Small Business Christmas

This year share the gifts that last forever. Give back to family and community all at once this Christmas by shopping with small businesses. Shopping with small businesses captures the magic of gifting with unique and personalized gifts that would take anyone's breath away. Receiving a special gift on Christmas is a memory that is treasured in the heart of any man, woman, or child. Every year we can almost guess what we'll get for Christmas, or we're stressed about what to get for who. 2020 was such a whirlwind, and 2021 is right around the corner! Lay back and relax this Christmas season. Here is a list of affordable, gender-friendly, and unique gifts to give this year, all online, handmade, homemade, or from brick and mortar small businesses. Click on the name of the small business to be taken directly to their page where you can finish your Christmas shopping.

HOMIE GIFTS Kitchen geeks and garden freaks? How about art lovers and homeware hoarders?

Material Kitchen Essentials: For those home cooks you can't get out of the kitchen, give them elegant modern kitchenware for the new year. Chef-grade materials from pans to knife sets sold at almost half of their retail value prices, and the kind of one-of-a-kind value you can't find anywhere else.

Bloomscape: Know any plant parents, green thumbs, or garden lovers? Well, Bloomscape is the best place to gift any green thumb a plant on their doorstep this Christmas Holiday.

Kana: French-inspired enameled cast iron, these cast iron pans are unique. Kana provides the type of kitchenware you pass down in your family for generations, Dutch ovens and cast iron skillets for anything from roasts to mamas skillet shortcakes.

Sunday Shop: What a name for a New Orleans based shop. Know someone that loves a good Sunday? This may be the place to find a gift for them. Reminisce about the perfect Sunday as you shop through their selection of homeware, bath goods, bedding, and more.

Destiny Darcel: Everyone loves cards for all occasions, and considering the distance between some families and friends this year, a card may be the perfect gift. 24-year-old artist Destiny Darcel is a black woman who shares her artwork with handmade prints and holiday cards depicting men and women of color in prosperity of all shapes, sizes, and colors.

FOOD GIFTS Are you a foodie? Has COVID affected your foodie habits? Well, no need to worry anymore. Check out these holiday food and beverages available for delivery.

QUEBRACHO charcuteries & pies: Looking for food to bring everyone together this holiday season with outstanding Latin flavors? Try this online charcuterie and provisions shop with an Argentinian flare. This season Quebracho brings savory pies, charcuterie, and exceptional cheeses that are accompanied by a beautiful wine pairings by Henry & Son right to your door.

United Soda: You've never seen soda pop like this before. All the flavor with no guilt. With 12 flavors ranging from classics like ginger-ale and cherry pop to jazzy flavors like strawberry-basil and toasted coconut. These soda drinks are only 30 calories each and are vegan friendly. You won't find pop like this anywhere else.

Guidance Whiskey: Anyone who is an admirer of well-crafted adult beverages will be intrigued by Guidance Whiskey. Aged for two years in Iowa, encased in smoked wood barrels, this whiskey is a careful blend of corn and rye with a touch of malted barley. Bold aromas of caramel, Moschino cherry, and vanilla will serenade your senses before you sip this smooth, mild whiskey.

Partake Foods: We all have that one friend who is gluten-free, GMO-free, vegan. And it can seem almost impossible to accommodate their needs during the holiday season, especially when it comes to desserts. This year invite all your vegan, gluten-free, non-GMO friends over to enjoy super delicious cookies without the worries of food allergies or lifestyle choices. Hey, maybe Santa is gluten-free this year. You never know.

McBride's Sister Winery: There's nothing better than celebrating the holidays over a great bottle of wine. Who knew wine could be fun, fabulous, and eco-friendly—elegant California wine at an extremely affordable price. This black-owned sister business has grown to be the largest Black-owned wine company in the US, also known as the most inclusive, socially aware, and sustainable winery around.

JEWELRY & ACCESSORIES Every man and woman can relate when it comes to the perfect accessory to fill out your stylish fit.

Jewels & Aces: Know anyone who can't get enough ear jewelry? What makes these earrings from Jewels & Aces unique is unlike most jewelry vendors, each earring is derived from recycled 14k gold or sterling silver. Each piece of their collection is intentionally designed to be cohesive, multifunctional, and versatile. Shop for the perfect gift that will make her heart skip a beat this Christmas.

Cocoa Ari: Every woman loves to stand out in the crowd and light up a room when she walks in. Gabrielle Noelle black-owned designer curates each piece from a mix of 14k gold, sterling silver, or stainless steel. Everything from necklaces, bracelets, rings, anklets, and earrings shop with Cocoa Ari this holiday season and gift your special lady with a bold statement; a timeless piece that expresses her unique style and shows how much she means to you.

Verdure Watches: Every man knows the importance of a great watch and a great pair of shoes to complete any outfit. Black-owned designer Eddie Johnson specializes in luxury watches and sophisticated timepieces for men and women that offer style and elegance you won't find anywhere else. This holiday season, Verdure expanded from not just watches but men's shoes as well. Surprise that special man in your life this Christmas with a look that he can wear with every outfit.

Automic Gold: Queer, sustainable, inclusive, and affordable Automic Gold is a one of a kind brand for thousands of reasons, as they continue to break down walls for minorities of all kinds, including races, size, and sexuality. With fair, accessible prices brought to you by millennials with high standards, you can shop for custom jewelry, nameplates, and even wedding bands to help celebrate love in all forms.

Brandon Blackwood New York: First in the line of many black-owned designer businesses, Maxwell breaks down walls all over the US with his "End systematic racism" bags spreading knowledge about love, equality, and inclusion. With over 30 designer bags for you to choose from, find the perfect affordable designer bag to gift this holiday season.

BEAUTY Know skin obsessed men or women?

Bee Love: Know any honey lovers? Assuring you the highest quality of honey, Bee Love sets itself apart from most honey producers. This bee-loving business is Certified Natural Grown. "Chicagoland" honey is rich, raw, and all-natural. Products include not only honey you can eat but luxury bath and body moisturizers, cleansers from lip balms to shower gels infused with Chicago's Bee-lovin' honey.

Pure Tropix: Okay, so let's be honest; we all know someone struggling with acne, skin conditions like eczema, or even ingrown hairs. Pure Tropix may be the answer you've been searching for. With all-natural products and recipes derived from the Caribbean and based in Atlanta, Pure Tropix works with professionals worldwide to help create their particular formulas that make their products so successful. Everything you can imagine, from serums to body-butters or cleansers to moisturizers. Pure Tropix can be used from head to toe with fragrances and products that last longer than your average spin-offs.

Bio GLITZ: Bio Glitz is a biodegradable glitter made from plants; this eradicates the toxicity of glitter and gives you peace of mind about what's going on in or around your body or your child's body. Most people are not aware of something as harmless as glitter and its adverse effects on the environment and our bodies. Most glitter is derived from micro-plastics, which you can read more about in my upcoming post. So this Christmas, celebrate with lots of biodegradable glitter for family and glitter friends.

Even KEEL soap: Handcrafted all-natural soaps and elixirs formulated by practicing herbalist and business owner En, these bars of soap are so gentle you can use them on your face and body. Every soap bar is beautifully made with an eye-catching marbling effect that will have your guests asking where you purchased your lovely soap bar. En sells all of your bath needs, from scrubs to bath bombs and even clay masks.

Briogeo: The natural hair care market is a tricky one to maneuver your way around because your hair doesn't tell you exactly what it needs, but black business owner Nancy Twine found a way around that. Providing you with a hair care quiz to meet all your hair needs, she's formulated a great process to helping you find all-natural shampoos and conditioners that will help your hair be in its healthiest state. So if you have a girlfriend, a sister, or a man who has trouble with moisture, volume, or texture, give their hair a Holiday with a value gift set from Briogeo.

PET GIFTS Any animal owner knows the struggle of making sure your dog is healthy inside and out. Here are some small business owners that are changing the game for pet presents.

Natural Dog Company: These days, it's like everyone is on a holistic healing journey, so why not find one for your pet too. Almost all dogs have experienced dry noses, irritation in paws or ears, and or pet odor you just can't eliminate. The natural dog company has a solution for all of these typical doggie problems, from skin, paw, and nose soothers to shampoo and even doggie vitamins. This holiday gift your favorite pet lover one of their natural bundles while they're on sale.

Enjoy A Bowl products: Made by veterinarian and animal lover Joe J Owens, he's on a mission to help pet owners understand the importance of dietary needs. We've all met that dog that's kind of a picky eater, or the dog who eats everything, or the dog you're afraid to give anything because of allergies or sensitive stomach conditions. Enjoy A Bowl isn't just any food bowl for your dog. This doggie bowl has two parts. Unlike any other feeding bowl, this one comes with a bottom where you can put food that captures the aroma of foods you know your pup can't resist but also shouldn't eat. Unlike any other dog food bowl, this bowl is dishwasher safe and comes in various colors for any pet. So if you know anyone with a stubborn pet that's been having a hard time eating their food, gift them an Enjoy a Bowl.

Beaux and Paws: Another 13 year old with a heart of gold known as Sir Darius Brown is an animal advocate and owner of Beaux and Paws. In 2017 Sir Darius witnessed the devastation caused by Hurricane Harvey and Hurricane Irma. After the hurricane, so many animals were left homeless or put in shelters. He wanted to do something to help, so he came up with a fantastic idea to help displaced dogs look dapper and even cuter in his handmade bowties. With 8 different patterns to choose from, buy a matching bowtie for you and your sweet pet from Darius this holiday season. Darius has donated countless bowties between the US and the UK. This year, if you were thinking about adopting a pet, buy a bowtie or 12 from Sir Darius Brown and help support his movement.

Ava's pet Palace: Based in Chicago, owned by a 13-year-old, Ava's Pet Palace sells organic non-GMO treats for cats and dogs. Dedicated to growing a health-focused brand, Ava believes every owner should choose whether they want their dog to eat organic. Ava was also awarded the Young entrepreneur of the Year award by Market Legacy awards. This holiday season, visit Ava's Pet Palace and find the perfect gift box for your furry or not so furry friend.

Giving is best done when it's not just for one person or for one purpose. Material gifts mean almost nothing; the message behind the present is always what matters most. Seeing someone's eyes light up as they peel back wrapping paper, sharing each other's company, exchanging laughter and love, celebrating life now that's what Christmas is all about. These small businesses serve year-round, so don't just wait around for the holidays to shop with them!