5 Small Businesses To Support This Holiday Season
Living in the city has its pros and cons, but one thing I absolutely love is the abundance of small, local shops! During the holiday season, the streets are full of pop-ups and holiday markets (don’t worry — I’ve linked their Etsy shops below). Shopping at small businesses is a win-win for both you and the owner. They offer unique, high-quality products, and the passion they have for what they do shines through. Since they produce in smaller quantities than typical retailers, they’re able to use more sustainable materials and processes too! Plus, they often use the cutest packaging which is especially handy during the holiday season (Amazon could never)! So, let’s dive into 5 small businesses I’m shopping from this season:
I found this shop at Eastern Market (DC) last weekend, and it was love at first sight. These are the best-smelling and most affordable candles I’ve ever come across. They make their candles with soy and offer wood wicks (my favs)! I bought the Love Potion No. 9, Vanilla Oak, and Matcha & Bergamot scents for an average of about $11 each. They all smell great, but the Matcha & Bergamot candle is the perfect balance between sweet and fresh. I’m still debating whether to keep it for myself…
This shop has everything from keychains, to jewelry, and even some really unique bookmarks. I bought the Lily of the Valley Keychain for $22 a few weeks ago and it was delivered within 5 days. The detail is impressive and it came in the cutest packaging!
Buttercream Daydream & Kimoshi Cakes
Both of these shops blew me away. I have a couple friends who I know would love the fake cake aesthetic so I decided to go with a Black Heart Mirror (Kimoshi Cakes) for $46, and a White Sprinkle Compact Mirror (Buttercream Daydream) for $12. The quality of both of these is better than I expected- the frosting looks so real! I was worried about the cherries falling off but they’re on there pretty good. I can’t wait to give these to the girls!
This one’s for your furry friends! I bought a hat from this shop for my baby, Bruce, and it is absolutely adorable. This shop has endless accessories, and they’re super affordable. For the quality and the time that this probably took to make, I’d expect these to be more than $11! I ordered the White Chicken Hat and it was in my mailbox within 10 days.
This is my all time favorite shop in DC! I found them at a holiday market last year, and finally got the chance to visit their adorable storefront in Capitol Hill. They have all kinds of unique, vintage and handmade gifts and you can even learn how to make your own at their Craft Cafe. I highly recommend stopping by if you’re ever in town (fear not, they have an online shop too)! I’ve bought tons of items from here, like these super cute Butterfly Earrings which were about $10.
This season, I encourage you to shop small and locally for unique gifts that you can confidently say, “I saw this and thought of you” about. If you choose to browse Etsy, be sure to read customer reviews and check out the photos to help you make the best choices for your friends, family, and pets. I can personally vouch for the shops listed above—they’re top-tier! Happy shopping!