Because two-day shipping is great, but shopping small is more fun.
Among all of the things that 2020 has taught us, one that stands out to me is the importance of supporting small businesses. Don’t get me wrong – I still shop at Target and Amazon, but I have been incredibly impressed with the creative pivots that I have seen small, local businesses take to adapt to the madness that is our new every day, and I feel obligated to support them when I have the opportunity. Add to that the importance of supporting Black-owned and -led (as well as BIPOC-owned and -led more broadly) companies, and it’s really a no-brainer for me. Plus, I think there’s a particular kind of joy in picking out wares from a small business, since you’re far more likely to discover something truly unique.
This is in no way a comprehensive list (and it doesn’t include food/restaurants, which is a whole separate thing), but represents a few of the businesses that I have been really excited about and, in many cases, have purchased from multiple times. As a plus, all of these shops are women-owned/-led. I genuinely didn’t plan it that way, it just happened and I’m thrilled. Shops are linked and Instagram handles are noted for even more aesthetic goodness. Here we go!
To begin, my kid hates bows. Periodically, she will tolerate them for long enough for me to take a picture, but generally she is determined to get them off her head as fast as possible. However, I have been unable to resist buying her (and me!) bows and headbands from SweetMay (@sweetmay.co). The shop has beanies, bows, turbans, headbands, etc. in a variety of fabrics. My favorite thing is that they’re all customizable – you can pick what kind of knot/bow/tie you would like, as well as what size. It’s how I ended up with matching mommy-and-me bows that we’ve worn for exactly 10 minutes. Don’t care, still adorable. 10/10 will do it again.
I learned about Tal & Bert (@talandbert) through Young House Love’s Instagram stories (John & Sherry did an awesome job using their platform to amplify Black-owned businesses – you can find a list they curated here). I quickly determined that I want to buy all the things that Tal & Bert makes. Their concrete vessels are unique and beautiful and I think they’re just the coolest. Up until recently, the shop did monthly pre-order drops, which sold out incredibly quickly. The team has been growing, though, and now their online shop is open all the time. Which is great for them, and less great for my bank account.
I met Hannah, the mastermind behind Grimm & Co. (@grimmcandles), through the Honors program at the University of Washington (Go Dawgs!). We quickly realized that we shared an affinity for spooky things. I was writing my honors history thesis (which I never finished, but that’s another story) on the varying response to vaccinations, as a result of my fascination with infectious disease. I must admit, it’s much scarier to think about the Black Death these days than it was back then. Hannah, on the other hand, did finish her thesis on the commodification of abnormal human bodies in Georgian and Victorian Britain, and it was very cool. I won’t link it here, for her privacy, but I will point out that it’s award-winning. All of this is to say that I was enchanted when Hannah opened Grimm & Co., offering beautiful soy wax candles bewitching scents, because I think clever, creative ladies should be supported. As far as the products go, I think her votive sampler set is brilliant, in particular.
I have followed Madeleine Wilson on social media for a long time – we had mutual friends, she had a fashion and lifestyle blog I enjoyed reading, we share a first name (albeit spelled differently), etc. As a result, I have had the privilege of watching her launch and grow Madeleine Wilson Photography (@madeleinewilsonphoto). As someone who dabbles with a camera, I am pretty particular about the photographs that I put on my walls, but I couldn’t resist getting one of Madeleine’s Mt. Rainier prints to put up. I love seeing her perspective, particularly of the Pacific Northwest.
I dearly want to visit the brick and mortar Noteworthy Paper & Press (@noteworthypaper) in Missoula, MT but, for the time being, the online store is going to have to do. I particularly love their postcards and tea towels, but they have also curated a variety of goods from other vendors, resulting in a wide variety of products available in their website. The Noteworthy Etsy shop includes a sale section – I bought a mystery pack of “seconds” and can honestly say that they’re nearly perfect. I have gotten great joy out of popping buffalo- or tree-shaped postcards in the mail – I highly recommend the experience.
If you’re having a bad day, please just go browse the Farmgirl Flowers (@farmgirlflowers) website. I’ll wait here. Now, Farmgirl has grown (no pun intended) a lot, and I’m not sure if they technically still qualify as a small business, but I think they’re worth noting just the same. Any time I want to send flowers, I immediately think of Farmgirl. I’ve never had a bad experience with them, and the flowers that arrive are always beautiful. They have awesome seasonal arrangements, and I love that the focus is on the flowers – no extra gadgets or gimmicks.
As we know, I am a big fan of sending mail. I love addressing envelopes, too. I had a grand time sending out save-the-dates and wedding invitations (mail-sending mother lode!) for just this reason. Oddly enough, though, I do not love writing in our return address. I think it’s just too repetitive. Enter, a personalized return address stamp. I have gotten at least one stamp from MJ’s Art Stamps for every house we have owned. I also love giving these as housewarming presents or engagement gifts – there’s something so satisfying about seeing your name and address in a well-designed font and being able to stamp it all over the place. Seriously, stamp all the things.
I stumbled upon Lucy Loves Paper (@lucylovespaper) while browsing one of Etsy’s curated gift lists. Often, I find that there are a lot of the same types of things on these lists, so I don’t usually get too excited – monogrammed leather catchalls are not really my thing. However, Lucy’s art made me stop and click in to her shop – it’s pretty and fun and just makes you smile. Her cards and stickers are perfect for just-because notes, and her portraits are a vintage-style delight. I will note that Etsy sent out a gift guide featuring one of Lucy’s prints a few days ago, so her lead times have understandably spiked.
I found Stash + Story (@stashandstory) while I was looking for a baby book. I wanted something simple, with a few prompts but nothing too restrictive. Ideally, I knew I would also need a place to store all the bits and bobs that come with having a kid (hospital bracelets, ultrasounds, footprints), etc. Stash + Story offered the perfect combination. Their books are well-designed, sturdy, and super customizable. They also sell a school memory box and offer pages for kids up to 18 years old. I think E’s baby book is beautiful, and I really enjoy filling it out. I have cards from her shower tucked in the pockets in the back, as well as a ton of ultrasounds and other small things. I will say that I have determined that I need an auxiliary memory box for some of the bigger things (special clothes, etc.) but that says more about me as a hoarder of nostalgia than it does about the capabilities of the book.
Puddle + Ink (@puddleandink) was borne of photographer Amy Soper’s desire to take up a new art. She tells the story best. Starting with acrylic pouring and alcohol ink prints, she has branched out into other hard goods and opened an Etsy store with trinket dishes and jewelry, including a new range of adorable resin earrings. Amy also shares Damn Fine Studios with other local lady-bosses, which is pretty darn cool.
Finally – I grew up playing with simple colored wooden blocks, and I loved them. Tree Fort Toys (@treeforttoys) makes the kind of toys I want my daughter to love playing with, along with sets of blocks that are perfect for Pinterest-worthy (is Pinterest still a thing?) milestone photos. I appreciate that Tree Fort toys are sturdy, handmade, and beautiful as well as being designed to be educational and promote development.
So there we have it – a list of some of the (as it turns out) women-led small businesses that are first in my mind when I’m looking for something unique, creative, or just a little extra special. Knowing that there is a person responsible for crafting the product on the other side of the computer makes me smile, and makes me even more excited about whatever it is that I am choosing to purchase.
A Note: To me, Etsy is eminently satisfying. First of all, you can find almost anything – just search “dog face socks” or “pagan gifts” if you don’t believe me. Yes, these are both real-life searches I have used and from which I have successfully purchased gifts. I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again – technology, man. Founded in 2005, the platform has grown dramatically and changed significantly, as one would expect. What was previously a platform exclusively for handmade, artisan goods has now expanded, with a more general definition of “handmade.” Still, it’s a great jumping-off point for many makers and designers who are not yet ready to take on their own commerce website, or who want the exposure that being part of Etsy’s search results provides. However, Etsy does, of course, take a commission on sales made on its platform. I have, therefore, tried to link sellers’ independent websites (if they operate one) even if I originally found them through Etsy, to cut down on these fees.
Hickmans at Home 