Do you still have some last-minute holiday shopping to do on your gift list? While it’s too late to guarantee shipping, you still have some options:
If you can, shop in person at your favorite shops. In general, it’s considered fairly safe to shop in boutiques (especially over shopping malls)
Shop your favorite stores online and inquire about curbside pickup.
If there’s a local maker you love, consider inquiring about pickup options. Some makers will even deliver in the Twin Cities area!
Buy a gift card! Most retailers and many small brands offer gift cards you can purchase online.
For some more ideas, read on below for deals and this week’s shop happenings, or check out my holiday market roundup for the best places to find handmade goods by local makers. I’ve also compiled some gift guides on my Instagram story highlights (instagram.com/jahnapeloquin).
Runi Clay Studio’s new polymer-clay earring collection just dropped.
This week’s local maker & vintage drops:
Local maker Runi Clay Studio has launched a sculptural, new line of handcrafted, gem-cut, polymer-clay earrings in soothing pastel shades. Bonus: Some of the designs can be worn two ways. Shop now @ www.runiclaystudio.com
Local maker Crybaby Clay has just restocked its online shop with new designs @ crybabyclay.com
Local candle maker Burn Boss has teamed up with local maker Poppyseed Pottery on a new line of ceramic-potted candles. Best of all, you can continue to use the ceramic pieces as a cup or small planter once the candle is finished. Now available @ www.poppyseedpottery.co
Local jewelry maker Larissa Loden has launched a fun new collab with local artist Ashley Mary, the Noddle Earring, featuring three mix-and-match colorways. Shop now @ larissaloden.com
Local jewelry maker Tink[ear]rings has just dropped a dreamy new line of glittery, handmade statement earrings @ etsy.com/shop/tinkearrings
Throughout the month of December, Wit & Delight Shop will be featuring a curated selection of home vintage goods for sale on Tuesdays at 11am on its Instagram story @shopwitanddelight and on its website throughout the week @ shopwitanddelight.com/vintage
Local vintage seller Salty Minneapolis Vintage is doing its weekly story sale on Wednesday at 6pm @ instagram.com/saltymplsvintage
Local vintage seller Kollektiv has its weekly story sale on Wednesday at 11am @ instagram.com/kollektivmpls
Moth Oddities has a story sale every Monday @ instagram.com/mothoddities
TUESDAY:
Foat Holiday Dress-up & Gift Party: All-local fashion boutique, The Fitting Room, is hosting an evening of holiday dress-up and last-minute holiday gifts. Foat Design will be bringing in some exclusive winter pieces just for the event. Email thefittingroommpls@gmail.com or text 612-229-8170 with your preferred time to shop so they can manage the flow of traffic. Tuesday from 5–7pm @ The Fitting Room, 316 W 38th St, Minneapolis
ENDING THIS WEEK:
Founders Co. Holiday Pop-up at Southdale: This collective of local small business owners, creators and makers—founded by Excelsior Candle Co., B + D Custom Crafts, MEND Jewelry—are back for a second year at Southdale with an expanded assortment of goods from nine local woman-owned businesses. Expect a mix of elevated, handcrafted home decor, gemstone jewelry, clothing and accessories, organic skincare, fine art and modern pottery from Namakan Goods, Wondrous Crane, Kisa Boutique and more. Open through 12/23 @ Southdale Center on 1st floor rotunda between Gap & The Body Shop, Edina, founders-co-mn.myshopify.com
Gamut Gallery’s Raging Art On: The Minneapolis gallery’s annual art holiday gift sale features handmade art, gifts, prints, jewelry and more from 40 Minnesota artists over three weeks. This year, in addition to in-person shopping, selected works will also be available online to shop. The gallery will be operating under limited capacity and you may request an appointment to ensure you can get in the door. Wednesdays–Fridays through 12/22 from 11am–6pm @ 717 S 10th St, Minneapolis, plus online through 1/4/21 @ gamut-gallery.myshopify.com
Fair Trade Holiday Market Pop-up: Beginning this week, four Minnesota-based fair-trade retailers are coming together to bring a new pop-up holiday shopping experience to Northeast Minneapolis. Fair Anita, Global Mamas, Elevāt and Trade Winds, plus displays from Gifts for Change, Multicolores and She is Love. These companies are joined together by their unique core values, fair trade, and ethically-made. Each group works with artisans around the world to curate globally-sourced products that have been made in ethical conditions. Now open through 12/24. Hours: Monday, 12/21–Wednesday, 12/23 from 10am–6pm, Thursday, 12/24 from 10am–3pm, Saturday, 12/26 from 10am–6pm, Sunday, 12/27 from 12–5pm (last day) @ 2516 Central Ave NE, Minneapolis, www.fairtradeholidaymarket.com
Homespun Maker Market: A Minnesota-Made Holiday Pop-up Market: Shop the the best in Minnesota-made gifts for the holidays with a series of three holiday pop-up shops at local malls, featuring more than 70 local brands and makers at each location. Now open through 12/24 @ Ridgedale Center, Southdale Center in Edina & Eden Prairie Center. More info: homespunmn.myshopify.com
Holidazzle 2020 Virtual Experience: Holidazzle—which typically takes place in Loring Park—is moving online this year due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Its virtual experience is centered around The Holidazzle Show, a four-part series that features DIY holiday projects, holiday gift ideas from small businesses and more. Other online content and activities include activities, Holiday cooking recipes, Minneapolis Craft Market virtual shopping experience featuring local makers. Now through 12/24 @ www.holidazzle.com/2020
ONGOING SALES:
GH2 Holiday Sale: Save 30% off storewide from the designer resale store, in store only. Shop now @ 318 E Hennepin Ave, Minneapolis, shopgh2.com
Queen Anna’s Holiday Sale: BOGO 50% off everything in the entire store during the North Loop designer clothing boutique’s holiday sale. (Excludes sale items.) Shop in store or online. Ends 12/24 @ Queen Anna, 109 N 2nd St, Minneapolis & queenanna.co
Industrial Lighting Supply Going-Out-of-Business Sale: After 60 years of business, North Loop lighting is closing its doors for good. You’ll be able to find all of its lighting fixtures, bulbs, switches and other electrical supplies on sale, now through closing day. Now through 12/31 @ 200 N 2nd St, Minneapolis, www.ilsmn.com
Dugo Closing Sale: Dugo, the special occasion Galleria boutique also known as Dress Up Go Out, announced it will close its doors for good at the end of January. Per a story from Mpls.St.Paul Magazine, the longtime shop, which opened in 2005, has discounted just about everything in store, including a few new racks of consignment and a new collection of faux fur coats by Love Token. Galleria, Edina, dressupgoout.com
Grethen House 60% Off Sale: Save 60% off most fall and winter collections from upscale designer boutique, Grethen House. Shop in store at the North Loop or 50th & France locations and online at grethenhouse.com
Angela Valentine Handbags Sparkle Sale: The Minnesota-based maker is taking 20% all of her gorgeous handbags and leather goods with code SPARKLE. Ends 12/31 @ www.angelavalentinehandbags.com
Hackwith Design House Gift Card Deal: Receive a $25 HDH gift card when you spend $200 from the local designer. Ends 12/31 @ hackwithdesignhouse.com
Winsome Goods Sew-It-Yourself Clothing Pattern Presale: Local apparel maker Winsome Goods is making five of its most popular garments available in pattern form for the home sewers out there. Each pattern will include the pattern and detailed instructions for sizes XS to XXXL. Receive a 20%-off discount by pre-ordering a pattern. Pre-sale offer ends 1/20. Patterns will be available beginning 1/26. Learn more and preorder at winsomegoods.com
Face Foundrié Gift Card Deal: Now through the end of the year, the boutique spa and skincare brand is offering a gift card promotion: Purchase $100 in gift cards and receive $20 credit. Now @ locations in Maple Grove, Galleria & North Loop, facefoundrie.com
Voula Vintage Gift Card Deal: Duluth-based vintage seller, Voula Vintage, is offering gift cards at 20% off. Ends 12/25 @ instagram.com/voulavintage (click the "gift card" button under the bio)
ONGOING HOLIDAY MARKETS:
Minneapolis Craft Market Online Marketplace: As Minneapolis Craft Market’s live markets are currently on hold through at least winter 2020, you can now shop their makers online as well as live each week on virtual streaming app Popshop Live, where they’ll showcase a different maker each week. Use invite code MCMPOP to join for easy holiday shopping from the comfort of your couch. Download the free app @ bit.ly/mcmpsl & find upcoming live streaming dates and times at mplscraftmarket.com/events. You can also shop the full Minneapolis Craft Market collection from local makers online 24/7 @ mplscraftmarket.com
#BFOB2020: Virtual Black Friday on Broadway: In light of the recent surge in Covid cases, the event has canceled the in-person portion of this year's BFOB. The annual event presented by NEON and the West Broadway neighborhood supports small and local businesses that are part of the Northside community. Beginning Black Friday weekend, browse all our BFOB vendors and shop from them directly through the rest of the holiday season. The website will be active through the end of the year. Shop now @ www.bfob-mn.com
Holiday Reimagined & Collective Experience: While the planned, in-person Holiday Reimagined and Collective experiences from LAB will no longer be taking place at Galleria in Edina, the creative studio has pivoted to bringing the happening to life in a different way. The Collective window shopping experience will still be taking place, with a reveal happening this week before Thanksgiving and staying up through December. This will remain a safe, innovative, and beautiful way to view local products and enable contactless shopping through QR codes. Plus, watch out for exciting giveaways, DIYs and other fun Holiday Reimagined experiences on the brand’s Instagram page. Beginning this week through 12/31 @ Galleria, Edina & at instagram.com/labmpls
bread: A unique pop-up market: This holiday pop-up market created by local entrepreneur Marsha Magdalene will feature a mostly BIPOC group of locally owned brands and goods from local makers. Open weekends through 2/28/21 @ Maplewood Mall (lower level next to Lids/Caribou Coffee), 3001 White Bear Ave N #1015A, Maplewood, www.facebook.com/breadpopup
Chameleon Shoppes Virtual Boutique: Known for its annual holiday pop-ups in downtown Minneapolis storefronts, Chameleon Shoppes has launched a virtual pop-in shop with goods from more than 25 local makers and brands, including several BIPOC-owned businesses. Ends 12/31. Shop now @ chameleonshoppes.com
Community Commons at Mall of America: Mall of America recently debuted Community Commons, a new, rent-free space dedicated to businesses struggling due to the pandemic or displaced due to civil unrest over the summer. Several, including Peruvian poncho retailer Llakta, come from the Midtown Global Market on Lake Street, which was hit by some of the worst damage. The 17 vendors include Twiggy Fresh (bamboo toothbrushes), and Butters by Jay (shea butter skin and haircare). The space is currently set to stay open through Spring 2021 and will feature an evolving roster of retailers. Now open @ Mall of America, 238N South Avenue (2nd level), Bloomington, mallofamerica.com/directory/communitycommons
The List Virtual Makers’ Marketplace: One unfortunate consequence of the COVID outbreak is the dearth of makers markets, which many local makers and small businesses had relied upon for a majority of their income—especially during the upcoming holiday season. Hoping to fill that void is The List, a new, Minnesota-based online maker hub that is fully launching this week. The marketplace aims to be a one-stop shop for high-quality artisans, makers and other small businesses, just in time for holiday gift-giving season. Find a mix of fashion, home goods and skin care by 40 top local makers, including Strey Designs, Adam Turman, Essence One, FOAT Design, Hackwith Design House, ILO Design, J.Lux Jewelry, Joeleen Torvick, Julia Elise Skincare, Tiny Loud and Minny & Paul. Shop now @ www.findmeonthelist.com
Julmarknad Virtual Holiday Market: The American Swedish Institute’s annual Julmarknad Swedish-style makers market has gone virtual. Now through the holidays, you can shop all 33 vendors online and tune in on December 5 for a a series of Virtual Julmarknad Artist Panels. Plus, select artists will offer virtual personal shopping appointments the weekend of December 5 and 6. Ends 12/20. Shop now at www.asimn.org/julmarknad
The Grand Collective: Find apothecary, lingerie, jewelry, vintage clothing, hostess gifts and more (plus, highly giftable Dayton’s tees and hats).
Open Wednesdays–Sundays @ 791 Grand Ave, St Paul, 651-280-5119, instagram.com/grandcollectivemn
For more holiday markets, both virtual and in-person, plus great local shops carrying gifts from local makers, visit my Holiday Market Round-up.