Shop small this holiday season with our staff picks!
12/05/2020 8:10 pm ET
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Sabrina Matthews, Dara Brewton
Canva
The holiday season is officially underway!
2020 has been a challenging year for small businesses — but we can all help out by spending our holiday shopping dollars small and local whenever possible. In an effort to show our support, the staff here at Front Page Live have chosen a handful of our favorite small businesses which we hope will also become your favorite small businesses.
From personalized books to vegan pizza, this list of awesome small businesses should help you check off all the names on your list. (Even if you don’t make any purchases, you can show some support with your social media follows and shares!)
They offer popular gift items for humans and dogs featuring the Warrior Canine Connection logo: product sales benefit Warrior Canine Connection. FPL writer Sabrina Matthews has been walking her own dog wearing a Warrior Canine Connection heavyweight zippered hoodie for years.
Warrior Canine Connection is a non-profit organization with a unique, deeply healing mission. They breed service dogs, but that is just the start. Then they work with veterans who suffer from psychological injuries, such as PTSD, to train the dogs. These special pups will ultimately become service dogs for veterans who have been physically disabled.
Warrior trainers find new roads to recovery in focusing on their work with the dogs, and the chance to help another veteran. Wounded Warriors receive a much-needed companion who will help them navigate the world. And there are few creatures more at peace on this earth than a dog who is bonded with humans and serving a purpose. It’s a win-win-win!
How does 1 dog help more than 60 warriors? Learn more about Warrior Canine Connection, or start at the beginning with a live stream from one of their world-famous puppy cams!
Name of business: Suzie Kondi
Location: Amagansett, New York
They offer clothing for women and children, specifically tracksuits.
John is a personal friend of the founder and was able to watch Suzie Kondi go from an idea — how come nobody is selling stylish comfort clothes for women at home — to a full-blown business in less than two years, during the pandemic no less.
They offer incredible personalized books for birthdays, anniversaries, and funny/quirky gifts. The combination of neat designs and visual personalized data is great, and they are beautifully bound.
The Book of Everyone wants everyone to feel loved. As a “multicultural team of writers, designers, technologists, marketers, and lifelong dreamers with hearts set on spreading a big fat dollop of wonderful across the world.”
The pair of cousins that created Sesame Blue Shop combined their love of thrifting and crafting to create this online boutique. The items are perfect for the gift-giving season! Plus, the shamrock stickers (pictured above) support the American Autoimmune Related Diseases Association.
Name of business: Rise Bakery
Location: Washington D.C., Maryland, Virginia
They offer the BEST Gluten-Free baked goods I have ever had. Founded by Mike Koritko, who has Celiac disease the bakery offers a piece of heaven in every bite. The cinnamon rolls are to die for.
Rise Bakery provides a welcoming environment where everyone can “dine worry-free.”
When Jordan stumbled across Rhandi Foster’s Choate Body stand in Cleveland, Ohio, she immediately became drawn in by the story behind the brand. She sensed the passion behind the Black woman-owned business and thereby fell in love with the joy of a new skincare routine.
Name of business: Long and Drawn Out
Location: Society 6
What do they have on offer: T-shirts, mugs, and stickers printed to order from their Society6 shop feature art by Megan Long and sarcasm by Sabrina Matthews.
Follow: Facebook, Twitter
Name of business: CHIRPYEST
Location: Online
What do they have on offer: Affiliate shopping with a twist!
Follow: Instagram
Name of business: Active World
Location: Brooklyn, NY
What do they have on offer: They provide custom merchandising, printing, design for companies, tradeshows, etc. — a one-stop shop for organizations that need a suite of customized products.
Follow: Facebook, Instagram
