It’s the most wonderful time of the year! We love making holiday shopping a little bit easier for you and this year, we are excited to share our curated shop small gift guide! In this guide, we have small businesses that encompass jewelry, art, golf gear, pets, and home! There are SO many amazing small businesses, but these are a just a few of our favorites (with our community’s help of course) from all over the U.S.
We hope you find this helpful when it comes to your shopping planning. Prepping for family and friend gatherings during the holiday season can be stressful, but it is also a magical time of year! We hope that your holiday season is filled with warmth, kindness, and peace!
Home + Accessories
Dune Gift + Home located in Stoughton, Wisconsin is one of the coolest stops to shop! From clean beauty & cleaning products, to accessories, home goods, and curated clothing capsules, it’s a great spot to shop for one of kind items either in person on online.
Linen & Clove located in Verona, Wisconsin has a wide variety of home décor gifts that would fit well in any home. They also provide design services that would be a great gift for someone who would love a home revamp, are remodeling, or building new.
Welch Candle Company is a mother and daughter-in-law small Wisconsin business creating nontoxic beeswax candles that purify the air of toxins, allergens, and pollutants. They don’t add any fillers, fragrance or essential oils to keep it completely natural. The candles are the purest form of beeswax straight from a bee farm in Wisconsin. And of course, they smell like delicious honey from the hive!
SpringHouse Candles located in Mineral Point, Wisconsin is the second generation of candle makers. They carry on the tradition of crafting candles that are hand poured with family heritage and quality in mind. Each candle gets a personal touch, making them unique in their own way. They use pure wax, all natural paper wicks, 100% pure fragrance oil, and locally sourced glass.
Seriously the cutest shop you’ll ever see. Little Pop of Color Shop is exactly that. It is located in downtown Middleton and has something for everyone. From treats to crafts to the cutest cards, this is the perfect spot to shop for a girlfriend or that person who is hard to shop for! You won’t regret stopping here.
Clothing + Jewelry
Her Creations is based out of Cedar Rapids, Iowa and is owned by Liz who has always loved earrings and jewelry. Jewelry is a great way to spice up any outfit even when your hair isn’t washed and you have no time for a full face of make up ;). Liz loves seeing her pieces on her friends and now people she hasn’t met before! She can also take customer orders, so please ask if you are thinking of something specific or different.
Midwest Girl® is a local tee shirt brand developed by two Wisconsin sisters. Born 12 years apart, they had a vision for creating a Midwest brand that represented who they were, where they came from, and would keep them connected no matter where the trail would take them.
The Midwest Girl® is a homage to their small town Wisconsin roots. Their mom & dad taught them to never forget where you came from and to always celebrate family tradition. Inspired by the memories of growing up and living in the Wisconsin, and are a genuine reflection of Midwest values. A brand that celebrates you, an authentic Midwest Girl. May you always remember your roots.
Thistle & Elm an online clothing and brick + mortar boutique for babes who love to keep things trendy and neutral. It was dreamed up by a midwestern, fashion-loving introvert who helped create thistle + elm’s style. Their store is carefully curated collections of on trend-neutral styles for an effortless wardrobe.
Tradition Market, located in Middleton, Wisconsin features women’s and children’s clothing and accessories. The owner, our friend Jen, and her team are so helpful in assisting you while looking for something for yourself or the perfect gift. A must stop shop this holiday!
Personalized Gifts
CasaBella is a family-owned small business located in the Peyton Pines, Colorado. They are proud of their heirloom quality portraits that are 100% made in America from start to finish. Their mission is to capture your special memories in a timeless portrait that you will enjoy for years to come. Whether you are looking to purchase a digital file, unframed print, rustic framed print, or canvas wrap, they have a variety of styles, sizes and pricing available to meet your needs.
From New Glarus, Wisconsin, A Well Worn Story products are handcrafted leather and canvas bags, belts, and wallets made by a husband and wife team. They can create custom designed bags and aprons that would be a thoughtful and personalized gift for someone in your life! Make sure to order early to get in time for the holidays! They also have in stock inventory to purchase in person or online.
Who doesn’t love handcrafted treats! Madison Chocolate is an independent, woman-owned chocolate shop and small cafe. They serve gluten-free house bakery, caramels, chocolate truffles, and more. They also can create custom chocolate boxes! Madison Chocolate can personalized chocolate logos to custom packaging with your company’s name.
Welcome to Aika Portraits, where personalization meets artistic expression in the world of print. Their Etsy shop stands out for its unique ability to capture individual stories. They emphasis on the joy and character of pets. Their portfolio is diverse, catering to a wide range of personalized print needs.
Knit Wit is a local shop who makes custom knit hats. They’re SO cute and everyone on our team has one. They make the best gifts!
Kristin Davis, the owner of Hill Valley Workshop was a middle school teacher for the past 23 years. She creates one-of-a-kind work, whether it’s a hand-lettered piece, hand-painted Sola wood flowers, or cut wood – you can be sure that there isn’t the exact same artwork on someone else’s walls! She loves to help people find the perfect gift for their loved ones.
Family, Friends, + Pets
Good Lion Golf is rooted in a deep love and appreciation of the game, as well as a displeasure at the omnipresent bland “golf-style”. They are an original and fresh offering in a sport that has been around for centuries yet is only recently adapting to a position of greater inclusivity. Good Lion seeks to honor traditional elements but with an updated approach. Use code MANDK for 20% off!
Abbie Pabon & Emily Enstad (a special education teacher and an art therapist) co-founded Present Not Perfect, an e-commerce children’s brand, in the fall of 2021. Present Not Perfect sells art and sensory play kits that teach early emotional literacy skills with the goal of empowering the next generation of mindful, creative, and resilient kids.
Walker Family Goods is a family designing goods for other families. Their mission is to inspire families to travel simple. They design luggage, backpacks, everyday bags, and travel essentials geared towards families with kids. Their products are top notch and a classic design that will be around for years to come.
Play It Again Sports® Madison is a locally owned neighborhood sporting goods and fitness store. You’ll find quality used AND new sports and fitness equipment to fit every budget, growing kiddos and new activity interest you have. Stop in store to buy, sell and trade your sports gear and fitness equipment or shop our entire inventory online.
Don’t forget about your furry friends! At TacoCat Creations, they focus on making cool stuff for cats and the humans who love them. For over a decade, TacoCat catnip toys have been driving cats crazy across the US and beyond.
Each of their cat toys are hand sewn and individually stuffed with super potent catnip. The catnip is purchased in small batches directly from a farm or grown right in their backyard. If your cat doesn’t respond to catnip, give theirs a try!
Experiences
Grape Water, located in downtown Middleton is one of our favorite wine bars. So whether you’re grabbing a gift card or need a spot to stop for a glass of wine between shopping, this is it!
Kosa is a space to retreat, go inward, and receive support on your self-care journey with Ayurveda. They are a spa located in Madison, WI at the historic Garver Feed Mill and they offer Ayruvedic massages, facials, wellness consultations, organic meals, and personal retreats. They also have a sauna!
Toot & Kates is a Verona wine bar that also offers other drinks and snacks as well. Grab a gift card or stop by for a glass of something you enjoy between holiday shopping! They also have a shopping area that features other local small businesses!!
Nicole Osten created Sort + Style based out of Madison, Wisconsin to help with getting your home to work for your family. She focuses on editing and elevating your spaces to bring function, organization, and peace to your home.
Opal Beauty and Wellness is luxury beauty studio located in Madison, Wisconsin specializing in custom skin treatments, brows, lashes and makeup services. Created with you in mind, we offer quality-driven services with result-driven products.
“A small business is an amazing way to serve and leave an impact on the world you live in.”
Cheers to another year of providing a fun and easy way to support local shops! Check out our past gift guides to see even more small businesses and gift ideas! We hope you find a shop you love to support throughout the year!
