Happy Small Business Saturday, friends!
As has become a tradition around here, I’m thrilled to share a curated guide of local gifts from my current home state in honor of this day.
Today’s carefully edited list features a variety of unique and beautifully made items that support North Carolina artists and makers that you should feel proud to gift to anyone in any locale.
Looking for more North Carolina goodness? Check out my past local Gift Guides: 2022 | 2021
While you’ll occasionally find affiliate links sprinkled in my posts to offset the costs of running this blog, you won’t find any here – I know it grows increasingly more challenging to operate a small business year after year, and it’s important to me that these businesses receive all proceeds from any purchases you make today. Thank you for supporting my community – let’s tour my home state through the hands of local makers!
NORTH CAROLINA GIFT GUIDE
1. 15-Piece Holiday Assortment, Escazú Chocolates [Raleigh] | A delightful assortment of deliciously curated confections, with the ability to customize based on dietary restrictions and preferences.
2. Cumulo, The White Crowe [Western North Carolina] | This print from a WNC artist is created through an intensive carving and printing process (seen here), resulting in the sweetest piece of art.
3. Color Block Vessel #2, Ware Ware Studio [Raleigh] | This punchy vessel is made by hand and features bright pops of color on either handle, simply begging to be seen from all angles.
4. Immersion, Night Swim Coffee [Charlotte] | A unique combination of beans from Mexico and Ethiopia come together to sing notes of dates, red tea, hazelnuts, and orange zest.
5. Wooden Flower, Jordan Grace Owens [Durham] | For the plant killers *raises hand*, a flower that won’t wilt! These babies are cute on their own, but gorgeous in a group.
6. Cocktail Muddler, Apothecarve [Mars Hill] | There’s nothing like using a well-made tool to get a job done, and each of these cocktail muddlers is hand-carved right here in North Carolina.
7. Hope Sweater, Marie Oliver [Greensboro] | This charming sweater from a Greensboro designer feels like a modern heirloom – perfect for today, and ready to hand me down in a few decades.
8. Limited Edition: 2023 Holiday Candle, Bright Black [Durham] | Bright Black’s first-ever holiday candle draws inspiration from all over, combining the scents of Balsam Fir, Fraser Fir, and Black Currant in a high-quality wax with a crackling wooden wick.
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This guide is always such a treat and, at times, somewhat of a challenge to assemble (I always make sure to not repeat businesses from past guides!). But I’m grateful to live in a state that is largely supportive of its small businesses. So thank you for considering shopping local – not just today, but every day.
Looking for more gifting inspiration? Check out all of my Gift Guides.
Prefer to shop in person? Find all of my North Carolina travel guides right here.
Have another favorite NC-based brand or maker? Give them a shout-out in the comments!
Love this guide! Thank you!