believers that local doesn’t have to mean your backyard. Thanks to the digital world, we are now best friends with people we’ve never met who live halfway around the world. It’s kind of amazing.
So, although we love our home and are proud Americans, we also believe in entrepreneurs everywhere and wouldn’t hesitate to support anyone, worldwide!
You can also expect that each one of these businesses offers an online shop with shipping. Even if they are local to us, they can also be local-ish to you thanks to the wonderful men and women who work in our delivery service industry.
P.S. These people need all the love this holiday season! There are so many other businesses that are near and dear to our hearts locally, but we wanted to focus on those that are available to nearly everyone.
So in the words of Taylor Swift… are you ready for it?
Skincare & Clean Beauty
Willow Moon Farm
Willow Moon Farm is a regenerative farm that creates non-toxic skincare products. Everything is farm-fresh and high-quality. By shopping from Willow Moon Farm, you know you’re supporting an eco-friendly, family-owned small business.
Toxin Free Ish
Wendy’s toxin-free shopping guide is unbeatable. It’s your one-stop-shop for all clean living needs. Give the gift of natural beauty, cleaning, and cooking products.
Primal Wellness
We worked with Primal Wellness on their brand identity and absolutely love how they took that and ran with it for their product designs! For all things holistic wellness, shop Primal Wellness.
Ash+Stone Skincare
Ash + Stone Skincare is a beautifully crafted brand that hand-makes small-batch, plant-based formulations that prioritize both skin and wellness. Their commitment to sustainability and holistic beauty makes them a meaningful pick for your Small Business Saturday shopping list.
Snacks & Sips
Junita’s Jar
Tasty cookies on a mission. The best part, you can buy them at Target— yes please! Junita is a domestic violence awareness advocate and her mission is about more than just baking delicious cookies. It’s about building upon those snack time traditions and inviting you to open up and enjoy your favorite cookies, open up your mind to embrace and engage in tough conversations and open up your heart to hope-filled possibilities. Her story is really one that everyone needs to hear. Plus, the playful packaging make for the best stocking stuffers!
Scout & Cellar
Scout & Cellar believes there’s nothing more delicious than when nature does its thing. So they created products that reflect a commitment to nature. Every product in their shop is backed by the Clean-Crafted Commitment® and independently lab-tested to ensure it’s free of everything artificial. From wine clubs to snacks and coffee, they truly have a gift for every tastebud.
Equal Parts Cocktail Co.
In a world where we spend the majority of our days working from home and interacting with our internet besties, we are constantly craving for ways to connect. Equal Parts Cocktail Co. has solved that problem for us in the best of ways— with themed virtual cocktail classes and cocktail kits. Get ready to host a one-of-a-kind virtual mixology experience with your colleagues, employees, clients or friends. Check out his new cocktail kits!
Sharay’s Ghana Style Brittle
Brittle that doesn’t stick to your teeth. What!? Say that again please! When we first heard about this magic brittle, we almost didn’t believe it, but we are here to tell you that it’s true! This magical treat doesn’t stick to your teeth and is the absolute perfect combination of salty and sweet. Not to mention, it’s the perfect stocking stuffer for your loved one. Check out their variety pack holiday sale and get your hands on every flavor.
Lovejoys Bloody Mary Mix
This wouldn’t be a “best small businesses to shop online” list if we didn’t include some sips for you! Afterall, we are the makers of Tuesday Tips & Sips! This brand is one of our absolute favorites. Last year our clients even got to sample some of the goods for themselves as we packaged them right up in their little holiday gift boxes. From bloody mary mix to seasoning and even apparel you’re bound to leave with a full cart and a tasty bevy.
Moontime Tea
This is a story and mission very close to our hearts. Kathryn has dedicated her life to helping women balance hormones and realign with their natural moon cycles to feel restored and replenished. She started Moontime Tea after years of hormonal imbalance and personal fertility challenges. Now she helps thousands of women navigate that same path.
Mixly Cocktail Co.
Mixly has amazing premade mocktails, cocktails, and mixers. Mixly uses only the best ingredients to make refreshing, flavorful, and delicious cocktail and mocktail mixers. Give the gift of custom drinks this holiday season!
Fashion & Boutiques
Ryn Boutique
We got to work with Ryn on her SEO! They sell timeless fashion that resonates with your personal values and lifestyle. Ryn Boutique partners with makers from around the world to create high-quality clothing made from natural fabrics, ensuring each piece is designed for durability, comfort, and enduring style. Everything they sell is sustainable so you can shop confidently knowing you’re supporting a good cause.
Get Your Pink Back
Founder Lindsey says it best herself: “Lindsey started Get Your Pink Back, an inspirational clothing line created around the concept that flamingos can actually lose their pink coloring while raising their young because so much of their food and energy goes to their chicks. But, eventually they get it back… and you will too!” They have cute, trendy clothes for moms and we constantly sport their clothes around the Twin Cities!
Wild Isles Swim
As the cool air moves in, we instantly start dreaming about warmer climates. If this sounds like you and your flight is already booked, then this might be the perfect place to do a little online shopping. Who says you can’t buy a gift for yourself!? Wild Isles Swim offers inclusive sizing for every body type with a variety of different styles. Any bod is a swimsuit bod and we are here for the confidence that comes with it!
Small Batch Jewelry
Wondermint Goods
Shop fun and colorful jewelry at Wondermint Goods, one of the best small businesses to shop online! You can get almost anything personalized to make your gift extra special and unique. Love what you see? Get a box of goodies delivered to our door every quarter with their subscription box!
Love Saro
Luxury permanent jewelry, anyone? The experience is a gift in and of itself, but you also get to walk away with a beautiful new piece of jewelry. They have in-person locations in Denver and L.A. with a virtual option. Book a virtual appointment to create the piece and get it shipped to you (or your gift recipient!)
Gifts, Home, & Lifestyle Goods
Festive Gal
Festival Gal makes every party extra fun and cute! Elevate your holiday party (or bachelorette, or baby shower, or graduation, or New Year’s… you get the idea!) with their custom decor and accessories. Your friends and family will be so impressed by this added touch!
Mashe Modern
This shop is your home to everything you need for modern quilting. Kristen launched this shop, because as a quilter herself, she saw a massive hole in the market when it comes to modern fabrics. She takes pride in picking out only the best modern fabrics with bright, saturated colors and making them readily available for you to shop online.
Fbombs & Booze
Sometimes a little colorful language is necessary and this shop gets it! The most inappropriate, yet the best gift for anyone in your life. Seriously, there is an Fbomb cup for every single person you can imagine — in-laws, bosses, sisters, friends and more. Sometimes the best gifts are the gifts that celebrate those real life oh-shit moments. So in the words of this shop… “cheers b*tches!”
Kitty Meow Boutique
Beautifully designed paper goods that are fun, fierce and designed to make women feel confident, empowered, and courageous. Um, I will take 50 please. Shop greeting cards people actually want to save and frame to stylish desk necessities every business owner needs. We seriously can’t get enough of this shop.
Lil Nippers
A product that aims to make your life easier. If you’ve ever chased a screaming toddler around your house with a nail clipper, then you need this. The mission behind Lil Nippers was to foster independence and empowerment no matter age, ability, background or accessibility. Lil Nippers is an automatic nail clipper that provides a safe, unique and effortless nail clipping experience. Safe to say that every mom and caregiver on the planet needs one of these in their back pocket!
Cayla Gray
A brand dedicated to prioritizing easy access to safe ingredients that consciously embody a luxury spirit and the beauty of nature. From hand-poured candles to cleanly-formulated fragrances, these premium-quality materials, bespoke fragrances, and environmentally-aware production are the foundation for the brand’s thoughtfully curated collections.
The Gray Muse
Consider this your one-stop shop for pick-me-up gifts for those creatives in your life who love self-expression. As a woman, minority, immigrant, mom, and creative, Founder Rubeena wanted to build a life she loved while providing a tangible way for people to feel comfortable with expressing themselves. Her background in the mental health field led her to recognizing the importance of powerful words meant to remind us that we’re doing our best. There really is a little something for everyone.
Local Bliss Box
Let’s just leave the gifting to the professionals, huh!? The pros at Local Bliss Box will provide you with a beautifully designed and curated box featuring locally sourced gifts. This just made shopping for the difficult ones on your list easy! Choose from gorgeous ready-to-go holiday gift boxes to personalized corporate and wedding client gifts.
Kobi Co.
Kobi started this business right after graduating from high school as a way to fund her college dreams. Not only is her story incredibly inspirational, but her focus on self-care, good vibes and high energy is something we are here for! Plus they are a mother-daughter duo and ya’ll know how we feel about duos! Check out her festive candle collection with adorable Santa Baby, Mistletoe and Silent Night scents.
Lit Fiction
Calling all Romantasy readers! Lit Fiction sells scents (wax melts, candles, diffusers, room sprays, body mists, etc.) that embody your favorite Romantasy characters. You can shop by author, universe, genre, or scent to find the perfect gift for the readers in your life.
Transient Books
Our SEO on Tap student Alex is the owner of Transient Books, a company that creates handbound keepsake books that transform memories into heirlooms. Whether you want to create a custom travel journal, a pregnancy memory book, or a guest book with a personalized map design, they let you bring your own design or choose from theirs.
Candidly Speaking
The Candidly Speaking is a black‑owned stationery and greeting card company that crafts heartfelt, hilarious, and deeply relatable cards for every life moment. Purchase some cards to use in the upcoming year!
For Mama’s
Nurtured 9
Calling all who are shopping for soon-to-be and newly blessed mamas! Nurtured 9 is a luxury maternity brand featuring the perfect postpartum and pregnancy gifts. From gift boxes with belly butter to specialty nausea tea, you’ll find the perfect treat for the mama you’re shopping for.
Pregnant and Hungry
No one wants to worry about meals when they’re pregnant! With the Pregnant and Hungry monthly subscription, you’ll be able to access hundreds of recipes, create weekly meal plans, and shop with a smart grocery list. Give the gift of relaxation to an expecting mother.
The Playground App
It’s like recess for adults! The Playground App offers strength training classes that are functional, educational, and fun! It has everything you need to strengthen your physical and mental health every day. She has an entire prenatal and postpartum program, too!
Lolo and Spence
Shop the cutest and most sustainable kids clothing for the little ones in your life! Lolo and Spence focuses on timeless and quality children’s essentials that can be passed down from sibling-to-sibling, and friend-to-friend, crafted both by established international brands as well as up-and-coming local designers.
Give-Back & Purpose-Driven Brands
Some of the best gifts are given or donated to causes close to your heart. Our Duo Gives Back program was created with these organizations in mind – the ones out there making the world a better place. Support these wonderful organizations this holiday season by donating, volunteering, or purchasing products. It makes a huge difference!
Face to Face
Sometimes the best gift you can give is to volunteer your time or donate. Face to Face’s mission is to empower youth to overcome barriers and strive toward healthy and self-sufficient lives. They support over 3,000 youth every year between the ages 11 to 24 with health care, mental health services, and basic needs services for youth experiencing homelessness. Find out how you can get involved this season when some of the toughest mental health issues arise.
Gloves 4 Grief
Gloves 4 Grief is a non-profit supporting those navigating their grief journey. They create boxing and wellness experiences so people who are grieving can physically release their pain and connect with others who understand. Their “Gloves for Good” giving program offers donors a way to sustain the work. Monthly gifts help make sure the organization can continue offering its mind, body, and soul–based support. You’re investing in a community that understands the struggle of loss and provides meaningful outlets to heal.
STAAR
The STAAR Foundation is a volunteer‑led nonprofit dedicated to funding research and providing support for low-grade serous ovarian cancer (LGSOC) — a rare, often underfunded subtype. They offer resources such as a symptom checker, a video library of LGSOC experts, peer support groups, and education for people newly diagnosed or living with recurrence. Supporting STAAR means giving voice and funding to a rare-cancer community that too often gets overlooked — your contribution helps drive research, awareness, and real change.
Give Hope. Fight Poverty
Give Hope. Fight Poverty is one of the newest recipient of the Duo Gives Back program. They are a U.S.-based nonprofit on a mission to support orphaned and vulnerable children in rural eSwatini (formerly Swaziland) through education, service, and sustainable development. When you donate, you can choose from different impact levels or even start a fundraiser or drive in your own community.
Elevate Hope House
Elevate Hope House is a faith‑based nonprofit on a mission to support young, single mothers (ages 18–24) and their children facing homelessness in Anoka County, MN. Their volunteer “Family Advocates” walk alongside each mom, offering mentorship, practical help, and spiritual care. Your gift provides safe, stable housing for these young moms, helping them provide the best care for their children and themselves.
Pet-Friendly Gifts
Pink Tongue
Pink Tongue is a mission‑driven pet brand co-founded by childhood friends Eric & Joey, inspired by Eric’s late dog Riley, who visited hospitals and brought joy to everyone he met. Their goal is to support adoption and rescue by making meaningful, stylish bandanas. 5% of every sale goes directly to shelter partners to help lower adoption fees, fund medical care, and keep shelters running.
Amusejoy Poo Bags
Probably one of our favorite brands to work with to date! Our friend Kerrie Fitzgerald created cute and fun doggie poo bags. She gifted us some and we can confirm, they are adorable! Gift these to your friends with doggie sidekicks!
Pet Wants
Pet Wants Minneapolis is a locally owned mobile pet food business, delivering fresh, natural food right to your door. No more late night runs to Petco! Their product lineup goes beyond just food: you’ll find natural chews, treat toppers, and wellness items like CBD and probiotics. They even offer a “Feed Rescue Cats” option so you can donate food by the pound.
Smalls for Cats
Kitties need some fresh food delivered straight to your door, too! Smalls offers a subscription to make feeding easier and more consistent. Their food is not typical kibble — it’s more like a real, whole-food meal for cats. After switching to Smalls, cat owners reported softer fur, less stinky litter boxes, and a more energetic cat. That’s what high-quality food does!
For The Entrepreneurs
Kat Waugh
We loooove Kat’s Notion templates! They have helped us streamline our business processes so efficiently. Check them out!
Laurel Denise
If you still use a paper planner, you’re gonna want one from Laurel Denise for the upcoming year. She creates planners, journals, and accessories that support real lives, especially for people who want more clarity, creativity, and calm. Yes, please!
Atlas Stationers
Atlas Stationers has been a family‑run business since 1939! What once was a more traditional office-supply store has transformed into a go-to small business for fountain pens, inks, fine paper, and journaling gear. If you’re into writing, journaling, or pen collecting, your purchase supports one of the best small businesses to shop online.
Minnesota Finds
Although these are located in our home base Minnesota, you can buy from many of these businesses online regardless of where you live!
Made in Minn
Made In Minn is a Minnesota-based apparel brand that specializes in timeless, embroidered clothing with a local touch. When you purchase from them this holiday season, you’re supporting a local business that really leans into Minnesota identity.
The Lupine Lady Bakery
Kristin is actually Court’s neighbor! We get freshly baked goods all the time and cannot recommend her enough. With a simple motto to “eat more cake,” the Lupine Lady brings a little more sweetness and connection to the community. Her goodies make for meaningful, handcrafted gifts (or a self-care treat!).
ModernRoots
We love ModernRoots’ holistic skincare! Their soaps and body care smell AMAZING and we’re confident knowing it’s clean and effective. They have the perfect stock-stuffers like face masks, bath bombs, soaps, and lip balms.
Brühaven
Abbey’s husband owns Brühaven so we obviously had to add it to the list! It’s a vibrant gathering space offering craft beer, non-alcoholic brews, coffee, and connection. We co-work there a lot – stop by and say hi! We just finished creating custom, local apparel for them that you can shop this holiday season.
Jenny in the City
Jenny in the City is one of the best small businesses to shop online! It’s the cutest boutique in the Twin Cities, and of course, they have an online store for you to shop. They have cute apparel, accessories, beauty products, kid’s clothes, and a charm bar.
Lucille’s Bottleshop
Lucille’s removed the alcohol, but didn’t remove the fun from their products! From wine and beer to spirits and mocktails, they have all the non-alcoholic options you could want. These are perfect for holiday parties. You can also visit their tasting room and bottleshop in St. Paul. It has the cutest vibe!
Fan Girl
Give us another local duo and we will instantly be obsessed. Fan Girl has the best shop to cheer on all your favorite Minnesota sport teams. Trendy sports apparel you actually want to wear. Whether you are cheering on your team at home or in the stands, it’s hard not to binge every new collection drop!
PRIMP Boutique
Minnesota-owned will always be near and dear to our hearts! That is why PRIMP is the absolute perfect boutique for this small business list. This boutique is one of our favorite spots to shop for on brand photoshoot attire. We highly recommend their cozy knits. The best part is, with limited quantities, you’ll feel like the unique goddess that you are!
That’s a wrap!
The best small businesses to shop online this holiday season
We could have keep this list going like the Energizer Bunny. However, we do have a business to run, lots of work to do, and a turkey to eat!
We already know there are so many more small businesses out there worthy of this list. And because we know that this shopping list is relevant long after we’ve take down our Christmas lights, we are here to continue to refresh this content just for you.
So comment below if there are other best small businesses to shop online you’d like us to add.
Not Ready To Stop Shopping Small?
If you aren’t ready to stop shopping we have just the content for you. Go ahead and shop here and here and here for our favorite Black-owned businesses in the Twin Cities.
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