Shop Small for Mom: Small Business Specializing in Handmade, Ethically-Sourced Goods

(While this was originally a Mother's Day post, it is a frequently-updated one! And these shops are great for any lady in your life--mother or not. I hope you enjoy these recommendations.)

I know, I know!  How can it possibly be time to start talking about Mother’s Day?!  Well, I have 2 very good reasons to start this Mother’s Day conversation right now.

First of all, Mother’s Day is not really too far away!

Secondly, I’m highlighting small businesses & handmade businesses.  These businesses don’t ship at lightning speed & some might be shipping internationally.  Added to that, the handmade aspect means that some of these items will be made to order!  All very good reasons to give these small & handmade business owners the time they need to get your gift to your Mother on time.

 As we shop for our moms, instead of shopping the big box stores this year, let’s try to shop small, shop handmade, shop local, shop fair-trade – or some combination of those!

ETSY: A Great Starting Point

Now, an easy way to do this is just hop over to Etsy & start shopping.  But, that can feel so overwhelming because there are so many listings & shops!  Here are a few items from Etsy that are catching my eye these days:

Pemberley Sweatshirt

If your mom is bookish (like me), here's a fun, cozy sweatshirt just for her! There are so many shops for book lovers, but this is a great start.

Air Plant Cradle 

Here’s a simple little wall hanging to hold an air plant.  I’m not a green thumb, but air plants look like something I might be able to handle.  If your mom is a plant lady, I’m sure she’d love something like this.  Lots of other fun & unique pieces in this shop, so take a look!

Hand-Stamped Mother’s Necklace 

I already have a necklace with my kids’ birthstones, but if I didn’t I’d be asking for one of these!  The fonts are customizable to fit your style.

Beyond ETSY

There are countless of other shops who sell handmade, fair trade goods. The artisans behind these products use their talents to support their families. Instead of buying mass-produced, dime-a-dozen items from a large chain, let’s take a look at a couple shops dedicated to featuring the unique work of artisans.

Brave and Courageous

Hand-poured, vegan wax, high-quality essential oils - can it get any better? When buying one supports a sister in Christ, it definitely makes it more fun! Shop this site for lovely candles that serve as reminders of Biblical truth. The fall scents were all fantastic, so I'm excited for the winter collection!

Will & Atlas

From totes to aprons, this shop has such simple, neutral pieces that go with almost any style. So many beautiful handwoven textiles for your home!

Novica

Artisans from around the world can showcase their items here.  Pottery, jewelry, scarves, housewares – a huge selection of gifts for Mom!

Mercy House

I know I've shared this shop before, but it's worth another mention! They even offer curated boxes & gift sponsorships if you can't decide on a gift!

A Couple More

Last, but definitely not least, these are a couple of my personal favorite items that would make really perfect gifts for Mother’s Day this year!

Sweet Sequels

I found this bookish shop on Instagram & have enjoyed seeing her creativity & love for things that are lovely & true! She sells so many unique items that I'm sure you'll find a few things your mom might enjoy!

Risen Motherhood book

Written by 2 sisters-in-law, this book is an encouraging look at where the Gospel meets us everyday, in every moment.  It’s a book that I think every Mama should have! The whole ministry of Risen Motherhood is a wonderful resource.

A'Del Natural Cosmetics

Family founded & run, this company focuses on using the most clean ingredients. They carry a full line of makeup & skin care items. I'm sure you can find something here that will pamper your mom this year!

Goods and Better

This shop works to serve the nearly half million children who are currently in foster care & the families who are caring for them. It was founded by 2 sisters who wanted to do more for these people & they partner with Foster the Family, another great group of people. They sell mostly apparel, but offer other special items, too.

Go Local

Keeping our local economies going is also important. So many small, local shops are closing up permanently because of the lack of quality workers & inflation. Let’s see how we can work together to support them as we shop for our Moms!

• Order a bouquet from a local flower shop instead of sending flowers through a big company. Just do a Google search for shops local to your mom. If they don’t have a website, give them a call! Not only do you get to help a smaller shop, but you also tend to get a better product because it hasn't been shipped in a box. (Ask me how I know...)
• Buy a sweet treat from a local bakery. I know a couple bakeries that are local to me have closed down, but a few are offering select times to order & pick up orders. If you don’t live local to your mom, see if any bakeries deliver near her!
• Purchase a gift certificate to a local spa that has great reviews. Again, don’t go with a big chain, but also find a place that has services that your Mom would enjoy most. This might take a little investigating, but I know these independent spa owners & their staff would appreciate the promise of some business!
• A gift certificate to her favorite local restaurant is another great option. She doesn’t have to cook & that restaurant staff has some extra business. Win-win!
• Purchase a plant from a local nursery or send a gift card. Or there are smaller nurseries that ship for those of us not living near our moms. Just take a minute to research reputable ones.

I’ll stop there, but if you want any other ideas, I’ve been pinning stuff on this board! Follow me on Pinterest to keep up with my other finds.

I hope I’ve given you some ideas for how to shop small, handmade, fair trade, or local for Mom this year. Take a little extra time & find an extra special gift for Mom! It will make her day & might just encourage a business owner to keep going during this tough time.

Happy shopping!

Cheering you on!

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