Shop Local: Holidays Gift Guide
The holiday season is an important one for small businesses every year, and it figures to take on heightened importance in 2021.
COVID-19 continues to impact small businesses between workforce shortages and giving their all to make the best of a tough situation.
As small businesses face difficult challenges, it’s no surprise many consumers want to support locally owned small businesses this holiday season.
Small businesses are the backbone of many communities, and the holiday season provides a great opportunity to support such firms as they look to recover from a difficult year.
Shop Local: Three upcycled, reclaimed unique Maine gifts
Shop Local: Three quintessential Maine gifts
A farmer just took over a mini golf course and the result is a wild new business
Knitted hats with a naughty message
Environmentally conscious Symmetree Base Camp sets up shop in Camden
Nature-inspired arts and decor store opens in Liberty
Midcoast Maine gains a new small book publisher and two literary magazines
Ollie & David’s, a vintage store with factory-farm appeal, opens in Rockland
Tenants Harbor lobstering entrepreneur ropes in home decor market with handcrafted doormats
Belfast’s The Green Store tackles plastic waste with dispense-your-own soap
Gathering Thyme, farmhouse decor boutique opens in Rockport
New Rockland business, Affinity Nutrition: ‘Nourish your body, achieve optimum health’
Zoot Coffee to double its space with a move down Camden’s Elm Street
Northport artist Jason Thurston crafts ‘Shell Ink’ ornaments
Northport artist refinishes old furniture with enchanting detail
Meet Northport’s up-and-coming fashion mogul: ‘The Golf Boy’
Shop Local: Three gourmet and specialty foods made in Maine
South Thomaston woman opens shop to help fellow crafters hard hit by pandemic
Shop Local: Three Maine-made gifts $25 and under
Louise Seekins spreads love through handsewn teddy bears
Shop Local Spotlight: ornaments, jewelry from discarded lobster, mussel, oyster shells
Vinalhaven’s An Hanna channels creativity, passion for dogs to produce martingale collars
Friendship artist Duff Powell’s driftwood creations remind you of the ocean’s beauty
Rockland’s John Coppola: Captain by day, wood turner by night
Shop Local: Three handcrafted gifts from Nature
Shop Local: Three handmade goods that are pure ‘Maine’
Shop Local: Three ‘Clutter-Free’ Gifts of Experiences
Shop Local: Three handmade goods that are pure ‘Maine’
Shop Local: Three unique Maine eats
Resources
PenBayPilot.com’s business directory
PenBayPilot.com’s Midcoast Entrepreneurs hub
Eco-friendly gift options
The saying “the more the merrier” certainly applies during the holiday season. But during a season of big gifts, extra food and travel, “more” can exact a heavy toll on the environment.
According to Stanford University, Americans generate 25 percent more trash between Thanksgiving and New Year’s Eve than during the rest of the year. But there are various eco-friendly gifts that can make great presents and benefit the environment at the same time.
Purchase experiential gifts
When making holiday shopping lists, think of gifts that offer experiences rather than material goods.
Gifts that involve experiences, such as going to a sporting event or attending a play or musical, decrease reliance on wrapping paper. Such gifts also reduce clutter in the recipient’s house and conserve the resources otherwise used to manufacture alternative items that would have been purchased.
Experiential gifts that also tap into environmental pursuits, such as touring with an animal rescue group, or accommodations at a carbon-neutral hotel can be an added bonus.
Opt for locally made gifts Select gifts made by local artisans or companies that operate domestically. This cuts down on the carbon emissions from having to ship products from long distances or even overseas.
Get crafty
Gifts from the kitchen or ones made by the giver can be crafted from sustainable materials. They also show how you care by taking the time to customize a gift for the recipient.
Avoid gag or useless gifts
Select gifts only with utility in mind.
Skip purchases that are made only to beef-up the look of presents under the tree or to make it appear that gifting was more generous.
Items that a person cannot or will not use will ultimately be relegated to the trash, which is wasteful.
Wrap in reusable materials Fancy wrapping paper certainly looks nice, but choose other materials that can be reused.
Look for decorative tins, boxes, fancy gift bags, and other items that can be reused for years to come.