Before the turkey has time to fully settle in, retailers will be knocking on your door to begin holiday shopping with doorbuster deals and steep discounts. As a local, woman-owned small business in the Twin Cities community, we encourage you to shop local this Small Business Saturday and holiday season. Small Business Saturday is a day to celebrate and support your neighbors. We put together a list of some of our favorite local vendors to help you get started.
MONTGOMERY COLLECTION
Whether going “up north” or across the world, Montgomery Collection creates the perfect accessories for your favorite travel partner. Marissa Montgomery handcrafts each piece in luxury leather and names her collections after area codes she has visited. Some Interior Impressions team members recently purchased Montgomery Collection wallets and it was a game changer! The soft leather ages beautifully, and the wallets are the perfect size to hold only necessities, leaving out the clutter. There are also lovely clutches, passport holders, and weekender bags you will adore.
EXCELSIOR CANDLE CO.
You will fall in love at first light with Excelsior Candle Co. Heidi Mueller started her business in her kitchen to give handmade gifts to friends and family, and eventually expanded to a studio in St. Paul. Each soy wax candle is made with love and patience, natural essential oils and fragrances, and lead-free cotton or wood wicks, excluding short cuts and automation. These environmentally-friendly, made-in-Minnesota gifts will warm hearts and homes all year round.
SWEET PEAS FLORAL
For the person who has it all, there is something so thoughtful and delightful about giving and receiving flowers. We turn to our friend Tara at Sweet Peas Floral to create custom floral arrangements designed from the heart. In addition to gift giving, Sweet Peas Floral is the best place to go for your own centerpieces and seasonal floral arrangements. See some seasonal beauties below.
FRINGE & FETTLE
Fringe & Fettle was discovered at the Saint Paul Art Crawl when one of our team member’s visited owner Joanna Buyert’s studio and fell in love with her work. Joanna started her business in 2011 and has been creating and selling gorgeous pieces since. You can find one of a kind dishware, carefully and thoughtfully crafted. Details such as lace inlays and raised metallic dots are some of many reasons to love these pieces.
GOOD THINGS
Started in 1973 by Sharon Conrad at the age of 22, Good Things has been a source of the latest and greatest in fashion and gift trends. They have three locations in White Bear Lake: GoodThings, GoodKids, and GoodStyle, and a GoodThings in Maple Grove. There are endless goodies to fulfill Christmas wish lists. Named a “must shop” on MSP Magazine, you can’t go wrong! Also, you can find MSP Mag’s article on Good Things here.
MINNY & PAUL
When it comes to gift giving, Minny & Paul should be high on the priority list. Founder, Laura Roos, a Minnesota girl through and through, developed an ingenious concept – a box or bin full of curated gifts from Minnesota vendors. If supporting local businesses is important to you, Minny & Paul takes some of the leg work out of it for you. They select unique items from local companies and thoughtfully bundle them together to make creative gifts.
ANGELINA’S KITCHEN
If you live in or near Woodbury and are looking for your next favorite restaurant, look no further… Angelina’s Kitchen delivers with exceptional food, drinks, service, and ambiance. It’s a place that feels like home, as it is welcoming, cozy, and filled with care. Owner, Angela Verrastro, named the restaurant after her grandmother, Angelina, who once ran an Italian luncheonette in New York. Inspired to bring a piece of her childhood and simply delicious food to Woodbury, she opened up her own restaurant in 2006. This came after the demand for making and delivering home-cooked meals to Woodbury residents was beyond her home kitchen limits and it was time for a commercial space. Grab a gift card for Angelina’s Kitchen to give to your favorite food lover, or a friend that would benefit from a hearty take-home meal.
SOLID MANUFACTURING CO.
Solid Manufacturing Co. sells home and leather “goods with intention.” Carefully crafted with heart and skill, couple Dan and Alex Cordell are dedicated to making products that are built to last with thoughtfully sourced materials. You can purchase a gift from Solid Manufacturing Co. knowing it was diligently made with love, and there is something for all ages. They have beautiful stools, coffee tables, leather goods, iPad stands, and sleek toys to name a few. If you are in the Excelsior area be sure to check out their store Ace General Store, that also carries artisan-made, men’s clothing and accessories in addition to Solid Manufacturing Co. items.
I LIKE YOU
Head over to Northeast Minneapolis to visit your favorite, quirky consignment and gift shop! I Like You is owned by Sarah Sweet and Angela Lessman, two women who have collaborated with over 200 artists to bring you local, unique, and sometimes strange finds. You will be delighted to know that I Like You has occasional shop dogs and is welcoming to all, so go and check it out, because they like you.
HAGEN AND OATS
Owned by sisters, Nikki and Anna, Hagen and Oats is the spot to get original, hand-crafted, Minnesota-inspired wood art. With ability to order custom made signs, this is the perfect spot for a specialized gift. In addition to unique wood art products, Hagen and Oats also offers classes for distressing, aging, and staining wood. Your gift receiver can make their own special piece to showcase at home or in their office with a gift card for classes.
Here are a few more mention-worthy, local women-owned small businesses for gift shopping:
Thanks for reading! We hope this post introduced you to some local vendors you hadn’t heard about, or reminded you of local shops you’ve been wanting to check out. Don’t be shy to reach out and let us know about local small businesses that you recommend. We would love to hear from you. Happy shopping!
Cheers,
Interior Impressions team
Leave a Reply