Supporting Local Business This Holiday Season
You’ve probably heard about the movement to support local small businesses this holiday season by making your gift purchases at the fabulous shops in your community instead of big box stores or huge online retailers. We love this idea, but if you’re not used to making your holiday purchases locally this proposition can be challenging if you aren’t aware of the incredible options!
We recently asked our social media community for suggestions of fabulous local shops that they’d recommend for holiday shopping – and… wow! You stepped up to the challenge and shared lists of your favourite small businesses that offer gifts, food, drinks and services that fit all needs and budgets.
Supporting these businesses could mean everything to them and their employees, suppliers and partners. We hope you find some wonderful, eclectic and unique gifts for your loved ones this year.
Here’s the collection of amazing shops that were suggested by our social media friends:
Health and Beauty
Kent of Inglewood (@kentofinglewood) - shaving, beard care, axes, soap, and so much more
Chinook Optical (@chinookoptical) – eye clinic and fine eyewear
Bloom Body Co. (@bloombodyco) – natural bath and body care products
Natology Skin Clinic (@natologyskinclinic) – skin clinic with a focus on nutrition, supplements and lifestyle practices
Collectic Beauty (@collectic.beauty) – permanent makeup treatments, facials, beauty products, candles
Routine (@routinecream) – deodorant, face & body oils
Lowen’s (@lowensskincare) – organic, fair-trade, and/or locally-sourced ingredients in unique skin care products
Ellie Bianca – (@elliebiancabeauty) – natural skincare, face and bath products
Onyx & Ivory – (@onyxandivorysalon) – hair salon and products
Home Goods and Decor
Guildhall (@guildhall.home) - timeless modern design + home décor at every price point
Steeling Home (@steelinghome) – a collection of treasures and surprises
Shelf Life Books (@shelflifebooks) – independent bookstore
Field Study (@fieldstudyshop) - lifestyle goods, women's clothing and accessories, and household items
Pages on Kensington (@pagesbooks) – independent bookstore
Owl’s Nest Books (@owlsnestbooks) – Calgary’s oldest indie bookstore
Lemonciello (@lemonciello) – home goods, apparel, beauty
DYP Refillery (@dyprefillery) – minimal waste household, bath and body, travel and daily-used products
Recess (@recess) - writing instruments, notebooks, and desk objects
Field Kit (@fieldkitco) – candles
Plant (@plantshopyyc) – plants, terrariums, workshops, gifts
Primrose Lifestyle (@primroselifestyle) - hand crafted custom wood décor for interior and exterior living
The Apothecary (@apothecaryyyc) - zero waste home goods, bulk refills, essential oils, herbs and organic natural wellness products
Turn It Up! Records and Hi-Fi (@turnituprecordsandhifi) – records, sound systems, turntables
Another Dimension Comics (@anotherdimensioncomics) – comic books, hardcovers and graphic novels
Circa Art Glass (@circaartglass) – mid-century modern art glass from around the world
ReWorks Upcycle Shop (@reworksyyc) - recycled, zero waste and locally made products
Canary (@canary.goods) - refillery and zero-waste lifestyle and home goods market
Blooms on 9th (@bloomson9th) – high-end florist, charcuterie, gifts
Blue Hydrangea (@bluehydrangeafloral) – boutique floral and event company
Uniquities (@uniquitiesyyc) – unique architectural antiques
Poor David’s (@poordavidsinglewood) – houseware, gifts, body care, jewelry and more
Food and Drinks
Peasant Cheese (@peasantcheese) – cheese and charcuterie
Bricks Wine Company (@Brickswineco) - purveyor of fine wine, craft beer & spirits
The Eden (@the.eden.inglewood) - family owned & operated bistro offering classic comfort dishes
Bear Bait Honey (@bearbaithoney) - delicious, sweet honey
The Silk Road Spice Merchant (@silkroadspices) – top quality spices, cocktail supplies, accessories
Bite Grocer and Eatery (@biteyyc) - independent grocery store and café
Luke’s Drug Mart (@lukesdrugmart) – pharmacy and items for everyday living, plus little luxuries
Bridgeland Market (@bridgelandmarket) - grocery, deli, bakery, coffee & flowers
Oak and Vine (@oak_and_vine) – craft beer, wine and spirits organized by colour and taste
Vine Arts (@vinearts) - a selection of beer, wine, spirits, and specialty cocktail ingredients
Our Daily Brett (@ourdailybrett) - market, café, and corporate catering service
Village Brewery (@villagebrewery) - tasty craft beers with local ingredients
Willow Park Wines (@willowparkwines) - curated wines, crafted beers and artisanal spirits
Springbank Cheese (@springbankcheesewillowpark) - complete line of Canadian cheese and quality imports
Calgary Farmer’s Market (@calgaryfarmersmarket) - 75+ vendors offering local produce, flowers, crafts & more
Meez (@meezyyc) – take-home cuisine, catering, and workshops
Wise Guys Liquor (@wiseguysliquor) – wine, beer, spirits, wine club, and mix
Vin Room (@vinroomyyc) – wine, takeout dining
Gravity Espresso & Wine Bar (@cafegravity_yyc) - high-end coffee bar with a well-selected wine and beer menu
Bea’s Inglewood Café (@beas.inglewood.cafe) - neighborhood restaurant with a comfort food attitude
The Deane House (@deanehouseyyc) – historical home turned restaurant celebrating local flavours
Cold Garden Beverage Company (@cold_garden) – casual and eccentric microbrewery
Sexy AF Spirits (@sexyafspirits) – alcohol-free, vegan, sugar-free, plant-based, low calorie, botanically infused spirits
Apparel and Accessories
Purr (@purrclothing) – women’s, men’s, accessories, beauty, jewelry, housewares
Growing Co. (growing.co_kids) - kids eco boutique
Livery Shop (@liveryshop) - local goods, clothing, and accessories
Adorn Boutique (@adorncalgary) – feminine apparel, accessories and gifts
Bare Activewear (@bareactivewear) – activewear and accessories
Moonstone Creation (@moonstonecree) – traditional Indigenous apparel, art, gifts and home goods
Era Style Loft (@erastyleloft) – ethically-sourced women’s clothing
Nerd Roller Skates (@nerdrollerskates) – roller skate sales, service, fitting and jersey printing
C of Dead (@c_of_dead) – apparel reviving Calgary’s sports history
Local Laundry (@locallaundry) – Canadian-made clothing
Mystical Metis (@mysticalmetis) – Indigenous-inspired, Canadian-made apparel, home goods, and jewelry
Sophie Grace (@sophiegraceshop) – sophisticated and professional women’s wear
Madame Premier (@madamepremier) - fashionable, gender-neutral clothing for the entire political family
Athletics and Leisure
Bow Cycle Sports (@bowcyclesports) – bicycle and sporting goods, rentals and servicing
Ridley Cycle (@ridleycycle) – bicycle, cycling gear, training, servicing, rentals
Junction 9 (@junction_9) - Online, on-demand or live yoga, Pilates, mediation and more
UNDRCARD (@undrcard) - music-driven boxing workout
Interested in working together on your project?
Since 2009, we’ve worked closely with hundreds of clients to make their dreams come true — and we’d love to work with you, too! Please get in touch to get the conversation started today.