‘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.
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 good stuff!
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 would 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?
36 Small Businesses to Shop Online For Small Business Saturday + Beyond
Duo Collective
Since we launched our shop last year, we couldn’t pass up an opportunity to share it— right!? This shop has a mix of apparel and digital tools to make entrepreneurship anything but boring. From our world famous (so we say) Find Me On Google Crewneck to our Instagram Organizer and the Digital Brand Kit and Mood Board Template. We have a little something for everyone. These make for the perfect gifts for your online business besties.
Val Marlene Shop
We owe our business to our coach Val and the tools she is selling inside her shop. Check out her brand-new, just-launched shop of financial tools and templates for creatives. Oh and don’t forget to peek at that testimonial on the Financial Snapshot product page. It really is our business lifeline! If you run a business and are tired of playing the CFO role and having no idea what you are doing, these tools are for you.
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.
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!
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!
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!
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.
Anna + Pookie Party Supplies
Anna + Pookie is the only female black-owned brand dedicated to providing party supplies created for children of color. Their unique party products feature black and brown children in fun and whimsical environment. Explore everything inside the shop from party themed plates and cups to holiday wrapping paper. It’s about time we have high quality, picture-perfect party supplies for everyone.
Crystalyn Aucoin Jewelry
We were in a puddle of tears listening to this founders keynote at The Ultimate Product Party last year. After losing her husband to cancer, his words ultimately gave her strength. Strength to unapologetically live out her purpose and navigate life with a heightened sense of gratitude and intention while encouraging others to do the same. Her minimalistic jewelry line is about empowering women to celebrate life with beautiful pieces they can hold onto forever.
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.
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.
Sound and Circle
We can’t think of a single person that wouldn’t be worthy of an item from this Seattle-based small business! It’s an organizational heaven from list trackers, to-do pads, journals, planners and stickers, there is a little something for everyone. Plus, every single item is hand crafted by Lindsay, in her adorable office, which just makes you feel oh-so-good about your purchase.
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.
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 speciality nausea tea, you’ll find the perfect treat for the mama you’re shopping for.
The Be Brand
Cute clothes that help women feel empowered and increase confidence? Sign us up! The Be Brand clothing encourages you to rock your new ‘fit with your personal style and embrace your inner beauty. Plus, their collection of shackets and activewear is unreal! *adds to cart*
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.
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!
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!
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.
Begonia & Bench
These small batch candles use a blend of non-dyed botanical plant waxes and artisan crafted fragrances. Did we mention they smell oh so good!? Plus they are carbon neutral, low waste and give back to environment by planting a tree for every candle purchased. If we are being honest, we were sold before the end of that very first sentence.
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.
The Lake & Company
To all those nature lovers, story tellers, and adventure enthusiasts on your list, this shop is for them! Our favorite part about this company is that they’re a team composed of well traveled entrepreneurs and creatives who share a strong appreciation for our natural environment and the communities that have built their culture around it.
Planty Queens
House plants are kind of a secret obsession of ours… okay fine, it’s an addiction. In the dead of winter, who doesn’t want a little fresh greenery in their life!? This is the kind of gift that literally keeps on giving long after the holidays have faded away. Not finding something you love in their shop? Be sure to check back for their restocks every Friday at 7pm!
Blondie Apparel
Spoken from two (not both natural) blondes, we are digging this brand! Shop their collection of stunning basics crafted in Canada from ethically sources materials. And if we didn’t already love them enough, for every purchase they make a contribution to the Ottawa Dog Rescue Center. Our big furry pets approve!
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.
The Spring Moon
Whose got an art-lover on their list? Farheen is a Toronto-based multidisciplinary artist and to say she is multi-talented would be an understatement! She doesn’t just build jewelry, she builds connections. She even creates pieces exclusively for museums which are inspired by manuscripts and various artwork collections. Each piece is full of inspiration and meaning; talk about a statement piece! Peep at her website to shop the different collections.
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.
Riley + Ro
If you know a closet minimalist and fellow outfit repeater, this boutique is for them! Newly launched in November, this capsule wardrobe shop has everything they need to feel comfortable, confident, and stylish.
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.
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.
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.
Wendy Kathryn
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.
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!
That’s a wrap!
36 of 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 more businesses 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 16 of our favorite Black-owned businesses in the Twin Cities.
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