Each year, we look forward to the upcoming calendar produced by Barry Butler! Barry is a local photographer who has an incredibly special way of capturing Chicago's unique beauty, and his calendar showcases a collection of just some of his more recent and seasonal work. This is a great gift both for Chicago locals who want to show off their city pride, or for those on your list who are out of town but appreciate the views our city has to offer. Anyone you gift this to is sure to love it! Buy the calendar here.
Anyone who knows Chicago knows that Eli's Cheesecake is a local gem, and thier lineup of holiday desserts is seriously delectable. Choose from a classic cheesecake, "Winter Wonderland Dippers" or fun kits like their DIY Marshmallow Crispy Bar Decorating Kit! If you want something a bit more hands-on, you can also purchase the Eli's Cheesecake Cook Book inclusive of 40 cheesecake recipes. Need another idea? Sign up your favorite dessert lover for three, six or twelve months to Eli's Cheesecake of the Month Club - new cheesecake every month? That's truly the gift that keeps on giving!
Don't forget to treat your pet pals this season! Sophisticated Pup is a local retailer specializing in pet products and gifts, and they have something for all of the four-legged friends on your list! From accessories to apparel to collars and leashes, Sophisticated Pup has you covered. Personally, we love this toy with a little extra Chicago flare! You can purchase it here.
Hanahana Beauty is a local, Black-owned, consciously clean skincare and wellness brand. Not only do they make truly incredible products, but they have an inspiring mission: "Our intention is to increase accessibility, transparency, and sustainability in all aspects of what we create. From the fair sourcing of our shea butter, to the creation of our homemade products, down to the responsible representation of people working with us at every end. This Hanahana supports the uplifting of women of color through designing and making all our products with natural ingredients. Our products are made with love and shea butter directly from the Katariga Women's Shea Cooperative in Ghana combined with natural oils. Our promise to you is that our products, made with all-natural ingredients, will have you feeling smooth + confident in your own skin.We simply want women to feel smooth and confident in their own skin, while being able to dismiss popular beauty standards and free their way of thinking." When you purchase products from Hanahana, you know you're supporting a business that truly cares. Plus - who doesn't love really great skincare products? You can purchase the vanilla lavendar shea body butter here!
If we have to wear masks and face coverings, there's no reason we can't have a little style while doing it! This year instead of socks, candy or trinkets, be sure to add some face coverings to the stockings hung up on the mantel. We love these festive face masks made by hand by a local Chicago vendor, but you can view TaylorMadeLineShop's entire line of masks on Etsy here!
Standout Style Boutique is another fabulous, Black-owned business from Chicago with a seriously stylish lineup! From comfy loungewear to accessories to dresses and everything in between, Standout Style will have something for even the pickiest of your crew. You can get this colorful maxi dress in a range of sizes from small-3XL here!
Everyone in Chicago knows about Harry Caray's restaurants, but did you know that you can send their famous Holy Cow Potato Chips to clients, friends or family?? If you're planning on gifting in larger quantities, they allow you to customize tins of chips with your company name or logo for free AND will send everything out for you straight from your mailing list. All you have to do is place your order and send them your gift list! Check out all the delicious options here.
From loved ones to business associates, it's easy to shop for everyone on your list while still keeping things local! If you're looking for more resources on shopping from local Chicago retailers, you can check out this list from Block Club Chicago which breaks down vendors by neighborhood, or browse with Shop Small Chicago which curates products from many different local businesses. Here's to a happy holiday season full of supporting Chicago's own!
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