Drew's Little Book of Small Businesses Gift Guide

Drew's Little Book of Small Businesses Gift Guide
Drew's Little Book of Small Businesses Gift Guide features Drew's personal, hand-picked recommendations on where to shop for gifts for your family and friends, no matter where you are in the country! Remember to shop small this holiday season.
Ace and Em
- Hometown Location: New York, NY
- Known for: Ink and watercolor illustrations to give as personalized gifts and repurpose as art
- Virtual Shop: https://www.aceandem.com/
- Social Support: Instagram
Founded by two BFFs, Ace & Em personalized paper gifts provide the perfect memento to mark a special occasion but to also keep forever. Drew loves giving and receiving these one-of-a-kind gifts filled with heart and memories.
Spark your gift imagination with creative ideas like celebratory and home decor garlands, birth commemorative art, bright prints, and more.
Frugal Bookstore
- Hometown Location: 57 Warren St, Roxbury, MA
- Known for: Boston's first black-owned bookstore, 98 percent of their books are written by authors of color
- Virtual Store: https://frugalbookstore.net/collections/all
- Social Support: Instagram Twitter Facebook
Frugal Bookstore is a community bookstore located in Roxbury, MA with a mission for promoting literacy within children, teens and adults. Frugal Bookstore is a staple of the Boston community, but they are also there to support you, wherever you live. As they say on their website, Frugal sells "Real, hold-in-your-hand, feel-the-paper, turn-the-page-while-sitting-in-the-tub books. We want you to love books as much as we do." Sounds like some delicious books are ready to be devoured from Frugal Bookstore, and we can't wait to dive in.
Kernels Nashville
- Hometown Location: Nashville, TN
- Known for: Black women-owned family popcorn tin gifts
- Virtual Shop: https://www.kernelsnashville.com/
- Social Support: Twitter Facebook Instagram
Founded by three sisters who loved their Christmas tradition of eating tins of popcorn, Kernels Gourmet Popcorn is clearly made with love, the most important ingredient in a thoughtful holiday gift. Every holiday season, Drew sends popcorn to her friends and family (...and makes sure to buy some for herself)! Popcorn is a timeless classic snack for the holidays, and a simple way to send love and a snack party to someone you may not get to see this year. Kernels Gourmet Popcorn’s creative flavors ensure you’ll find the exact snack vibe you need.
DeLuscious Cookies
- Hometown Location: 829 N. Highland Avenue Los Angeles, CA 90038
- Known for: Freshly baked cookies, brownies and whoopie pies
- Virtual Shop: https://www.delusciouscookies.com
- Social Support: Facebook Twitter Instagram
Give to the sweetest people in your life a sweet escape this holiday season with DeLuscious Cookies! These groovy baked treats have been served everywhere, from the Academy Awards to the Grammys to the Golden Globes (yeah...we’ve heard of ‘em), are beloved by celebs like Matt Bomer and Sarah Paulson-- and you can bring them to the homes of you and your loved ones! Deluscious offers freshly baked cookies, brownies and whoopie pies, and snack moods from classic to couture to vegan to gluten-free! Create a flavor memory with sweet treats that will rock your family’s world this holiday season.
DIOP
- Hometown Location: Detroit, Michigan
- Known for: Stylish apparel inspired by bold, patterned, Ankara fabric
- Virtual Shop: https://weardiop.com/
- Social Support: Instagram Facebook
DIOP was founded by Mapate Diop to fuse his Nigerian heritage and lifestyle as a first-generation American through apparel. Their mission is for customers to “feel connected to the truest sense of who you are” when wearing their styles. Drew believes that one of her purposes in life is to help people feel more comfortable expressing their truest selves, so the heart of DIOP’s brand resonates with her.
The Future
- Hometown Location: Minneapolis, MN
- Known for: An artist market with gifts focusing on positivity within the body and the home
- Virtual Shop: https://thefuturempls.com/
- Social Support: Facebook Instagram
The Future is “a project space, artist market, Aquarian lab, artist residency, library, workshop and event space, and studio in the Witch District of South Minneapolis [...] on Dakota and Anishinaabe traditional, ancestral, unceded, occupied territories.” The store highlights curated, handmade gifts by “artists, witches, weirdos and healers,” a majority which represent women and LGBTQ+ locals of Minneapolis. The space mainly sells items that focus on creating more positivity for a body or space. The inclusive carefully curated choices of vendors and products resonates powerfully with Drew’s welcoming, tolerant, and inclusive nature. The gifts are hip, healing, and hopeful -- truly something for everyone on your list. Products that are chosen and made with love will inevitably have your receiver feeling all loved up.
Jamison and Bexley
- Hometown Location: Columbus, OH
- Known for: Black-owned stylish children’s clothing brand for adventurous, growing children
- Virtual Shop: https://jamisonandbexley.com/
- Social Support: Facebook Twitter Instagram
Drew can’t get enough of the delightful, sunshine-filled, fashion-forward children’s clothes from Jamison and Bexley. Owner Jennifer Sanger designs all of the kid fashion that has been worn by Jodie Turner-Smith’s baby and more. The quality and style combine into an irresistible combo that makes for the perfect holiday present for any of the sweet kids in your life.
KSM Candle Co.
- Hometown Location: Baltimore, MD
- Known for: Black-owned shop and studio that runs classes on soy candle-making
- Virtual Shop: https://www.knitssoyandmetal.com/
- Social Support: Twitter Instagram Facebook
KSM Candle Co. focuses on bringing the incredible experience of making something with your hands to its customers, while simultaneously emphasizing sustainability practices. Its DIY experiences focus on soy candle making, and, for your quarantine fun, they offer virtual DIY candle-making workshops, an exciting candle of the month mailing subscription and countless crazy, sexy, cool gifts for the home and the favorite people in your life.
The Farmer's Daughter Fibers
- Hometown Location: Great Falls, MT
- Known for: History-inspired dyed yarn
- Virtual Shop: https://thefarmersdaughterfibers.com/
- Social Support: Facebook Instagram
Founded with a mission of celebrating the heritage of Montana -- both the Big Sky farmers and ranchers as well as the state’s deep “Native American roots, traditions, strength, and family ways” -- Farmer's Daughter Fibers (FDF) sells unique dyed yarn made with colors evoking emotions of “nostalgia, hope, and happiness.”
In the colder months, there is nothing Drew loves more than comfy, cozy knitwear, so Farmer's Daughter Fibers is a heart-first place to find your next project. The online store is packed with knitting and weaving supplies, fabric, sewing patterns, and more -- a DIY dream for you and your most creatively inspired loved ones this holiday season.
Feel good bonus? The fiber arts company even started its own nonprofit called Sister’s United to “create opportunities for Indigenous Women and Children, offer financial support in the ground work to find Missing Indigenous People, and fund essential programs to heal our Indigenous Communities and to keep them safe.”
Estelle Colored Glass
- Hometown Location: Charleston, South Carolina
- Known for: Colored glass cake stands and stemware
- Virtual Shop: https://www.estellecoloredglass.com/
- Social Support: Facebook
Pinterest
Instagram
Color in the home helps bring our spaces and our souls to life. Estelle Colored Glass' luxurious glass pieces dot the home with welcome personality and party spirit.
Queen Bee Jelly
- Hometown Location: Washington, D.C. (District of Columbia)
- Known for: Gorgeous fabric, emphasizing sustainability
- Virtual Shop: https://www.queenbeejelly.com/
- Social Support: Instagram
Facebook
Queen Bee Jelly is an online fabric boutique, and the mission is to inspire individuals through texture, colors, and prints to express and embrace who you are.
Drew shares the brand's mission to champion our imperfections to become our fullest, most content selves.
Keller Works
- Hometown Location: 3656 Government Boulevard STE A1 Mobile, AL 36693
- Known for: Sensitive skin and body products made with allergen-free and natural additives
- Virtual Shop: https://kellerworks.com/
- Social Support: Instagram
Facebook
Krystn Keller created Keller Works due to a personal need - her baby needed products that wouldn’t irritate his severe skin sensitivity. Now, Keller Works' powerful reach and popularity has exploded, positively impacting people around the world who use Keller Works expanded line of products for skin and body care.
Good Vibes Cookie Co.
- Hometown Location: Los Angeles, California
- Known for: Cookies that look like geodes
- Virtual Shop: https://www.goodvibescookieco.com/
- Social Support: Instagram
Facebook
Good Vibes Cookie Co. says that "a good cookie baked with sweet intentions has the power to make someone's day." Good Vibes Cookie Co. believes in bringing people together and spreading positivity, something that Drew considers a necessary beacon in this world.
Satiating your sweet tooth while absorbing powerful vibes? We can't think of anything better.
Del Norte Studio
- Hometown Location: Wichita, KS
- Known for: One-of-a-kind clay pottery pieces
- Virtual Store: https://www.delnortestudio.store/
- Social Support: Instagram
Facebook
Del Norte Studio pieces are designed by Armando Minjarez, a Mexican interdisciplinary artist, designer and community organizer. According to Del Norte, Armando's artistic practice is "guided by themes of displacement, collaboration and empowerment to open space for the development of social change strategy, creative expression and liberation for racialized communities."
Del Norte Studio pieces will color your life with gorgeous, smooth pottery painted in confetti! Fill your home with usable artwork that injects your life with instant joy!
Empower Coffee Roasters
- Hometown Location: Mesa, AZ
- Known for: Coffee microroastery with beans grown at women-owned and run farms
- Virtual Store: https://empowercoffeeroasters.com/collections/our-coffees
- Social Support: Instagram Twitter Facebook
The mission of Empower Coffee Roasters is to source their green coffee from women producer farms around the world. The business also empowers women in their area and uses portions of profits to invest in our own community. Who wouldn't love a gift that makes an impact, supports an important mission, and tastes delicious?! You can snag a bag from one of the unique women-owned and run farms featured on their site, and if you want more, you can sign yourself or a loved one up for a coffee subscription!