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 maple fishing lures in a large variety of colors in 3″ and 4″ glidebaits, crankbaits, topwaters, and ripbaits. 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, farmer’s 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 butter I’m eligible to be a member of this cool organization. I was featured in the 2025 holiday gift guide and am also listed in their regular directory.
Shop the Minnesota Grown 2025 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 2025 holiday gift guide, in 2023 he was also featured in a Minnesota Live TV segment, and I was also featured in a segment in May 2025!
Shop the Minnesota Makers Gift Guide
The Stress-Free Christmas Virtual Market
The Stress Free Christmas is a holiday-focused blog by my friend, Lisa Sharp. She puts incredible effort into making this virtual event amazing for both shoppers and vendors. On her website, you can find a collection of vendors with unique items, as well as holiday recipes, games, planning tips, and more.
Shop the Stress-Free 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
Little Blue Cart
Little Blue Cart is an online shopping directory that connects conscious shoppers with progressive small businesses. I’m proud to be a part of this directory that prioritizes human rights, fairness, and freedom.
Midwest Living Holiday Gift Guide
I’m actually not featured here, but my husband is for his handmade fishing lures, Marshall’s Minnows! It was so much fun to receive the invitation to be included among the other amazing makers in this annual gift guide published by Midwest Living.
Shop the Midwest Living 2025 Holiday Gift Guide
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! I have my products in these retail locations!
- 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, GoImagine, Michael’s MakerPlace, 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!