'Tis the season to celebrate the joy of giving and the warmth of community! As you embark on your holiday shopping adventure, I'm delighted to be your guide through a curated selection of local gems. This Shop Local/Shop Small guide is your ticket to discovering unique treasures that not only make thoughtful gifts but also support the heartbeat of our community—our local businesses. Let's navigate this festive season together, finding the perfect presents that not only bring joy to your loved ones but also contribute to the vitality of our neighborhood. Happy gifting!

Kid Spaces:

Children’s Piazza, Peabody - The perfect combination of coffee and playtime. Sip on a freshly brewed cup of coffee while your children play in an indoor playground filled with plenty of play options. Membership passes, gift cards, and private party hosting space are available!
North Shore Children’s Museum, Peabody - Right in downtown Peabody, the North Shore Children’s Museum features 15 hands-on exhibits for children to explore including Farm to Table, Sensory Play, Gross Motor Skills, and more.
Savy Little Playhouse, Hamilton - Located in downtown Hamilton this boutique indoor playground is a perfect place for little ones to play their hearts out.
Wenham Museum - Wonderful museum filled with local history, a variety of memberships are available. The Wenham Museum features an adorable gift shop with lots of games, puzzles, toys, and books!

Books, Toys, Games, & More:

2 Donkeys Toy Shop, Hamilton - A wide selection of toys and gifts for the little ones in your life.
The Castle, Beverly - Eat, drink, and socialize at this cute game-centered coffee shop. The public is welcome to play games and enjoy high-quality food and drink. Along with a gift shop this cafe also hosts many family-friendly events!
Copper Dog Books, Beverly - This Local book store provides a wide variety of books, book-related products, gifts, and cards. Owners are local to Beverly, passionate about books, and committed to providing for the greater community.
Paper Asylum, Beverly - Wonderful local comic book and pop culture store located in downtown Beverly. Choose from a variety of comic books, graphic novels, manga, and more. To shop online, visit their store link here.
Sarah Gaston Books - Relatable, fun, simple, everyday stories that reveal the love of God to kids. Sarah believes that Christian Children's books don't have to be poetic or cheesy. She is passionate about providing children with simple, relatable books that teach about God and show His love.

Tasty Treats:

Boards for Days, Danvers - Custom charcuterie boards. Check out their special holiday events!
Honeycomb Bakery, Hamilton - Local bakery with lots to offer, shop not only coffee and baked goods but local products from a variety of crafters. Honeycomb also offers catering services as well as hosting fun holiday events such as an afternoon with Mrs. Claus.
Treat Bakery, Wenham - Dedicated to quality and customer satisfaction this local mom bakes delicious pies, cookies, cakes, and more. These treats are perfect for your holiday gatherings or to simply share with the family.
Grandmas Chicken Soup, Woburn - Small, female-owned company shipping delicious comfort food options all over the US.
Ticktock Chocolates, Belmont - Chocolate and other confections, perfect for the holiday season.
Olive and Fig, North Reading - Fabulous custom charcuterie boards for your holiday party.
Purefections Chocolate, Quincy - Delicious chocolates and beautiful gifts.
Star Box Truffles, Online - Homemade truffles with amazing flavors, in handmade origami boxes.
Baked by Mommy, Wenham - Custom cakes made with organic ingredients and no preservatives.
Winfrey’s Fudge & Chocolates - Delicious, hand crafted chocolates, fudge, and other treats.
Pure Pastry, Beverly - Locally sourced ingredients and many gluten free options.

Self-Care & Body Products:

Spirit Tree Wellness, Hamilton - Featuring the North Shore's only Himalayan salt cave, this wellness center offers many services and events. A variety of packages are offered including access to their salt cave, foot baths, and infrared sauna.
Aviva Wellness and Aesthetics, Hamilton - Beautiful brand new medspa right in the heart of downtown Hamilton. It is owned by Jillian Kavanagh, NP who offers injectable aesthetic treatments, microchanneling, and chemical peels in addition to specializing in trigger point therapy. The vibe is always upbeat and fun! Gift cards are available.
Loft Cottage Candles - High-quality candles and body products. This combo is perfect for a relaxing evening of self-care.
Farm and Sea Candles, Amesbury - Candles, body products, and more check out their handmade products developed to create a cozy home atmosphere.
The Enchanted Magnolia, Malden - Fun and crafty hair and fashion accessories for all! Shop headwraps, headbands, scrunchies, and more.
Bajan handcrafted organics - Handmade, local, and responsibly sourced CBD body products.

Furry Friends:

Charlies Barkery, Arlington - Healthy, homemade, and high-quality treats for your furry friends! Check out their website for special puppy events!
The Natural Dog, Newburyport, Hamilton, Middleton, and Danvers - This local business has multiple locations across the Northshore and is committed to helping pet owners provide their furry friends with natural, holistic, and healthy food and supplements.
Gunnel Pups - Classic long-lasting dog collars designed to withstand harsh water conditions and more.

Clothes:

Smith and Saylor Boutique, Amesbury - Stylish clothing for kids, toddlers, and babies. Dress your kids to the nines in these fabulous fashion items.
Amelia Sky Boutique, Walpole - This adorable boutique always has unique finds. Check out their website for special offers and preorders.
Sanctum Style, Lynnfield - Fabulous for beautiful clothing, helpful staff will guide you to find the perfect pieces for your wardrobe .

Art:

Lily Keller - A talented painter and photographer, Lily paints vibrant seascapes, beaches, and special places. She is an equally talented photographer! Custom work is available.
Green Barn Studio - Hillary Holmes is a talented painter, focusing on florals, landscapes, and abstracts. Custom work is available.
Souza Ceramics - Handmade pottery by Mariel Souza. Beautiful and functional pieces.
Knotty Tottys Designs - Everlasting Wood Flowers, perfect for any occasion.
Liva Bella Designs - Custom gifts and decor for all occasions! Shop a variety of fun holiday decorations, crafts, ornaments, and more
Jennifer Faye Columbo - A variety of journal and card decks are available. These items make great gifts for your loved ones during this holiday season.
Joy Street Life and Home, Concord, MA - Distinctly curated products from designers and independent artists. A wide variety of gift options for all ages.
By Sonia B Leno - Local artist working with resin to create functional decor. Her work includes wall decor, charcuteries, serving boards, coasters, jewelry dishes, and much more.
Grady Letters, Epping NH - Work one-on-one with owner Kristen to create personalized designs for you and your loved ones. Find everything lettering related from event signage to custom engraving and much more!
Yellow Leaf Design, Boston - Custom house and family recipe illustrations. Turn your family recipe into a beautiful functional piece of art!
True Colors Glass Works, Windham - Unique glass art, perfect for small gifts or stocking stuffers.
The Discerning Kaleidoscope- This online shop is beautifully curated with artwork from local artisans. From prints to pottery and jewelry to hand blown glass, hundreds of choices, many one-of-a-kind!
Ashley Devin Designs - Made-to-order timeless calligraphy pieces. Custom signs, stationary, and logo design are available for all events and occasions.
Cayena Handmade - Hand-made one of a kind ceramic pieces crafted with love and care!
The Striped Cat Metal Works - Nature-themed metal jewelry, perfect for the outdoorsy people in your life.
Filaki - A custom jeweler with beautiful handcrafted pieces.

Other fabulous gift ideas:

Clutch Towels, Wenham - Unique and high-quality Microfiber towels. Lots of patterns and sizes to choose from.
Timeless Interiors and Gifts, Hamilton - Gifts, accessories, furniture, and decor! Beautiful things for the home.
A Monogram Shop, Hamilton - Want something personalized? A Monogram Shop is the place to go! Bags, towels, totes and more, or talk to Angela about your ideas!
The General Store, Hamilton - Beautiful selection of local gifts and treats.
Abby Velo, local but mobile - This family-owned mobile bike service is perfect for the bikers in your life. They provide onsite service for bikes and skis as well as bike fittings.
Cape Ann Sea Salt Co., Rockport - All natural sea salt harvested by hand from just off our local shores.
Brissonte, North Reading - Explore hand picked unique products. From home decor to one of a kind items these gifts will bring beauty, creativity, and flair into your home.
Interiors Home Decor, Sudbury - Local women-owned business and small gift shop focusing on handmade artisan items.
Bravo Baskets, Boston - Custom gift baskets for any price range to be shipped or delivered anywhere in the US.
Katie Sadowski Travel - The gift of travel can be a wonderful present this holiday season. For personalized and unforgettable family vacation experiences, reach out to Katie Sadowski - Magic Vacations, a local travel advisor. She can help you create memorable and tailor-made vacations that cater to your personal preferences. Whether you're looking for a relaxing beach getaway, theme park fun, a cruise, or an adventurous trip, Katie provides expert guidance and ensures a seamless travel experience for you and your loved ones. Katie.sadowski@magicvacations.net
Tracey Westgate Photography - This holiday season, gift the joy of memories with personalized portrait session gift certificates—a unique and thoughtful way to celebrate love, family, and the moments that matter most. Can be used in the 2024 calendar year!

Other holiday guides:

A Holiday Guide to Shopping Local, by The Creative Collective: I’m a proud member of the Creative Collective! In honor of Small Business Saturday, they have put together a wonderfully comprehensive guide of local businesses.

As we conclude this journey through our local offerings, I hope this guide has sparked inspiration for meaningful and thoughtful gifts. By choosing to support our small businesses, you've not only discovered unique treasures but also contributed to the vibrancy of our community. Wishing you a joyous holiday season filled with warmth, connection, and the delight of giving. Happy holidays!