Food & Drink

Your Local Gift-Giving Guide

Avoid the Black Friday nightmare and shop on Seattle's smaller scale

By Kasee Bailey November 22, 2016

elephantine_1

The retail tables are turning: during the last holiday season, a greater percentage of shoppers did their gift-giving online, edging out traditional brick-and-mortar stores for holiday shopping.
 
It makes sense. I mean, who needs the hassle of the holiday in-and-out, the stress of navigating sales at big-box stores and dealing with manic crowds, when you can complete your holiday shopping with a few clicks of the your mouse? And, might we add, while binge-watching new Gilmore Girls episodes and drinking hot cocoa? (We’d suggest stocking up on Fran’s Dark Hot Chocolate or Chocolopolis drinking chocolate for the winter).
 
What’s more, shopping online gives you the opportunity to bypass traditional everyone’s-getting-it gifts for purchases with a personal touch—and a local benefit. Here’s how to shop locally in Seattle this holiday season, and better yet, how to be the gift-giver everyone wishes was their Secret Santa.

Think Etsy

Etsy is chock-full of unique items made by Seattle producers. Some of Seattle’s best creatives even started there before graduating to their own grown-up companies. Check out some of our favorites picks:

Perks of Aurora: Pop culture is in (just ask the former EMP museum). For the movie/music/TV show connoisseur in your life, gift handmade cards and mugs adorned with images from the likes of Saved by the Bell, Golden Girls, Friends and Parks and Recreation.

Kani Botanicals: Natural, handmade and organic skin and body products like face masks and lip balms.

Seattle Candle Company: Bring the scents of Seattle rain, fresh coffee and the pine forest into your home with all-natural hand-poured candles.

wrenbirdarts: Whimsical embroidery that features hand-drawn and hand-stitched patterns, like a colorful donut or Big Foot. You can even request custom orders. It’s not just Grandma’s craft anymore!


Image credit: wrenbirdarts

Andrews Reclaimed: Give a home a rustic feel with recycled wood gifts like a succulent planter or jewelry rack.

Three Bad Seeds: Evoke the forests and mountains of the Pacific Northwest with sculptural woolen pillows made to order.

elephantine: One of our favorite Seattle bloggers offers modern, handmade jewelry perfect for any taste, including a jewelry of the month club. You can also check out Mignon, her house- and officeware shop with gems like a travel candle or a dog bone cookie cutter.


Image credit: elephantine


Shop Online—Locally

What’s better than supporting your favorite local artists from home? Ring in the holiday shopping season (and avoid Black Friday lines) by exploring the goods from a select group of local PNW vendors participating in their own three-day online event, A Holiday Pop-Up Market by Hello Friends and Things, from November 25-27. The online happening offers discounts on featured gift items along with raffle prizes and donations to local charities. Participating small businesses include Fort Boards, Flourless Goodies, Uphill Designs, Moxie & Oliver, Moon Valley Organics and Chart A La Carte. Turn on the Christmas music and click away. 

If you do, perhaps, feel like stretching your legs for more traditional shopping (or maybe you just need more hot chocolate), plan to visit The Fourth Annual Handmade Holiday Market, a showcase of more than fifty local artists and their holiday offerings. The event, held on December 10 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at Second Use Building Materials (3223 6th Ave S, Seattle, Washington 98134), is free and open to the public. 

Reap the Rewards

Shop small for the holidays and earn rewards. Celebrating for Black Friday and Small Business Saturday, a group of local shops in Seattle are joining together with the Little Boxes app to offer discounts and raffle prizes for supporters of small local businesses. By downloading the app (or the paper passport), visiting Little Boxes shops and entering codes, Seattle shoppers can reap the benefits of shopping close to home. Codes unlock discounts and entries for raffle prizes, like an iPad Air, a stay at the Ace Hotel, spa and restaurant gift certificates and more. Visit Little Boxes for more information about participating shops and reward instructions.

Follow Us

15 Valentine’s Day Gifts

15 Valentine’s Day Gifts

Fleece slippers, chocolate figs, and The Book of Love

Who doesn’t want to celebrate love and make someone (anyone!) feel special? So, whether you’re all in or not so much, if you’re looking for gift ideas, here are a few to consider...

The Best Gifts for Travel Lovers 

The Best Gifts for Travel Lovers 

Tinsel, eggnog, mistletoe, and luggage

Travel lovers are the easiest people to buy for. Wrap a gift in old maps and they’ll spend hours deciphering the roadways and important coordinates. Put something inside the wrapping that will satiate their wanderlust, or encourage it, and you might be their next invitee to Paris.

Black Black Friday launches in Seattle

Black Black Friday launches in Seattle

The event is designed to boost Black-owned businesses

An initiative launched in Seattle encourages residents to spend money at Black-owned businesses, starting on Black Friday. Called Black Black Friday, the movement was organized by Laura Clise, founder and CEO of the Intentionalist, an online directory of thousands of small businesses owned by women, people of color, veterans, LBGTQ+, families, and differently abled people,…

Costco Goes for the Gold

Costco Goes for the Gold

Have a sudden need for gold bars? Better act fast.

The warehouse retailer known for everything from its popular food court to organic maple syrup and bulk, well, everything, is now in the business of selling gold. That’s right. Costco is peddling one-ounce gold bars online. But you have to be a member to buy them. And they’re not cheap. Shoppers have two options: One…