Small Businesses to Support this Holiday Season
On my Instagram this week, I asked my followers to help me compile a list of their favorite small or local businesses that we could support this Holiday Season. Unlike major corporations, small businesses rely on purchases from every single customer to help keep them running. Since so many small businesses are hurting because of the Pandemic this year, I thought I could do a round up with the ones that I personally love, as well as the ones that were recommended by you guys!!
Florida (Miami/Fort Lauderdale area)
Tuya Spa - I’ve been going to see Tuya for almost 4 years now and she’s truly transformed my skin. She has a Spa/Yoga Studio located in North Miami and also sells her skincare products online. I swear by her cleanser, exfoliating pads, hyaluronic acid serum, & Vitamin C serum. You can use code SARAH10 for a discount at checkout. She also has a Black Friday/Cyber Monday sale going on until November 30.
Stranger Watches - This company was founded by a friend of mine, Jahn and they sell gorgeous men’s & women’s watches! Definitely check them out if you’re looking to purchase a high quality watch for someone this year. I own this watch and absolutely love it.
BuleGreen Cafe - I have a dedicated post to this restaurant here. The owners of this business, Carlos & Vagner are the sweetest souls ever! Carlos is a fellow flight attendant and he and his husband are so passionate about their business. I highly recommend having breakfast, lunch, or brunch here if you’re in the Fort Lauderdale area.
Carrolls Jewelers - This is the jewelry store where Fred purchased my engagement ring. Since then, I have also been back to have a few rings that had been passed down to me from other family members resized to fit. They are located on Las Olas Blvd and their customer service is unmatched. We will continue to use Carroll’s for our future jewelry needs!
LoveLee Bakeshop - Lee is such a talented baker! She opened LoveLee Bakeshop in 2017 after working for many other impressive names like The Four Seasons Resort, Hakkasan, and Gotham Steakhouse (inside Fontainbleu). Lee also worked as a pastry chef under a two star Michelin Star chef at 1826 Restaurant in Miami Beach. She finally made her dreams come true by opening her own bakery and you can visit her storefront at 600 NE 13th Street, Fort Lauderdale Florida. Her bakery offers tiered cakes, brownies, cinnamon bagels, cookies and so much more!
Bombay Darbar - A direct quote from their website “The founders of Bombay Darbar Restaurant represent a dynamic mix of cultural and culinary backgrounds to bring you an impeccable and delicious dining experience in both our Coconut Grove and Las Olas Riverfront restaurants. Our goal is to bring genuine and authentic Indian Cuisine to South Florida. We strive for prompt, efficient and courteous service to leave an impressionable mark on our customers”
Oklahoma (Tulsa area)
Str8 Coastin - (Black-Owned Business) My friend Dion owns this clothing line. He sells everything from t-shirts, to sweatshirts and even socks. Although he is located in California, you can buy his merchandise through his website here or shop in store at Splash City - located at 9242 S Sheridan R Tulsa, OK.
Kai Vietnamese Cuisine - This restaurant is owned by my dear friend (and “twin” as some of you may know her) Kally’s family. Located in downtown Tulsa, this family owned and operated restaurant opened their doors earlier this year. If you want the best Pho in all of Northeast Oklahoma, be sure to stop by and tell them I sent ya!
Whitty Books - Located in the historical Kendall Whittier district of of Tulsa, this local book store has been in business since 2018. Check out their website here for more information on local events they host as well.
Buck Atoms Cosmic Curios - You can’t miss this funky shop with their big spaceman statue. Right on Route 66, this shop is eclectic & unique - a must visit when in Tulsa.
LivyLu - They specialize in game-day gear. Whether you’re an OSU, OU, TU, ORU fan they have what you’re looking for!
Fulton St Books & Coffee - (Black Owned Business) At least 70% of the books here are written by or feature BIPOC (Black, Indigenous & People of Color) and/or marginalized communities. They believe that representation matters, who tells the story matters, and they are committed to being a space that prioritizes the voices of the preferably unheard.
Colorado (Denver area)
Honeycomb & Co - A market style flower shop located in the Denver area.
Sugar Sisters Bakery - This woman owned independent bakery is my favorite in Denver. Each time I visit my brother & sister in law I insist we order their cookies! AND they ship nationwide so even if you’re not in the Denver area you can still enjoy their sweet treats!
Be a Good Person - Established in 2015, this clothing brand has a deeper purpose : providing positivity. Located in Denver’s RINO district, their pieces and collections vary with the seasons and every evolving world of well-crafted street wear. They’ve also worked with organizations like MAKE-A-WISH to help raise over $828,000 in donations. Additionally, they work with Mile High Workshop to help provide jobs and a learned skill set to those who have experience hardships of incarceration, homelessness, physical and/or drug abuse.
Illinois (Chicago area)
Bombastic Cafe - Straight from their website : “We strive to create a free-spirited coffee house where you can rediscover coffee in its purest form. We serve single origin specialty coffee beans that are roasted in-house and served to perfection with a focus on alchemy and science.”
Alice & Wonder - I couldn’t believe I had never heard of this boutique until this year. My sister in law bought me one of their “VOTE” tees, and after getting it in the mail I checked out their website and became hooked! They are a Chicago based shop that curates pretty fun things from apparel to gifts. I also love that they have a $100 promise : That means you won’t find anything in their shop more than $100 unless they whole-heartedly believe the product is worth the spend.
Toronto, Canada
Assinewe Jewelry - (Indigenous Female Owned Company) Edie and Jacquelyn Assinewe are twin sisters who were born and raised in Toronto, Ontario. They are members of Sagamok Anishnawbek First Nation. Both are full-time students studying business and fashion. They are bringing their passion to life with the creation of Assinewe Jewelry!
Utah (online)
Pretty Please Teethers - (Black-Owned Female Business) Although I am not a mom and I don’t usually mention baby related items on my blog, I came across this small business and it made me want to include her because one day when I, God willing, have a child of my own I would want to support her small business. All of their teethers & clips, are handmade and designed in Utah, are made from 100% food-grade silicone and natural beechwood beads/rings. They are tested by independent, governing safety institutions to ensure they meet & exceed North American safety standards. Pretty Please Teethers aims to provide you and your teething little ones with some much-needed relief while keeping an natural, modern, and minimalist style with our handmade items.
Etsy is also a great website to utilize that is full of amazing small businesses! I’ll link a few of my favorites below.
Alright guys, I think that is going to conclude this post for today. Although I feel like I was able to add quite a few small businesses on short notice, I want to continue updating this post as I discover more stores/websites to support. Also, if you’re reading this, regardless of what city, state, or country you live in and own a small business or know of one you think I should include in this post, please leave it in the comments below.
Wishing you all a happy and safe weekend!
