It’s that beautiful, busy time of year! The holiday season seems to warp time for our family, and after Thanksgiving, the days go by so quickly for us. If I don’t do my Christmas shopping on Black Friday weekend, I’m left scrambling and hoping Amazon shipping speeds can come to my rescue a few days before Christmas each year. We are like any other family and love a good Black Friday deal from our favorite box stores and stacking up promo codes, BUT over the years, I’ve tried to be more conscious of circulating some of my Christmas budget back into small businesses. Over the past few Christmases, I’ve taken a little bit of time to find local vendors near my out-of-town family (a flower farm with workshops near my aunt in NC, local florists near my grandparents and sisters to deliver flowers for special occasions), found some incredible jewelry makers on Etsy, and sourced our Christmas cards through a local designer (shout out to With Love Daily!).
It’s so easy to do a quick google and send links for our Christmas lists to family (we do the same!), but I really wanted to make it just as convenient to shop small this year because most of the time, I feel like we just simply forget the small businesses who are in our own backyards when we are caught up in the ‘Buy 2 Get 80 Free‘ Bath and Body works deals. So without further ado, I wanted to share a list of some of my favorite small business owners and their Christmas gift offerings. As you all know, we live in Hickory, so I tried to keep this list very local to us (Oakdale, Cecil, South Hills), and I would absolutely love if you could comment anyone I forgot below and what they are offering for the holidays this year.
These businesses are top notch, and I’m sorry but the big guys really can’t compete with the quality and one-of-a-kind products that these businesses provide.
Hand Poured Local Candles
Burke Candle Co. in Hickory, PA
Limited edition red and green holiday candles; 8 oz and 16 oz mason jar candles in their signature holiday scents (Christmas Eve, Peppermint Mocha, Tree Farm, Home for the Holidays, Nana’s Gingerbread, and Hazelnut Coffee); Gift Baskets
Best Way to Shop: Burke Candle Co. Website or message through @burkecandleco through Instagram
Smiling Willow Candles in Bridgeville, PA
Follow @smilingwillowcandles to stay tuned for their Christmas open house where you can get all the new winter scents! I went to a spring open house, and it was so much fun to chat, snack, and shop at Danielle’s home.
Locally Grown Flowers
Mohawk Flower Farm in Hickory, PA
Yours truly!
Huge red and white amaryllis arrangements in mossed pots; specialty tulip bouquet subscriptions for spring that can be gifted now
Best Way to Shop: Go to our website - feel free to email or message me any time too!
Local Floral Designs
Holly Hanna Floral in Scott Township, PA
Fresh seasonal Christmas dinner centerpieces; artificial wreaths that can be ordered as a gift anytime; plus stunning holiday decor for your own home!
Best Way to Shop: Holly Hanna Floral website
Community Workshops
Bedner’s Farm & Greenhouse in Cecil, PA
Make and take workshops for wreaths and evergreen arrangements; weekly vendor market on Saturdays (11 am to 3 pm) where all vendors are local and everything is handmade
Best Way to Shop: Check out their event calendar here for workshop information
Sweet Treats
Ruby Lou Cookie in Upper St. Clair, PA
Elf on the shelf cookie kits; upcoming Christmas presale for sugar cookies like those pictured above
Best Way to Shop: Ruby Lou Online Store and follow along on Instagram for the Christmas presale announcement @ruby.lou.company
Millie’s Homemade Ice Cream in Bridgeville, PA (+ other spots around Pittsburgh!)
Holiday pint packages and gift cards for lots of yummy treats year round
Best way to shop: stop by 160 Millers Run Rd or visit their online store.
The Steeping Leaf in Morgan, PA
Gift cards towards tea, pastries, and some incredible, healthy lunches; individual tea bags, grab a dozen and gift a local tea sampler set
Best way to shop: stop by 536 Millers Run Rd.
Other favorite Pittsburgh businesses that ship to you!
The Door Mat Company
Super fun doormats, layering rugs, and other home decor. Shop online here..
Made for Mama Shop
Cozy speckled mugs with beautiful personalization; their holiday collection includes mugs, hand lettered coasters, vintage stamped spoons, towel seats, and apparel. Shop online here.
Happy Lil Canvases
Pittsburgh stickers, magnets and illustrations that would make some great stocking stuffers. Check out this Etsy shop!
Beads by Barson
Personalized bracelets and sunglasses for you and your little ones. Order through Instagram direct messages.
Leo and Lynn Jewelry
Handmade earrings, necklaces, bracelets and hair clips. Shop online here.
I also wanted to give a shout out to two other local businesses - Calhoun Construction and RSE Nursery in Hickory, PA. If you are opting to fix up your own place this year as a big gift to yourself and/or spouse, reach out to Calhoun Construction for interior and exterior construction projects and RSE Nursery for full service landscaping or to source trees and shrubs. We know both of these businesses very well and trust them at our own home.
Happy shopping and thanks for reading!