Shopping small is one of the best + biggest ways you can give back to your community……
Now more than ever, we need to support our small businesses during this holiday season. The pandemic has hit the service industry, especially retail + restaurants in a detrimental way (with no government support in sight).
So I pulled together a list of wonderful small businesses in the New England area. If you are local to these shops, you should (safely) take a visit or shop online to support the New England community and the families of these shop owners. Let’s get into this!
BOSTON GENERAL STORE
Dedham, MA + Brookline, MA
The Boston General Store is the perfect place to shop if you have a friend / family member who loves anything zero-waste, homemade, vintage, dried goods, etc.. When you step inside this store or order online, you find everything you need (the way it used to be with general stores). My favorite pieces are this cute wick trimmer, Duxbury signature sea salts, and Huberd’s shoe oil.
ELBURNE
Dennis, MA + Hanover, MA
Elburne is a sustainable decor and furniture shop. It’s a great place to shop for fair trade gifts or if you want to pick something up that’s local to the Massachusetts coastal area. They have adorable stationary + books. I also love their unique handmade vases. and have bought one for myself in the past!
FRUGAL BOOKS STORE
West Roxbury, MA
Frugal Bookstore is the place to shop if you’re looking to support a mom + pop bookstore instead of paying for the Bezo’s Christmas this year (bye, Amazon). Just be aware that things will take time when ordering from a local bookstore, so please be patience + plan ahead. I certainly have my eyes on Barack Obama’s memoir, A Promised Land.
THE URBAN GRAPE WINE SHOP
South End Boston, MA
The Urban Grape Store is your go-to place for wine, spirits, beer + sake. They have a wonderful wine selection, which is a perfect gift for the holidays. My favorite is their organic wine selection. Wine can be super intimidating, but their website and instore experience is super approachable.
UPSTYLE.CO
Manchester, CT
Upstyle is a destination hair + makeup team. I actually used them for my wedding! But they also have the cutest brick + mortar studio and sell the best selfcare goodies. I especially love the pearl hair claw, handmade pinch bowl, and consonance botanical candles. The perfect gifts for your friends of for yourself 🙂
FARMHOUSE POTTERY
Woodstock, VT
Farmhouse Pottery is a one of a kind pottery shop! It’s just a magical place + they have such lovely neutral pottery for the everyday use. Just look at this garlic grater dish, this men wine stopper, and this beautiful trunk vase. I could easily get lost looking at their products.
COMMON DEER
Burlington, VT
Common Deer is all about small batch manufacturing and American made products, which is why they carry products of over 500 independent makers and artists. This shop has endless options for the perfect gift or home goods addition for yourself. I especially like this NPR puzzle, their How To Eat in the Woods book, and the many gift guides their team has put together – so helpful!
Portland Dry Goods
Portland, ME
Portland Dry Goods is a clothing + accessories brand. If you want to gift someone a nice wintery outfit that will be cute and functional, this is your place. I really like these beanies, their comfortable pjs, and their selection of nice button down flannels. It’s definitely on the pricy side, but the quality is worth it.
NAVA
Providence, RI
Nava is a lifestyle shop filled with vintage goods, clothing and home accessories. Their vintage selection will be spot on for your eclectic friend or relative. They also have a great collection of smaller gifts like this clean hand sanitizer (the branding!) and this cute zodiac jumbo pouch.
Otter Creek Shop
Portsmouth, NH
Otter Creek shop is a home + lifestyle store and is a great place to buy for someone who is an interiors lover or homebody. They have my favorite matchsticks in a bottle, love these garden scissors gift set, and this paulownia handle tray.
Happy small shopping this holiday season – and beyond!
xx Christine
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