There’s no cut-and-dry definition of a small business: The U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) mainly evaluates them based on monetary figures, like total sales and revenue, and size, meaning how many employees work for the company. But exact criteria vary by industry, so identifying a small business is a “you know it when you see it” situation. And during the holidays, supporting them is crucial — the majority of small businesses rely on holiday shopping for at least one quarter of their annual revenue, according to the SBA.
I’ve reported about small businesses for years, both at NBC Select and local publications across the country. If you’re thinking about shopping from a few this season, I rounded up a handful our NBC Select staff loves, as well as others with unique items worth knowing about.
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To recommend the best gifts from small businesses, I rounded up products NBC Select editors have bought or tried first-hand, plus other highly rated options that align with our previous coverage. All brands identify as small businesses, and some are part of large retailers’ small business programs, like Amazon Support Small. Many of the items on my list are sold by small businesses featured in our minority-owned brand guides, including those that are women-owned, Black-owned, Latino-owned, AAPI-owned and LGBTQ-owned.
Heraclea makes some of my favorite olive oils, which are produced from olives grown on the brand’s family-owned grove in Turkey. This set comes with two bottles of olive oil: Early Harvest, which is best for salads, dips and drizzles, and Mature Harvest, which is best for cooking over heat. The oils come in beautiful, sturdy bottles with a cork cap, which I display in my kitchen at all times.
Siesta Co’s salts are sure to elevate the dishes your loved one whips up at home. The variety pack comes with natural, black, citrus and ginger crunchy sea salt flakes, which let the chef in your life experiment with flavor pairings. Siesta Co’s salt comes recommended by Bianca Alvarez, NBC Select associate reporter, and is produced in Spain.
As a self-proclaimed coffee snob, I’ve tried many concentrates over the years, and Kloo’s stands out as one of the best. It’s smooth and flavorful without being too bitter or acidic, and I love that I can use it to make hot and iced drinks, including cocktails. This set (which the brand sent me to try) is a great introduction to Kloo’s coffee. It comes with four 8.5-ounce bottles of concentrate, each of which lets your loved one try a different roast. They’ll also get a pour measure and coffee tasting wheel. Everything comes packed inside a canvas tote bag.
These single-origin Colombian chocolates are almost too beautiful to eat. Each geometric-shaped confection is hand-painted and decorated with 24-karat gold leaves, giving them a sparkly finish. There are 12 semi-sweet and white chocolate gems in this gift box, which are filled with whisky ganache, caramelized macadamia nuts, creamy caramel or pistachios and blueberries. You can specify the exact date you want your order shipped and add a free gift note.
Some people prefer a chai latte over the standard shot of espresso. If that sounds like your giftee, buy them this set of chai powder to make hot and iced beverages at home. The set comes with masala and rooibos chai powder, both of which are packed inside recyclable tins. The set comes wrapped in a reusable bamboo carrier.
I pack medication, hair care and body care essentials in Cadence’s reusable capsules every time I travel. I’ve also gifted them to loved ones to bring on trips across the world. This set comes with seven capsules: three smalls that have a .56-ounce capacity, and four 1.32-ounce mediums. The capsules are magnetic, so they stay together inside toiletry bags, and they come with interchangeable label tiles to help your giftee identify what’s inside each one. I find Cadence’s capsules easy to fill and clean, and their leak-resistant caps prevent spillage in my bag.
If the DIYer in your life doesn’t have the tools they need to take on projects, this kit will be a welcome addition to their home. It comes with pillars, an adjustable wrench, a 6-in-1 screwdriver, a hammer and a 25-foot tape measure, all of which comes packed inside a portable canvas storage bag.
One of the best gifts I gave my mom was a perfume-making session at Olfactory’s New York City lab. But if your loved one can’t make it to the Big Apple, this kit allows them to customize their own scent at home. The brand guides them through the whole process with detailed instructions, and you can add a gift note with your purchase. Your giftee gets a full-size bottle of their unique perfume with a personalized label.
Nodpod’s sleep mask offers similar calming benefits to a weighted blanket, but targets pressure points on your giftee’s face to help them relax while sleeping. They can rest it over their eyes to block out light, and its four pods equally distribute gentle weight between their temples. The mask has a soft fabric exterior and there’s a loop closure in the back. Your loved one can also pop it in the freezer before they wear it — the cold helps with issues like headaches and puffy skin, according to the brand.
Anyone with sore muscles will be thankful to receive this at-home cupping kit. The suction from the cups gently lifts up tissue, which releases tension, increases circulation and supports overall recovery, according to the brand. The kit comes with eight silicone cups, a travel case and a detailed how-to guide. I use the cups, which my family gifted me last year, before and after long runs, and when my shoulders are achy from hunching over my computer.
Help your giftee establish a daily gua sha practice, which can improve circulation, reduce inflammation and relieve tension, according to experts we spoke to. This kit from Pink Moon is ideal for those who are new to gua sha. It comes with a rose quartz tool, a storage pouch and an instruction booklet.
Preserve a special memory inside this glass photo ornament, which your giftee can display on their Christmas tree, hang up on a wall at home or find a place for at their office. To customize it, you upload a picture to Artifact Uprising’s website and choose to crop it in a circle or oval shape. The ornament has a brass frame and is double sided, so your loved one will be able to see the picture from all angles. It comes with a long ribbon that they can tie or cut however they’d like.
I’m always looking for tchotchkes that will make my loved ones smile, and everything Nata Concept sells fits the bill. It’s hard to choose just one of the brand’s handmade, food-shaped candles to gift, so I usually gravitate toward a set like this one. The Pasta Enthusiast bundle comes with four candles: farfalle, fusilli, rigatoni and mezzelune. Your giftee can place them on a glass or ceramic plate to burn, and they have a jasmine, neroli and orange blossom scent.
After cozying up with this blanket, your loved one can use it as an accessory by folding it up or draping it over furniture. It’s made from soft Peruvian alpaca fiber, which is naturally thermoregulating, meaning it’s insulating in the winter and cooling in the summer. The blanket has tassels around its perimeter and comes in colors like camel, charcoal and navy.
Add greenery to your loved one’s home, which can boost their mood and reduce stress, according to experts we spoke to. Bloomscape’s Olive Tree is a great option for beginners because it’s easy to care for — just put it in direct sunlight and water it when it starts to get dry (specific care directions are available online). The non-toxic, pet-safe plant releases oxygen and absorbs pollutants, acting as an air cleaner. And with proper care, the olive tree, which comes in a stone pot, might even produce fruit over time.
Bring joy to your loved one’s kitchen with these colorful, smiley face oven mitts. They have a silicone exterior that’s heat-resistant up to 445 degrees Fahrenheit and a cotton interior that’s soft against skin. The brand recommends hand washing the oven mitts, but your giftee can machine-wash them if necessary.
Your favorite home chef can use this colorful, dishwasher-safe cutting board to prep ingredients, while the host can use it as a base for a charcuterie board. It’s made from food-safe plastic and comes in small, medium and large sizes, as well as colors like multi-confetti, green/white, black/white and rainbow. The small and medium cutting boards have a powder-coated metal handle, too.
Even when I’m not cooking something that could splash or spill on my clothes, I throw on Hedley & Bennett’s machine-washable smock apron because it makes me feel like a professional. The apron’s linen and cotton fabric is lightweight, and I find its crossback straps more comfortable than straps you have to tie. It has a loose fit, so it’s not restrictive, and there’s two pockets, plus a utility loop to hang tongs or a towel. The smock apron is available in over a dozen solid colors, as well as patterns like florals, checks and stripes. You can customize it with text for an additional $20 or a monogram for an additional $30.
Material’s Salt Sphere is a functional kitchen tool that also makes an eye-catching tablescape accessory. It has a magnetic swivel lid and comes with a stackable fluted base that detaches from the main sphere, acting as additional storage. For example, I put kosher salt in the sphere and pink Himalayan salt in the base. The Salt Sphere is available in walnut and maple woods.
Help your giftee stay warm during the chilly months ahead by buying them this cuffed beanie. It’s made from soft yarn and has a chunky colorblocked design with a marbled pompom on top. You can purchase the machine-washable hat in cobalt, teal or pink.
I swear by Amyo’s jewelry because it never irritates my sensitive skin, upholds its quality over time and is comfortable for everyday wear. I’ve kept these huggies on for months, which make a great gift because they’re a bit more special than a standard pair of small gold hoops due to their sparkly pavé charm. You can buy the hypoallergenic earrings in gold vermeil, sterling silver or 14-karat gold, and three sizes: six millimeters (best for second or third holes) and 7.5 millimeters (best for first holes). They click closed and are free from lead and nickel.
This hat lets everyone know exactly what genre the reader, TV lover or cinephile in your life prefers. Rebecca Rodriguez, NBC Select editorial projects manager, gets compliments on it every time she wears it, and says it’s always a conversation starter. The hat is made from a cotton twill material, has custom embroidery and is adjustable thanks to its buckle closure.
If your loved one is looking for a new hobby, crocheting is an easy one to pick up, especially if they’re learning through The Woobles’ kits. Each one comes with all of the materials they need to crochet a little character: a crochet hook, yarn, yarn needle and stuffing. Your giftee also gets access to step-by-step instruction videos.
Encourage your loved one to spend time away from their screens by buying them this 800-piece puzzle. When fully constructed, it forms a picture of a colorful plant landscape. The puzzle comes packed inside a reusable glass jar with a cork lid. A tube of glue and a straightedge is included with each purchase, giving them the option to preserve their masterpiece once they’re done putting it together.
Printworks’ Tumbling Tower Game is grown-up Jenga. The colorful wood blocks look more sophisticated than the originals, so your giftee can display a constructed tower as home decor when it’s not in use. The game comes with instructions and is ideal for groups.
Writing one line a day in this notebook helps your giftee record up to five years worth of experiences and get into the habit of journaling. The book has blank and lined pages, so they can write, sketch or doodle. It also has clearly defined sections, so your giftee can easily return to what they jotted down on a given date.
I’m a reporter at NBC Select whose written gift guides since 2020, including the best Advent calendars, the best gifts for coffee lovers and best gifts for bakers. I’ve also covered small businesses for years at various publications. To recommend the best gifts from small brands in 2024, I rounded up NBC Select staff picks and highly rated options worth knowing about.
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