With holiday shopping close to reaching its peak, itâs important to remember to shop small this holiday season--and every season! As a small, women-owned business that invests in other small businesses, Small Business Saturday is very important to companies like Happy Box as it gives local businesses increased exposure to help consumers find new, great brands and companies.
For this yearâs Small Business Saturday we wanted to highlight just a few of the amazing small business vendors we source some of our products from, and we wanted to hear from them why itâs important to shop small this holiday season!
Wax Cabin Candle Co.
Founded in 2016, Wax Cabin Candle Co. seeks to light up the room â your room â with your favorite scents. Scents that make you feel lovely, cozyâŚand even boozy!Â
Jennifer Gunn, founder and chandler of Wax Cabin Candle Co. says itâs important to shop small because âSmall businesses build products with sweat and yes⌠sometimes tears! They have heart and hope in each product and a sale contributes directly to the strength of my business and family.â You can shop her candles on our Build a Box option and on her website here! Fun fact: we started a podcast about business and beyond with Jen called the Totally Happy Podcast. Weâd love it if you had a listen!
Gumball Poodle
Just in time for the winter season, Gumball Poodle creates fun and creative socks that âlets you tell the world what you think without saying a word.â Their snarky sayings on their socks are what differentiates them from other brands and makes them so popular.Â
According to Gumball Poodleâs founder Erica Easley, âIndependent brands are led by artists, hustlers, and dreamers. They are the vibrant connection between humanity and industry. There is no better way to support creativity and community than shopping small!â Shop Gumball Poodle on our Build a Box option or on their website here!
Copper Cow
Copper Cow is on a mission to bring you barista-free lattes that are made with carefully vetted Vietnamese coffee beans and whole, natural ingredients.
Debbie Wei Mullin, Founder, says âSmall-business founders are passionate about what they do and how their work makes a positive impact. When you support Copper Cow Coffee, youâre supporting a woman-owned business and sustainable coffee farms in Vietnam.âÂ
Shop Copper Cow on our Build a Box option AND Curated Gift Boxes or on their website here!
Faithwaites
Faithwaites is a York, UK-based design shop making fun stuff for you, your home or the people you love. They have the cutest products that are perfect for anyone on your list this year from totes, to tee-shirts, and childrenâs clothing!Â
Cat Spilman, founder of Faithwaites says, âSupporting a small business isn't only about financially supporting someone's hard work, it's about making interpersonal connections that are too often overlooked today. You're connecting with a maker, and helping to build a chain of thoughtful interaction which is rewarding on so many levels.â Make sure to include some of the onesies we offer in your next gift box when you build your own or shop them on their website here!
Astor ChocolateÂ
Astor Chocolate is a family owned business that began in 1927 in Czechoslovakia and moved to the US in 1950. Four generations of chocolate making! What makes them so successful is that their chocolate is a combination of European quality and American innovation!
Tori Halfon, Director of Sales and Operations believes supporting a small business is important because âsmall businesses are the lifeblood of our nation. Small businesses employ over half of the total workforce in the US and supply half the GDP for our nation; yet they are more fragile and reliant on support than mega-companies. Small businesses canât survive long in the face of disaster, and the past 2 years have been disastrous for most small businesses in multiple complex ways. Itâs more important than ever to shop smallâ. Make sure to include one of their many Moodibars when you Build a Box with us or you can shop their products on their website here!
Binnie & Clode
Binnie & Clode is a small startup with both a passion for creating candles and home products with a minimalist design and for giving back to the earth and its inhabitants. They create beautifully designed and scented candles. Did we mention that a portion of proceeds from every product is donated to animal rescue and environmental organizations?Â
Federico Schauvinhold, owner, says he loves running a small business because âit allows me to give back to my community. I enjoy connecting with my customers and hearing their thoughts on my products. As a small business, I'm able to pivot much more easily based on customer feedback.â Shop their products with our Build a Box option or view them on their website here!
We hope this list has given you some gifting suggestions if you are trying to shop small this year!Â
Read more:
5 Ways to Support Small Businesses (Without Spending a Penny)