Taking my annual trip through North Carolina via its small businesses
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I’m thrilled to bring you the charm of the Tar Heel State once more with this roundup of locally sourced gifts! From handcrafted goods to gourmet treats, these North Carolina-made treasures are perfect for sharing a little Southern hospitality this holiday season—no matter where you live.
Looking for more North Carolina goodness? Check out my past local Gift Guides: 2023 | 2022 | 2021
While I usually strive to keep this guide balanced with items from all four corners of our state, this guide leans a little west to bring extra awareness to small businesses in the region following the impacts of Hurricane Helene.
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Whether you’re shopping for a friend or relative, I hope you’ll consider shopping from my home state this season. It’s the simplest way to support a local family while gifting the kind of present they (literally!) won’t find anywhere else. Let’s head out on a gifting adventure:
TOP GIFTS FROM NORTH CAROLINA SMALL BUSINESSES
1. QC Cash Gift Card (Charlotte) | Know someone visiting the Queen City soon? Give the gift of choice this season with a clever gift card that’s valid at a number of great local businesses.
2. Cotton and Linen Towel (Leicester) | The humble hand towel becomes a treat to use when it’s handwoven with organic cotton and linen into a squishy waffle texture.
3. Holiday Bonbon Gift Box (Asheville) | Fancy chocolates are always a welcome gift in my household, and I have a feeling your friends and family will love these impeccable bonbons, too.
4. Rise Asheville Tote Bag (Asheville) | Gift and do good with this screen-printed tote. Half of the profits from your purchase will be donated to local charities like Beloved Asheville, ArtsAVL, The RADA Foundation, and Brother Wolf Animal Rescue. More good news: this pretty pattern is also available as a tee.
5. Wooden Watch (Durham) | Ensure they’ll never be late to your next get-together with this eye-catching watch. Made from natural sandalwood, it’s ready to stand the test of time.
6. State Grape Shrub (Shelby) | Sweet, tangy, and spicy, this shrub is made using Muscadine grapes from Tranquility Farm in nearby Mooresville. Pair it with a bottle of gin, vodka, tequila, mezcal, or bubbles, and await your next invitation for drinks.
7. Letterpress Greeting Card (Hendersonville) | I’m a big fan of finding ways to give the gift of time, and one simple way to do that is by gifting a stack of greeting cards. Now they won’t have to scramble to find one to accompany a last-minute birthday gift next year! (Feeling extra generous? You can throw in some stamps, too).
8. Cozy Sweater Candle (Charlotte) | Up to seventy hours of cozy warmth await your recipient, thanks to clean burning soy wax and notes of sage, juniper, and spearmint.
9. Stoneware Cup (Asheville) | Initially designed as a transitional cup for the artist’s toddler, these tiny vessels by ceramicist Diana Hoover are perfect for sips for all ages. From juice to espresso to a nightcap, they’ll always want to make sure one is washed and ready to use.
10. Colorful Gemstone Necklace (Charlotte) | This necklace is like a candy necklace for grownups (but without the sugar rush!). Box up this strand of joy and add a dose of playfulness to their day.
That’s a wrap on my 2024 gift guides! 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 local brand or maker? Feel free to give them a shout-out in the comments!
