This 2020 Madison Gift Guide was something that we knew we had to do. 2020 has been a hard year, especially for small businesses. So, we want to encourage you to join us in rallying around them and supporting them this season. Even if it’s one gift. Or two. Every little bit helps. We encourage you to consider giving a gift, gift card, or an experience from one of these AMAZING businesses that we are about to share! The list below is also not exclusive. There are so many wonderful business in the area, these are just some of our favorites and ones we have gotten to know personally over the past year.
Clothing & Accessories
Details Boutique (Cambridge, WI)
Details is owned by our gal pal Dusty. When she looks for pieces, they must have a special “detail” that impresses her. Whether it’s eco-friendly fabric, a graphic that makes her giggle, secret tummy control, or a turn-lock clasp – every clothing and gift item in Details Boutique has a special detail that makes it unique and memorable. It is one of our favorite local boutiques and we always find pieces we love! Use the code “M&K” to receive a free pair of fleece lined leggings when you spend $50.
Shop Cosa (Fitchburg, WI)
Cosa Boutique provides sophisticated and fun women’s apparel and gifts. They are committed to curating a collection that brings out creativity and confidence in their customers. They pride themselves on working with designers that share our mission of “look good, do good”.
They believe that everyone deserves to look good, feel good, and have the opportunity to work at a job they love. Cosa is committed to providing meaningful employment to individuals with unique challenges and special needs. They also partner with a local non-profit each month and a portion of all purchases support organizations that are doing good. They can’t wait to meet you! And ladies, their pieces are STUNNING! When Katie and I go in, we love everything!
The Purple Goose (Paoli, WI)
The Purple Goose was established in Verona in 2005. In 2020, they relocated to Paoli to meet new people and to continue to bring style to every occasion. They are fun and funky on-the-go women, and are there to help you enjoy life to its fullest. They love fashion – the kind a girl can actually wear. They also like all things local. Their customers talk about The Purple Goose a lot because it is a shop that brings everyone together. Fashion, local events, community, wearable trends, and all things goosalicious can be found there. Be sure to download their brand new APP for convenient shopping from the comfort of home!
The 608 Store (Kieler, WI)
The 608 Store is the local clothing brand of Wisconsin that represents all the amazing people of WI. The clothing is affordable and great quality! We both own a few pieces from 608 and think their stuff makes the best gifts! They are making it fun to represent the great state that we live in!
Kendra Scott (Madison, WI @ Hilldale)
Kendra Scott is a beautiful jewelry line that features the most beautiful jewelry and accessories. A portion of their annual proceeds also directly supports women’s and children’s causes that improve lives, advance knowledge, and unlock opportunity! They also feature the Color Bar which works as a customizable way to personalize jewelry. They have over 40 different genuine and natural stones to choose from in all shapes and sizes. Birthstones are very popular in Madison, as well as their charms that can create meaning and inspiration behind any piece. Their pieces make beautiful gifts for to gift yourself or a loved one!
LMC Boutique (Madison, WI)
LMC Boutique is a place full of feminine, classic pieces that are hand-selected by the owner, Tori and are perfect for any gal’s wardrobe. LMC Boutique is an online shop filled with classic styles for any girl. Each piece is hand-selected and is chosen with your comfort, body, and lifestyle in mind. You are beautiful, intelligent, and inspiring. We believe your clothing should live up to the standard.
Home Goods & Accessories
Rekindled & Co. (Madison, WI)
ReKindled & Co was started in 2012 by Heidi after she left her corporate job to pursue something that brought her more joy. They were growing their family at the time, so it was just the perfect balance they needed. She began making crafty home décor items, some vintage, was a rookie furniture painter and she grew her circle and began the market circuit…big white tent, tables and displays to sell her wares.
Early in 2015, she found a toy Winnebago and watched her boys play with that truck for hours and the boxy shape stood out to her. “This truck could really be turned into something great” she told her husband. Heidi started writing her business plan and before you know it, had purchased a 1972 Winnebago Brave, just like the toy! It was time!
Over the winter of 2015, her dream came to life and they hit the road in the spring of 2016. Today, they are beyond proud to carry a great variety of handcrafted home décor, furniture, vintage finds and curated goods. They are revamping the website and gearing up for the holidays with all new goods! The Legends Collection (apparel), seasonal soy candles, jewelry to support survivors of human trafficking, amazing pillows, handmade Christmas ornaments, coffee mugs and so many other gifts for all ages!
Kella (Mount Horeb, WI)
If you’re hoping to find unique, handmade gifts for the holidays you’ve found the right spot! KELLA is a real-life Etsy store dedicated to supporting local artists. You’ll find Wisconsin focused apparel, artwork, home decor and gifts unlike any other!
No matter who’s on your list, they have something for every price range. If you prefer to skip the shopping, grab one of their beautifully packaged Holiday Gift Baskets that are ready for gifting. They offer in-person shopping (mask up), curbside pickup, free local delivery and shipping! Learn more here!
Strider Northwoods (Madison, WI)
Strider Northwoods are handcrafted raw goods inspired by the forests of Wisconsin’s Northwoods to the shores of Lake Superior. They make all-natural, small batch soy candles, hand-poured fine fragrance collections, and artisan wood wares! Everything smells delightful and makes the perfect gift or stocking stuffer!
Shopping Center – one stop shop!
Hilldale Shopping Center (Madison, WI)
Need a mini getaway? Head to Hilldale – one of our favorite spots! From our favorite shops to the perfect patio spots (with heaters!) for a happy hour beer, there’s a spot for everyone. It’s the best of Madison in one laidback, strollable setting, conveniently located on the West Side, but near downtown.
They have an amazing selection of national and local retailers. Hilldale is offers great shopping and dining in Madison, featuring Macy’s, Apple store, Anthropologie, Café Hollander, Lush Cosmetics, Sur la Table, Kendra Scott, The North Face, Twigs, lululemon athletica, Bartaco, Sushi Muramoto, AMC Madison 6, Metcalfe’s Market, Shake Shack, The Great Dane as well as many other specialty shops and dining establishments. Discover more at hilldale.com. They also have 29 locally owned businesses at Hilldale and will be highlighting them all during the month of November during their Small But Mighty campaign.
Experiences
Ash and Arrow (Madison, WI)
As you saw, we absolutely love Ash and Arrow! Whether it’s a 10th birthday slumber party or anniversary glamping under the stars in the signature bell tent, Ash + Arrow will be there to coordinate, style, set-up, and take-down. Their mission is to bring people together through shared experiences – turning every day events into memories that will last a lifetime. Each experience theme is hand-curated to transport you and your guests into a world of whimsy, wonder, and a little glimpse of magic.
With Covid, everything is more complicated. But you can still make your child’s birthday magical with Ash and Arrow, even if you’re just celebrating as a family! They will be having holiday themes starting soon too. Hello, Christmas movie night?!
The Wonder Studio (Madison, WI)
Joyfully calm. Musically inspired. Purposefully reconnected. If you’re looking for an experience gift that leaves your child (and you!) feeling all of this, then a Kindermusik gift certificate may be the perfect holiday gift for 2020.
The Wonder Studio offers Kindermusik classes for children ages 0 – 5. Our weekly classes help your child’s brain grow, strengthens the bond between child and caregiver, and are a lot of fun!
Classes meet virtually through the winter and into the spring. They will hopefully offer in-person, outdoor classes in the spring and resume indoor, in-person classes on the west side of Madison when it is safe. Gift certificates can be used for any of these classes. New enrollments are accepted at any time throughout the year.
Shenanigans Kids Play “The Figgy” (Madison, WI)
You guys, this thing looks SO SO fun!! The Figgy is the ultimate kids’ play set … designed by a mom and a dad! It has all the important features: Certipur foam (stiff enough to hold up to hours of play but soft enough for a crash landing), soft, washable, waterproof liners on each cushion for those not so pleasant spills and accidents; trendy washable covers; and velcro bases for all types of configurations.
Each set costs $299 and comes with 4 thick base cushions and 2 rectangle bolsters. Add on a wedge for $49! We have early bird specials on 11.19 when our kickstarter launches! Interested in being one of the first people to get your hands on The Figgy? Register on their website and follow them on Kickstarter – launch day was 11.19.20!
Destiny D. Photography (Middleton, WI)
You know Destiny is our girl! Give the gift of a photo session (or book your own!!) with our favorite Madison photographer. Destiny is offering $25 off of a mini session (normally $250) and $100 off of a family session (normally $500). This offer is good starting in the new year and goes through 4/30/2021.
Nineteen09 (Cross Plains, WI)
We did a photoshoot here last February (before the crazy started) and let us tell you, it is the cutest space! This neighborhood wine bar in Cross Plains offers 16 self-serve wines on tap and over 20 craft beers and ciders in bottles! They offer a cozy space and an amazing patio with globes to keep you warm in the winter!
They also offer event spaces (for future reference), a workshop space where you can learn new skills, create art and enhance your palate. They are also one of the only places where they allow you to bring in your own food (but they do also serve local charcuterie boards). Lastly, they are now offering wine club! You get to choose two of your favorite bottles and they are delivered on the third Tuesday of each month! It’s a great way to be able to try different wines! This is seriously one of our favorite spots on the west side of Madison!
Board and Brush Mount Horeb (Mount Horeb, WI)
Board & Brush, located on Main Street in Mt. Horeb, is a studio where you can attend workshops to create wood signs and decor. In their instructor-led workshops, they teach you how to take raw materials and turn them into a piece worthy of being displayed in your home. The studio is also available for private events: girls night out, bachelorette parties, corporate team building events, and kid’s birthday parties. Grab your crew, have a drink, and get crafty with us!
They are currently open for workshops at a limited capacity to keep their customers and staff as safe as possible. Masks are required in the studio, frequently touched surfaces are sanitized often, individual supplies baskets are sanitized and prepped for each individual, freshly washed aprons are provided, and guests are physically distanced by groups (or individuals when communicated).
They offer in-studio workshops, gift certificates, @Home Kits, and premade projects. Board & Brush @Home Kits include everything you need to create a fun, mini sign at home! Choose from over 250 designs, including seasonal, child, and many more! The kit comes with the stencil you choose, prepped wood, paint, brushes, paint cups, sandpaper, instructions, and a mixing guide. We can’t wait to see what you create! The first FIVE people to make a purchase using this link, will receive a complimentary @Home Kit of your choice! Just enter the code “MANDK” after you’ve selected your boards to get one of the @Home Kit free. (Code will not work once it has been used by five people.)
Swim West (Madison & Fitchburg, WI)
Karen Kittelson Clay started the company out of a hotel pool in 1990 with about 67 swimmers and over 5 years grew it over 1000 renting health clubs, backyard pools and hotels. In 1995 she built her first commercial property at 1001 Deming Way and in 2006 built her second at 6220 Nesbit Road, Fitchburg.
Karen has a passion for learn to swim and drowning prevention and has taught for the past 30 plus years to three generations of swimmers in the Madison area. SwimWest is a local family owned business that believes in giving back and being a strong part of the community. They are currently still having safe swim lessons and limited open family swims! This would make a great gift!
Pour Me & Co. (Madison, WI)
Imagine a truck full of perfectly poured old-fashioneds, mimosas or margaritas at your event that is not only a cool experience, but a damn good drink. At Pour Me & Co. they passionately believe in elevated experiences that stand for quality over quantity. Their team has diligently designed and created a unique experience to bring your next event, brand activation, party or wedding to a level of paragon.
Here’s how: They restored a vintage ‘57 Chevy Apache and turned it into a mobile bar, but that’s not even the cool part. The star of the show is their self-pouring draft cocktail system. Never heard of it? That’s because they one of the first companies to make this experience available to the public.
A traditional upscale cocktail is made by a highly-skilled mixologist that perfectly balances a simple drink with the highest consistency and quality ingredients. Their draft cocktail system brings that scientific care and precision into each pour from any person operating the pour handle.
Health & Beauty
Buttercup Beauty (Waunakee, WI)
Buttercup Beauty is a brow and skin centre dedicated to serving you with love, artistry, and intention. They specialize in eyebrow design, microblading and clinical skin treatments such as dermaplaning, microneedling, and chemical peels.
Their partnered skin care products from iS Clinical and PCA Skin, gift cards, and service packages make the perfect gift! They are running a December promotion: Buy more, save more! During the month of December, receive 10% off any one product purchased, 15% off any two products and 20% off any three or more products purchased!
Beauty Counter with Arianne (Milwaukee, WI)
Arianne has been with Beautycounter for over 4 years now. In her quest to use the safest products in her home, she didn’t realize that there had been very little done to make the beauty industry safe. As a Registered Nurse, she felt compelled to share this information because the safety of what we put on our skin matters.
Did you know that the last time we passed a major law in this country regulating the safety of ingredients in personal care products was in 1938? They do a lot more than sell lipstick. They lead by educating other on the lack of regulation, they offer safer solutions with their high performing products and they advocate for more health protective laws, because why wouldn’t we want that? You can get involved as a safe beauty consumer or by texting “betterbeauty” to 52886. Right now (through the 28th), they have a site wide sale of 15% off and free shipping over $50. She is also doing a free gift with purchase!
ANEU Med Spa (McFarland, WI)
ANEU Med Spa is an eco-friendly and elegantly modern medical spa offering a full array of the most advanced and scientifically driven cosmetic medicine treatments, featuring an upscale medical-grade skincare boutique, all in a luxurious, serene, spa-like environment.
Their providers are the creme de la creme featuring only those that have the ideal trifecta of credentials: licensed, certified, and with years of direct experience in medical aesthetics. Their goals and passion are to restore skin health, drastically slow the aging process, and enhance natural beauty for years to come!
The Healthy Place (4 locations in the Madison, WI area)
The Healthy Place is a family owned and operated nutrition store with four locations in the Madison area. The owners, Tim and Becki O’Brien, are passionate about educating and empowering people to find their healthy place. With great services like price matching, Live Chat on their website, and Same Day Delivery, you can have a health consultation with a trained Wellness Consultant in the morning, order your products at the best prices in the nation, and have your order dropped off later that afternoon! The Healthy Place offers some great holiday gift options as well!
This Christmas, give everyone on your gift list what they really need – a Chill Pill. While you’re at it, get one for yourself too! Experience less stress and more happy with a blend of herbs that are designed to help you stay calm, cool, and collected — even in the midst of chaos!
And if you’re wanting to pass along a fabulous outlook on life, great sleep, and fewer aches and pains, CBD Oil would be the gift that keeps on giving. The Healthy Place is offering three new blends – Soothe, Breathe, and Dream – to specifically target the results you want. And at a $50 price point, these are CBD blends that are perfectly giftable! USE THE CODE: “MK30” TO GET 30% OFF YOUR ENTIRE PURCHASE!
For the meat lover
Spring Cut Cattle Co. (Gilman, WI)
Spring Cut Cattle Co. is family-owned and -operated in Gilman, Wisconsin. Spring Cut Cattle Company provides quality and convenient 100% grass-fed and grass-finished beef to support your family’s healthy lifestyle. Their beef is 100% grass-fed & finished, creating a clean, nutrient dense option that not only supports a healthy lifestyle, but also a greater effort to ensure a better environment for future generations. High quality meat delivered right to your doorstep… or the doorstep of someone you love! Use the code “MANDK10” for 10% off – valid through December 6th! Such a great gift idea, especially for a meat lover in your life, or someone that is hard to shop for!
Restaurants
Bartaco (Madison, WI)
You all know our love runs deep for Bartaco. Who wouldn’t love a Bartaco gift card?! Plus, they are running a special right now. Treat them (and maybe yourself 😉) to tacos this holiday season—buy a $50 gift card and receive a $10 bonus card from bartaco.* Visit bartaco.com/giftcards to shop now. *Offer ends 12/31/20. Bonus certificates valid 1/1/21 – 12/31/21 and subject to terms + conditions printed on the certificate.
Everyday Kitchen (Madison, WI)
Everyday Kitchen is more than just an amazing restaurant. It is part of Lodgic Community which unites energizing workspaces, flexible childcare, modern comfort food and drink, and memorable event and meeting options all under one roof. Gift a working parent a few, kid-free hours to work in an amazing space!
At Everyday Kitchen, Wisconsin-style comfort gets a modern twist. With regionally sourced ingredients and a from-scratch approach, their dishes and drinks highlight the best that the area has to offer. They offer barista coffee service, breakfast pastries, and a fresh juice bar in the morning. They all have a full-service lunch, dinner, and weekend brunch and are currently offering curbside, carryout, patio or dine-in service.
Lodgic Kids Camp offers flexible childcare to fit your needs, on your schedule. With early morning, late night, and weekend care available we’re here when you need us, not the other way around. They offer childcare, preschool, before and after school care, and remote learning facilitation for ages 12 months – 12 years. Full-time, part-time or scheduled hourly care, bookable weekly.
Lastly, find your new way to work at Lodgic Workplace. With flexible commitments (day to day or month to month) and a variety of options (private offices, private desk, or open coworking) they are the right fit for today’s ever-changing environment. They offer their members 24/7 access, free underground parking, a hospitality-focused Concierge team, an energizing member community, and so much more, for one all-inclusive price.
They are currently offering a few deals: Dinner for Two ($100), high-quality licensed childcare at their Kids Camp including annual enrollment fee, equivalent to 10 hours of care for 1 child ($180) and open coworking week-long pass ($129).
