Please consider joining me in supporting small, handmade, and local businesses throughout the year!
As many of you know, I launched an online shop here on Preserving My Sanity in 2023 featuring handcrafted goat’s milk soap, lotion bars, bath salts, accessories, and more. It’s been so much fun packaging everyone’s orders so far, and I love hearing about how much you love my products.
My husband Marshall is also an online shop owner. He makes handmade fishing lures from maple in 36+ colors. You can check them out at MarshallsMinnows.com.
Minnesota Grown
I’m proud to be a member of Minnesota Grown, a statewide partnership between the Minnesota Department of Agriculture and producers of Minnesota agricultural products. Their mission is to connect Minnesotans directly to farmers, farmers markets, and other producers. Because I use fresh goat’s milk sourced from local Minnesota farmers in my soap, and local Minnesota beeswax in my lotion bars, balms, and butters I’m eligible to be a member of this cool organization. I am featured in the 2024 holiday gift guide, and am also listed on their regular directory.
Shop the Minnesota Grown Holiday Gift Guide
Meet the Minnesota Makers
Meet the Minnesota Makers was founded by Michelle Sharp with a true passion for highlighting makers throughout Minnesota by sharing their stories. I’m grateful that we met, and love the work she does to support handmade businesses in our state. Marshall and I are both featured in the 2024 holiday gift guide, and in 2023 he was also featured in a Minnesota Live TV segment!
Shop the Minnesota Makers Holiday Gift Guide
The Stress-Free Virtual Christmas Market
The Stress-Free Christmas is a holiday-focused blog that features holiday recipes, crafts, tips, and more – including a virtual Christmas market featuring over 40 vendors (including me!)
Shop the Virtual Christmas Market
Small Business Gift Guides by Salem Style
Salem Style is a Massachusetts-based boutique featuring an original handmade crochet collection. With over 25 years of crocheting experience and as a fifth-generation crocheter, owner Julianna creates every design with intention. This year, she also generously created a small business gift guide website to help shine a light on fellow small business owners. I’m proud to be featured in her Gifts for Mom feature, and there are new features coming soon.
Shop Small Business Gift Guides
Other Ways to Support Small Business
The two organizations I listed above are specific to Minnesota, but there are likely similar groups in your state. There are a number of other ways to support local and small businesses too!
- Take a walk downtown in your town or city. The shop owners will love to see you!
- Search for websites in your area that promote local business – like chambers of commerce, economic development partnerships, art collectives, visitor bureaus, etc.
- Find a list of craft/art shows in your area and take some friends with you!
- Browse Etsy or other handmade marketplaces.
- Search hashtags on Instagram for what you are looking for.
- Ask your friends for recommendations.
Thank you for supporting small businesses this holiday season, and throughout the year. And, thanks for being here with me!
