15 Small Businesses That You Can Support Today
Don't know what to get your friends and family this holiday season? Don't worry, I got you covered! Over the past year, I've come across many amazing small businesses across different industries. The pandemic has hit small businesses very hard this year and if you can, I highly encourage you to support these small businesses this season. The small businesses mentioned in this blog post create some of the most high-quality products in the market. I have personally bought some of the products from these small businesses and I can say that their products are some of the best that I've used. I tried to incorporate a variety of small businesses in their respective market from books to accessories to home decor, clothes, leather goods, jewelry, and more. Here are 15 small businesses that you can support today.
Alabaster Co.
Category: Books, Faith
Alabaster Co. combines creativity, beauty, and faith into one magnificent package. Alabaster's vision is to one day see all of humanity experience God as good and beautiful and they strive to move towards that vision through their beautiful Bible books. Each page is filled with text from the bible as well as a photo that accompanies the meaning behind the verse. I have worked with Alabaster on a number of their books and I can say that their books are truly amazing. They have motivated me to read the bible more as well as challenging me to think about what certain verses in the bible mean. Their books are beautifully crafted as each page is soft to the touch and lithographically printed. Besides their bible books, they also create books centered around faith as well as accessories such as notebooks and bookmarks. All of their products make perfect gifts for those that want to share the Gospel with a friend or loved one. They are changing the way people read the bible through beautiful imagery that compels the reader to want to know more about God.
The Goods LA
Category: Leather Goods, Accessories
I was first introduced to The Goods LA through my friend when we went to Steep LA's soft opening in Chinatown. Since one of the co-founders of Steep is also the founder of The Goods LA, there were a lot of products that were on display inside the cafe. I was amazed by the look and feel of these leather goods. If you like high quality, black leather goods, look no further than The Goods. I've purchased some of their products from their travel set and I can tell you that their products are beautifully crafted that are made to last a long time and look better with age. Their leather goods are sourced here in the United States and they use full grain vegetable tanned cowhide leather to give it that rugged, natural feel and look. They also offer a generous discount if you sign up for their mailing list and by becoming a member to earn points. I highly recommend checking out their store and purchasing some of their products!
ULX Store
Category: Leather Goods, Accessories
Continuing with the black leather goods aesthetic is ULX Store. One of the things that attracted me to this small business is how much attention to detail that they put into their products. Their products range from leather backpacks to watches to wallets and to phone cases. A few months ago I bought their black desk mat which is made from vegan leather. I can definitely tell the difference in quality when compared to other desk mats. If you're going for a minimal aesthetic for your everyday carry, consider buying from ULX Store. They're based in the UK so if you live in the US, it may take a while for your products to arrive.
R Is For Rooster
Category: Educational Art, Home Decor
https://www.etsy.com/shop/risforrooster
I recently discovered R Is For Rooster through a Facebook group and I'm in love with their home decor and educational products. Their products are perfect for any parent that wants to teach their children basic number and alphabet in a fun and stylish way. Some products that I thought were unique were Boba counting cards, Boba DIY crafting kit, Ice cream shop themed educational prints and bakery theme educational posters. They also have aesthetic wall decor to spice up anyone's room or home office.
At Home Scents Co
Category: Candles
This would be a perfect gift for a loved one or relative this holiday season! Run by a husband and wife team, At Home Scents Co sells 100% natural scented soy candles. Scents include peppermint, eucalyptus, apple, maple bourbon, sea salt, orchid, and more. According to reviewers, the scent is pretty strong so it can fill up any type of room. Make sure to pick one up since they can sell out fast.
Wild Fleur Co.
Category: Dried Florals
Recently I've been getting into dried florals simply because they require no maintenance, last longer than regular plants or other florals, and the color scheme matches perfectly with my room! I bought a custom dried floral arrangement from Christina who is the founder of Wild Fleur Co. and I'm in love with it! I highly recommend looking through the Instagram page and order a custom dried floral arrangement so you know which arrangement would match best with your room. Prices for these custom arrangements start at $25 for the smallest one and go up to $80 for the largest arrangement. Shipping is only available for the small arrangement at the moment.
Maritoonz
Category: Stickers
Meet my friend Marilyn Nguyen. She's a 22-year-old digital artist and photographer from the Bay area. We've been following each other on Instagram since 2016. I've seen her photography constantly improve over the years and recently, she's been focusing on her digital artwork. I've seen many sticker shops before but Marilyn's distinct stickers always catch my eye. All of the stickers are drawn and printed by herself. Get these cute stickers while you can as they sell out quickly!
PosterChild LA
Category: Accessories, Apparel
One of the coolest discoveries I've made during quarantine was PosterChild LA. The founder Bana Bangolan is a creative director and designer for other small businesses that she started. She's an all-around boss! By browsing the shop, you can instantly tell that she means business! The shop has all your quarantine needs including face masks, hygienic acrylic door opener, sanitizers, and replacement filters for masks. It also has shirts, hoodies, cargo scrubs, and hats. Most of her products are inspired by present-day social activism. If you're looking for something different and want to spread awareness about social change, PosterChild LA is your store!
The Lost Creek Co.
Category: Outdoor, Hiking, Apparel
Inspired by their hometown of Lost Creek, KY, Ryan and Matt set out to create their own outdoor apparel brand. The idea came from their shared love of the outdoors and a sentimental attachment to the name Lost Creek. Their goal is to create outdoor clothes that look good but also perform better with their own unique style. Currently, they only sell beanies and patches. They will be adding men's hiking pants, women's trail leggings, and performance shirts in the coming months.
Sackcloth & Ashes
Category: Blankets
You might have seen their blankets on Instagram if you follow travel or adventure photographers. But they're more than just an aesthetic blanket company. For every blanket that you buy, they give a blanket to your local homeless shelter. By 2024, they hope to donate one million blankets to homeless shelters around the United States. Their blankets are made from 100% recycled eco-friendly material. They are ethically made and produced here in the U.S. Most of their blankets. Most of their blankets run on one batch so if you like a specific design, make sure to pick one up as soon as possible before they sell out.
Paper Please Shop
Category: Stationary
For all of your stationery needs, Paper Please Shop has got you covered! This small business is run by two women who love paper and all things stationery. They hope that their shop would act as a communal space where brands and artists from all over the world support and inspire one another. This shop has everything from notebooks to desk accessories, writing utensils, kitchen appliances, fragrances, and more! If you're ever in the Los Angeles area make sure to check out their physical store in Chinatown.
We Are Uprisers
Category: Clothing
Inspired by Japanese culture and the Los Angeles lifestyle, We Are Uprisers is a community-driven fashion brand that aims to empower and unite the creative community and leaders. They are focused on amplifying impactful and authentic stories of activists and trendsetters through fashion. A percentage of their sales from their new fashion line will go towards an organization that they believe in. One of their ad campaigns titled #HATEISAVIRUS was a viral hit. The campaign tackled the early days of the pandemic when racism towards Asians was running rampant all over the United States. Through their fashion, they want to make communities a better place and give a voice to the voiceless. On their website, you can find many collaborations that they have done with various organizations in the form of shirts, sweaters, beanies, tye-dye bottoms, shorts, and more.
Confections By Michele
Category: Sweets & Desserts
My friend Michele makes the cutest desserts in the Los Angeles area. She currently sells cakes, decorated sugar cookies, cupcakes, and french macarons. She also takes custom orders of cakes, cookies, and cupcakes, which are perfect for birthday parties and special events. For those who live in the Los Angeles area, pickup option is available. Otherwise, most of the orders will be shipped via USPS priority mail.
The Fox Shop
Category: Magazine, Lifestyle Merch
Fox Shop is one of the more unique online stores out there. I had the pleasure of working with their sister company The Fox Magazine a few years ago. Think of Fox Shop as a curated marketplace that helps connect creatives and brands from all over the world through exciting, new products. The Fox Shop aims to be a one-stop shop that creatives go to for all their product needs. I've discovered a ton of innovative products that piqued my interest while browsing through their online store over the years. I'm sure you'll discover something that will fit perfectly with your lifestyle.
The Giving Keys
Category: Jewelry
I've had the pleasure of hearing from Caitlyn Crosby the founder of The Giving Keys at a photography conference that I went to a few years ago. It was truly an inspirational talk as I got to hear how the company started, their unconventional business model, and how they are helping the homeless transition out of homelessness into a sustainable life. The Giving Keys is a pay it forward company. Each key has an inspiring word on it such as hope, strength, let go, etc. People usually buy these keys with the words that they currently resonate with. They embrace the words and pass it on "paying it forward" to someone they feel needs to hear the message more than them. I've never heard of any company do something like this and it's cool that there are companies like this that are paying it forward and spreading the love. Their necklaces are what they are known for but they also sell bracelets, earrings, and keychains as well.
If you’re interested in some of my favorite products that I’ve used, check out this Holiday Gift Guide 2020 that I made!