Holiday Gift Guide 2020: Shop Small
Our annual gift guides are always so much fun, but given the difficulty many small businesses have faced this year, I wanted to take a different approach. Instead of the usual his and hers gift guides you see this time of year, we’ve broken up our 2020 holiday gift guides into some new categories - easy holiday planning, shop small, and gifts for everyone.
Our first is a bit unconventional but just might wind up being your favorite. We shared all about how you can use your event vendors for easy holiday planning. During a normal holiday season, most of us are pushed to the max. But given everything additional we are juggling this year, taking some help where we can is a great idea. So, check out our suggestions and reach out to your favorite vendors to see how they can help you plan a great holiday. Think of this one as a little gift to yourself during a stressful holiday season. You deserve it!
Now let’s talk traditional gift guides! This week we are so excited to share our SJE Shop Small Holiday Gift Guide. Shopping small doesn't always mean local. While some of what you find here is from my home in Southwest Ohio, I’ve also included some great small businesses from across the country. We have makers, artists, leather workers, calligraphers, bakers, and so much more! Many of these are on my own list or I have already purchased for my team or family...I’m a bit ahead of things this year. I’m not sure why, but I’m certainly not complaining!
So, take a look at these great small businesses and start building your shopping list. The best part? You can do most of this shopping online.
But if you still have a few holes, don’t worry. Just be sure to check back next week where we will share our third and final gift guide for 2020 - a gift guide for everyone! Consider your Christmas shopping officially taken care of.
Lindsay Letters
With awesome abstract art and General Store that just launched in November, Lindsay Letters has a bit of something for everyone. I’ve personally got one of these calendars on my list!Poppins and Post
A true artisan for details! Make your gift-giving super simple with Poppins and Post - ready to go gift boxes for anyone on your list! We chatted with the owner and the creative mind behind Poppins and Post, Jennifer Hatton if you want to learn more about this great small biz!Bethany runs a local laser shop out of Lexington, Kentucky. We use her often for event signage, but she always does a few cute things around the holidays. She is also a great resource for customizing. I recently commissioned a set of decanter tags for my husband to use on our bar shelf. Be sure to check out the cute ornaments she added to her Etsy shop.
Made in Pittsburgh, these handmade fiber-based accessories are unique collection pieces. Each hand-wrapped cording piece is tied in a unique knot or paired with brass and vintage beads.
A calligrapher and artist based in Cincinnati, Ohio, China makes some great home decor welcome mats. I know welcome mats might not seem like an exciting Christmas gift, but trust me when you see her designs you will get it. Cute, corny, and some seasonal options..we love ours!
Born from intention, Kellie started making artisan soap in early 2020 and it has grown to be a very focused and family-oriented business. She offers a variety of soaps, body oils, and bath brews.
Linny Loo’s Cookies is a custom sugar cookie artist who has started hosting classes and offering to go kits for easy creating at home. We interviewed Linda a few years ago to see how she got started, you can read more here.
With all the extra time at home in 2020, these Two Knotty Dudes started crocheting for fun and grew into a small business of home decor and cute stuffed items. We ordered a few for Eleanore to play with and are waiting for their next launch to order a few more.
Gingerly Press has a collection of fine letterpress paper goods. So pretty and unique!
Laura Hooper Calligraphy is a great resource for custom pieces and great ornaments. She personally hand letters or calligraphies (yes there is a difference!) each piece. She has some fun home decor, napkins, and great beginner classes for calligraphy.
The Corbe Company has been on our list before but they are worth repeating! I have followed them since they first launched on Kickstarter with the 50 United Plates campaign. I bought 4 of them and love them - all 50 states fit together. But this year we are particularly taken with their new dinnerware line. It is 100% porcelain made in Detroit - great shapes and colors to choose from. Just go check them out!
These dog treats are made in Massachusetts and are basically amazing! Our pup Milo goes nuts for them and my favorite part, they smell good! Nothing like those mass-produced, store-bought dog treats. Plus, these are made from real ingredients so I know they will be easy for him to digest.
Every kid is a superhero and these Wonder Kids bath caps make bath time or pool time a bit more fun! Made and ran out of her home in Chicago, you can get all the kiddos in your life a personalized cape.
Maybe you always like to do a bit of self shopping around the holidays or like to have a great hostess gift on hand...meet Dishique. They have the cutest, dishes, serving ware, dish towels, coasters, ornaments, need I go on? Plus they just launched a kids collection. Ever wanted the periodic table of the 80s? Or Ohio Anatomy coasters? Each design has hand-rendered illustrations by owner and artist Megan.
A former Women’s Designer at Michael Kors, Martha Nippert is the artist and illustrator behind Marnani Designs. They offer watercolor themed paper goods, small housewares, apparel, accessories, and custom family and pet portraits. Her works is joyful, bright, and whimsical.
I'm a bit obsessed with Jonathan’s Spoons! One product in particular got me hooked - the magnetic tongs. If you have ever burned your hand using your toaster oven, then you need these guys. The clip right on to your toaster so you will always have them handy when that leftover pizza needs to be yanked out before it burns. They have a full line of spoons, spatulas, tongs, ladles and other serving utensils that are equally as good. I have been buying from them for the past 6 years and everything has held up wonderfully. These are great hostess gifts or gifts for yourself to replace a few items in the kitchen.
I have been eyeing a Kate Tremel piece for some time now. It is a sleek, contemporary conversation piece. She has lamps, bowls, and vases that bring in a bit of fun to any space. Handmade in her pottery studio in Michigan.
I love a quirky piece of art every so often. At my parent’s house, we have 2 pieces in the bathroom, one that is a gargoyle contemplating the world before him that you only see once you sit down on the toilet and another that says “Shower with Friends.” Loft Prints has some fun play on word pieces that always make me laugh. Chuck Wimmer’s collection is fun, quirky, graphic, and humorous. From Ham and Eggs, Hoga, to Jello Shots.
Dreamy and beautiful blanks and babyware. Bring a little cozy into your holiday shopping.