The holidays are just around the corner, and although this year looks a little different, some may say that it’s more important than ever to let your friends and family know that you’re thinking of them. One way to do this while at the same time supporting your community, is to shop local.
From houseplants to virtual movie tickets, here are some gift ideas from our favorite local businesses.
Flowers and Plants
Did you know that having fresh flowers and plants in your home can decrease stress, improve your focus, and spark creativity? It doesn’t hurt that they also immediately update a room, making any interior decor look a little more put together. This December, give the gift of flowers and plants from these local businesses.
The Plant Store
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The Plant Store is located in South Seattle’s White Center neighborhood, and sells a variety of plants, ceramic pots, pins, stickers, and other accessories to add to any plant-lover’s collection. They also have gift cards available just in case you can’t make up your mind.
Bloom Away
If you’re looking to gift something a bit more unique, like a one-of-a-kind holiday wreath or a beautiful dried flower crown, Bloom Away is your best pick. Although they don’t have a brick-and-mortar location, Bloom Away delivers to Seattle, Shoreline, Edmonds, Lynnwood, Redmond, Bellevue, Kirkland, and Woodinville — and ships nationwide.
Black Origin Plants
You can find affordable, beautiful houseplants from Black Origin Plants on Instagram, as well as in-store at Lillith Tattoo in Fremont (be sure to email ahead or let them know you’re there for the plants, since they aren’t taking tattoo walk-ins at this time). Support Black-owned local businesses this holiday season and follow them for news about pop-up plant markets and artist collaborations!
[Related: How Hiring a Personal Assistant Can Support Your Family While Remote Learning and Working From Home]
Soap and Skincare
Nothing says self-care like skincare. Taking time out of your day to treat your skin with fragrant lotions, oils, and soaps can seem like a radical act of decadence — which is why it’s a perfect gift to give someone who needs to relax this winter.
Herbivore Botanicals
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Herbivore Botanicals is a Seattle-based skincare company that creates products made up of all active, non-toxic, organic ingredients. From soaking salts and jade rollers, to face masks and CBD skincare, Herbivore has it all. Find them in several different boutique locations in Seattle as well as online.
Seattle Sundries
Perfect for relatives or friends from out of town, Seattle Sundries sells soaps, lotions, and lip balms that are all-natural and locally made. Gift a bar of Jet City Soap, in a package that comes with a little Seattle history lesson, or a solid lotion bar in the seasonally appropriate orange spice scent.
Beer and Wine
After a year like 2020, a lot of us could probably use a drink. Instead of grabbing a bottle of wine off the grocery store shelf to send off as a gift, consider some of these local Seattle wine and beer shops.
Bottlehouse Wine Bar
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This wine bar located in the Madrona neighborhood offers a rotating collection of Pacific Northwest wines as well as global favorites. They are currently offering holiday wine sets with free Seattle metro-area delivery, as well as memberships to their wine club. 2021’s wine club theme is “Rivers & Roads.”
Molly’s Bottle Shop
Molly’s Bottle Shop is a natural wine shop in Ballard offering delicious, hand-picked wines for local delivery or in-store pickup. Molly also offers gift cards, bottle club memberships, as well as memberships to Book Cru, which sends monthly book and wine pairings — and would make a perfect gift for the wine and literature-lover in your life.
Stoup Brewing
Here’s to the beer-person in your life. This Ballard favorite boasts a wide variety of award-winning beers. Check out Stoup Brewing’s website to online order local brews in four-packs and 32 oz crowlers for you and your friends, and while you’re there check out some of their unique merch.
[Related: How to Successfully Prepare for the Holidays]
Soda
Do you like the idea of sending tasty beverages to friends and family, but know that alcohol isn’t their thing? Seattle is home to some delectable alternatives.
Rachel’s Ginger Beer
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If you have yet to try Rachel’s Ginger Beer, whether it’s their delicious original recipe or some of their mouth-watering combos (caramelized pineapple, pink guava, passion fruit and vanilla, just to name a few), now is the time to change that. Grab a bottle for yourself and send a variety pack to your friends or family. Rachel’s Ginger Beer delivers via Postmates, is available to pick up at one of their four Seattle locations, and also ships nationwide.
Dry Soda
Dry Soda Company makes delicious non-alcoholic carbonated beverages, in flavors such as Fuji Apple, Blood Orange, Rainier Cherry, and many more. They also sells a special mixology gift set that comes with their guide to “zero-proof cocktails” as well as everything your loved one needs for an at-home mocktail party. Place your order online, they ship nationally.
Movies
Seattle is a big film-loving city. Did you know Seattle International Film Festival is the largest film festival in the United States and Scarecrow Video in the University District has the biggest accessible collection of movies in the entire world? Support these local film institutions and share Seattle’s love of motion pictures with a friend or family member this December.
Ark Lodge Cinemas
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Ark Lodge Cinemas in South Seattle’s Columbia City neighborhood is one of the city’s oldest theaters, located in a beautiful renovated Masonic building from 1921. Usually busy showing first-run movies on their two screens, COVID-19 has caused them to shut down for the better part of the year. Buy one of their cool, local-artist designed t-shirts or gift a friend a virtual cinema ticket today.
Seattle International Film Festival
Why not give someone special a Seattle International Film Festival (SIFF) membership? The membership includes virtual benefits, and once SIFF can safely return to its yearly festival, they won’t miss out on the hundreds of unique films screened throughout the city, or any of the special parties and events that come with. You can also purchase them tickets to SIFF’s virtual screenings, or make a donation in their name.
The Beacon Cinema
Do you know someone who is really missing the theater experience? The Beacon Cinema in Columbia City is offering private rentals for parties up to 12 people (following all safety protocol, including wearing masks and distancing from anyone not in the same household) to watch a movie of their choice. If they aren’t sure what they want to watch, they can have the knowledgeable, film-loving staff at The Beacon curate their evening.
Scarecrow Video
Believe it or not, Seattle not only still has a video rental store — but it’s the most exhaustive collection of video rentals in the entire world. You read it right, Scarecrow Video has over 150,000 unique titles available to the public. They also sell used and new VHS, DVDs, and Blu-ray discs. Fill out a short questionnaire and send a friend a mystery box full of unique titles based on their interests, or grab a special Scarecrow Video t-shirt.
[Related: Winter Home Maintenance Checklist]
Cookies and Treats
Nothing says “I love you” like baked goods — right? Here are a few of our favorite Seattle treat providers that can help you with anyone on your list that has a sweet-tooth.
Lowrider Cookie Company
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Located in the Central District and in Georgetown and named for the owner’s love for dachshunds, Lowrider Cookie Company handcrafts some seriously delicious cookies and cakes. Send a gift card to a friend, or order a box of eight cookies and drop them off at their doorstep. Their December special flavors are stuffed chai chocolate, whiskey old fashioned, pillow mint, and red velvet with chocolate chips.
Sugar + Spoon
Know someone who loves licking the batter off of the spoon when baking? Now they can do it safely — and deliciously — with Sugar + Spoon’s no-egg cookie dough. Send off a bundle of their mouth-watering classic flavors, choose your own combinations, or purchase a digital gift card.
Savor Seattle
Savor Seattle, a food-tour company based out of Pike Place Market, has created holiday gift sets filled with local snacks perfect for your relatives on the other side of the country. Show them just what makes Seattle so appetizing. Make sure to get your orders in as early as possible.
If you need assistance during the holidays, whether that means picking up online orders, wrapping presents, ordering cards, or dropping gifts for family and friends off at the post office, Pepper’s Personal Assistants can help.
Visit our website and read about our different service packages to decide which is the best for you, and schedule a call with us today. We’re happy to help you make this holiday season holly, jolly, and as stress-free as possible.
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