Your holiday gift buying guide…
The Saturday after Thanksgiving is known across the country as “Small Business Saturday”, but the “shop local” or “shop small” campaign actually continues through the end of the year. I would highly recommend you consider any day the year the perfect opportunity to shop small and shop local. This article is dedicated to help you plan out all your holiday gift buying activities.
We all know of the challenges our local, small businesses have endured from shutdowns, to finding staff, to rising costs to being able to get their items on their shelves due to shortages and delays. It is not easy to be a small business owner! And since most of them live in our neighborhoods, they are our friends, our neighbors, the parents of our own child’s teammates. Small business owners are the first to be asked to donate to all the local fundraisers. So here is our collective opportunity to say our “thanks” in this season of being thankful.
Did you know that Evergreen has shops that sell lifestyle apparel in stores like Evergreen Clothing & Mercantile, Sisters & Co, and Sweetwater Boutique? In addition to the clothing, they all also sell smaller items for stocking stuffers for men and women. And if you are a thrifty person who likes one-of-a-kind type finds, then be sure to visit Aspen’s Consignment, the EChO Resale Store and Sweet Hayden.
For outdoorsy people on your holiday list, be sure to visit Blue Angler Quill, Boone Mountain Sports, and Outbound Mountain Gear. Along that line, the cyclist in your life will be thrilled with a gift from Altitude Cycling & Fitness and Evergreen Bicycle Outfitters.
If you are looking for a piece of jewelry from handmade to gemstone, consider Daniel Diamonds, Marmalade Jewelry & Accessories, and Silver Arrow Fine Southwest Jewelry.
For truly unique arts gifts, visit Center for the Arts gift store, Evergreen Gallery, and Shadow Mountain Gallery. Go Paint! and Evergreen Art School are right here in town for those of you who like to create your own gifts.
For apparel with the Evergreen name on it, be sure to visit Buffalo Mountain Apparel and all your pet needs can be found at Chow Down and Koa’s House Pet Supplies.
Don’t forget to spruce up your own home or look for that gift for the younger family on your list at the Evergreen Design Center and Mountain Home. The Holly Berry can take care of all your wreath and centerpiece needs over the holidays and Evergreen Crafters is one of those stores where you will find so many gifts you didn’t even realize you need!
You can never go wrong with a “practical” gift at stores like Evergreen Ace Hardware and The Paint Bucket. Food and alcohol gifts always play a role with some of my family members and for those, I will be shopping at Creekside Cellars, Evergreen Cooking School, Evergreen Discount Liquors and Piney Wine and Spirits. And if you find yourself housebound, there are wonderful local online retailers like Daddy’s Homemade providing locally made, natural ingredient syrups in so many flavors, Brook Forest Soap company with handmade bath products, Indy & Olly’s with pet bandanas and bow ties where a bandana is donated to an animal rescue or shelter for each one purchased, and Old Pine Candle Company for soy candles of many fragrances, all made here in Evergreen.
On top of all these suggestions, there are so many wonderful service providers; think massage therapists, personal trainers, spas, and salons who all would love to help you with gift certificates for your loved ones.
What I am trying to say is that you can give your computer browser a break, get out into our awesome town and find pretty much everything you need. No complaining about parking – we all could have started our shopping much sooner!
Nancy Judge
EACC President
