Where you buy your holiday gifts makes a big difference to the Twin Cities community. According to the American Independent Business Alliance (AMIBA), for every $100 spent, $68 stays local from an independent shop versus $43 from a chain.
There are so many artists and entrepreneurs with locally-made pieces and products that are perfect for stuffing a stocking, wrapping up, or bringing to the hostess of your next holiday get-together. For example:
For the health nut (or not so health nut but has New Year’s Resolutions)
Soul Grain
Soul Grain is a Black-owned granola company based in St. Paul and founded by Liza Maya, a pastry chef, and Sylvia Williams, a nutritionist. The duo creates flavors inspired by the Black diaspora using spices and ingredients from different cultures, with a focus on healthy, unique granola options.
Soul grain is described as granola that finally has some soul. Flavors include banana pudding, spiced paradise, coco mango, neutral nelly, and sweet potato casserole for blends that are light, crispy, and a celebration of culture, diversity, and joy. Check it out here.
For the person who has everything
Vibe Art
Fifteen-year-old Ella Beard is a self-taught artist from Brooklyn Park. She started her craft and business during the COVID pandemic when she was just 9 years old. Today, through her company Vibe Art, she has featured her work in local art galleries, marketplaces, and online, where she sells one-of-a-kind portraits, landscapes, animals, abstracts, and retro or culture-inspired works. “For people to buy my art, or just see it, gives me so much support,” said Beard. “I get to inspire other kids that if I can start a business at 9 years old with my parents’ help, then they can do it too.” Learn more and shop here.
For anyone who wants a shot at millions!
Minnesota State Lottery
The holiday collection is out and includes the following specialty tickets:
$1
These are stocking stuffer tickets that double as a gift tag. “You could give someone $5,000 and not even know it,” said Adam Prock, Executive Director of the Minnesota State Lottery.
$2
This ticket smells like pine. It’s a scratch-and-sniff scratch off!
$5
Sparkly ticket with thousands of $500 winners instead of fewer large amount wins.
$10
Each day you scratch one and the top prize is $200,000. “It’s kinda like an advent calendar with 30 days of trying to win,” said Prock.
Even if your ticket isn’t a winner, you still are. In fact, all Minnesotans are. The Minnesota State Lottery has raised $4 billion for the state’s environment through organizations like the Minnesota Environment and Natural Resources Trust Fund, the Game and Fish Fund and the Natural Resources Fund.
Anyone with a sweet tooth
Angel's Delightful Creations
Based in Minneapolis, Angel’s Delightful Creations was inspired by founder LaToya White’s amazing children, Daelen and Davin, whose severe food allergies sparked a passion for creating delicious, allergy-conscious treats and vegan options. White sells and ships her famous banana pudding popcorn, caramel turtle donuts, peach cobbler poundcake (among many other options) and custom specialty 3-layer cakes. See the entire list at: https://www.adcsnacks.com/
For the woman who needs rest!
The book from Shontel Booker, “Sit Ya Ass Down Somewhere: An Intro to Resting for Black Girls”
The book tackles the stigma in the Black women community with resting, sitting in stillness, and paying attention to their needs. “We’ve never had the luxury of rest,” said author Shontel Booker. “We’re always taking care of other people’s kids, everybody else’s job, and we are the main people who need to rest.”
Booker is a St. Paul native who stands at the helm of the Dream in Color Healing, where she brings together her roles as a certified yoga instructor, Reiki 1 practitioner, and spiritual life coach.
The book offers tips to rest, including acknowledging what your body needs, setting a routine, limiting screen time, and the top tip most women ignore! Learn what it is when you purchase the book from Amazon here. You can also find yoga classes, spiritual life coaching sessions, and more from Booker and Dream in Color Healing here.