There are so many reasons I’m passionate about supporting small, local businesses. As a small business owner myself, I understand that when you support a small, local business, you’re supporting a dream. So, I like to find opportunities each year, particularly during the holiday season, to pay it forward.
When you start your shopping on Black Friday or Small Business Saturday, I hope you’ll check out these fabulous local businesses–
Love Lori Michelle Jewelry
Unique 3D printed jewelry made in Maryland (but she’ll be moving to California in 2023!). With your purchase, one dollar is donated to the Washington Area Women’s Foundation to help in supporting women and girls of color in the Washington DC region!
Ku’ia Maui Chocolate
We discovered this delectable treat during our Hawaii vacation and it’s seriously some of the best chocolate I’ve ever tasted!
Through their family foundation, Makana Aloha Foundation, the owners of Ku’ia Maui Chocolate recognized that the needs in the non-profit community could not be met by current funding and wanted to do more. They decided to invest in building a chocolate company where 100% of net-profits would be given back to the Maui community.
Janery
Janery is a local business with a bigger cause. They sell waterproof dog beds, cat beds and toys, and gifts for pet lovers and they’re also proud to donate 5% of all sales to the Richmond Animal League, in honor of their first two pups who hailed from the streets of Richmond.
Two Hands Paperie Notebooks
Custom made notebooks with covers, paper, and coils selected by you for a custom gift!
Ritual Brass Jewelry
A local Denver jeweler with retail space located in Nuture in the Highland. Her inventive and bold dangle statement earrings are some of my favorite earrings, but check out her shop for lots of brass jewelry styles, work by other jewelers, and a variety of fund finds for your home like wall hangings and giant crystals!
Heirloom Baking Co. Custom Cookie Boxes
Give carefully curated collections of customized cookies and cookie cakes that are almost too pretty to eat. This Denver-based business was the product of an English teacher with a baking addiction and too much free time during summer break.
Ship Sunshine
I met Anna a few years ago and she is like sunshine bottled into a person so it’s apt that her company, which just continues to soar to new heights day after day, is named Ship Sunshine. This local Denver company sources products both from Colorado and around the country and will ship a custom-made box of goodies right to your recipient’s door! It’s perfect for those holiday teacher gifts, co-worker gifts, or the friends and relatives who you can’t make it out to see this season!
Y.Lo Epicure
Check out this local Denver catering company if you are planning a special holiday party at your work or home! Their catering coordinators will team up with you to help plan everything related to your event – your style, timeline, dietary restrictions, budget parameters, staffing and rental needs are all considered to help make the experience as stress-free as possible!
Erin Lassahn Photography
I hope you’ll think of me as you’re doing your shopping on Small Business Saturday this year! A photography session makes the perfect holiday gift, and nothing makes me happier than capturing memories that a family will be able to cherish forever. I hope you’ll reach out to me directly to ask about my gift certificate options!
I hope you’ll choose to support a local business this holiday season!
This is a great list to help spark ideas, but there are so many wonderful small and local businesses to choose from online and in our communities. Also, if there’s another local business you love that didn’t make the list, I hope you’ll share it with me, so I can consider supporting them while doing my shopping this year!
