Let’s spend it with the girls

These gift ideas support local businesses owned by women.

Your gift giving can have more impact this holiday season when you choose to spend your money with local women-owned businesses. Why specifically support shops owned by women? They account for under 20 per cent of all private businesses in Canada, yet a new Stats Can study shows that women-owned businesses employ over double the percentage of women in senior management roles than the average across all private-sector businesses. Women are effecting change with action, and your holiday gift spending can help propel that change. The following are some beautiful gift ideas from local businesses owned by women.

Nest
171 Locke St. S., Hamilton
nesthamilton.com
IG: @nesthamilton
Dog Ornament – $16
Anyone with a furbaby would love a tribute in the form of these handmade wood ornaments. Great as a fond keepsake all year round, or as a beautiful décor on your tree. The colours are found naturally in the woods used such as maple and cedar, and each piece is finished with tung oil. Many different breeds are available in Robyn Allan’s shop, including corgi, schnauzer, husky, Doberman, Eskimo, Yorkshire Terrier, Australian shepherd, Scottish terrier, doodle, and Jack Russell.

Relax Beauty
1036 King St. W., Unit 204, Hamilton
relaxbeautyco.com
IG: @relaxbeautyco_
Relax Beauty Lip Gloss – $24
Lip gloss is a perfect gift for the cosmetics lover on your list, and Darlene Shapiro’s Relax Beauty has its own brand that provides nourishment and hydration for winter weather. They contain the antioxidant vitamin E, shea butter, natural vanilla essential oil and come in 54 shades. Shop online or in store to purchase.

ellënoire
104 King St. W., Dundas
ellenoire.com
IG: @ellenoiredundas
You can create a gift pack of handcrafted products made with natural nourishing ingredients and essential oils in this store owned by Noelle Smith.
Wake Up Angel! Shower Bomb – $7
A soothing aromatherapy experience and a refreshing foot soak.
Scent to your Room Spray – $5.25, 2 oz.
Natural air freshener made with distilled water, alcohol, witch hazel, and pure essential oils.
Soften – ellenoire everyday lotion – $7, 4 oz.
Luxurious spa-quality lotion made with 70 per cent organic ingredients, unscented or custom-scented.
Double Rich Body Butter – $10, 2 oz.
Made with 70 per cent pure organic shea butter and nourishing plant-based oils for a luxurious feel.
Delicious Hand Balm – $7.50, 1 oz.
A blend of beeswax, coconut, and grape seed oil for smooth, soft skin.

Comfort Bears
Ancaster
comfortbear.ca
IG: @comfortbearsont
Brave healing bracelet – $20
While not a retail shop, Comfort Bears is a local charity run by Lena Bassford (also the founder of Food4Kids) that provides teddy bears to children facing terminal illness or severe trauma. The charity is currently offering a beautiful beaded bracelet with an engraved gold charm that reads “Brave.” The gift comes with a tag that tells the recipient a comfort bear is being donated to a child thanks to the purchase of the bracelet. To order, email debb@comfortbears.ca.

Rustic Daisy’s
25 Main St. S., Waterdown
rusticdaisys.wpcomstaging.com
IG: @rusticdaisys
Snowman mug – $39.95
Rustic Daisy’s is a darling gift shop highlighting Canadian talent, run by Cat McCrimmon and her two tiny dogs. This mug is from just one of the female makers that the shop carries, potter Christine of Studio C Ceramics. Frosty is handcrafted in speckled clay, is food safe, and the perfect size for enjoying some steaming hot holiday cheer.

Sell It 2 Wear It
136 King St. W., Dundas
sellit2wearitinc.com
IG: @sell_it2wear_it
Vintage Fendi bag – $845
Imagine the excitement when the designer bag lover on your list unwraps a vintage handbag! Monika Waszczuk at Sell It 2 Wear It curates her collection of designer handbags, carefully authenticating them so you can be assured you’re getting your hands on the real deal. The consignment shop regularly carries a range of designer bags from Kate Spade to Michael Kors to Coach.

Just the Essentials
532 ½ Concession St., Hamilton
justtheessentials.ca
IG: @justtheessentials_hamilton
Hanging crystal garden
Owner Janice Milligan, a wellness practitioner and reiki master, creates each of these terrariums, placing each crystal with intention to bring in positive calming energies. Each one is unique, filled with air plants and crystals with themes including protection, abundance, angelic, and love.

sariKNOTsari
228 James St. N., Hamilton
sariknotsari.com
IG: @sari.knot.sari
Pure Silk Capelet Poncho – $128
One size fits from size 2 to size 3x. There are so many ways to wear this versatile piece – it’s a scarf, a tunic, a crop top, a shrug. Wear it over jeans, a dress or a bathing suit. Wear it frontwards or backwards – it’s a super-versatile piece of slow fashion. Priya Mohan, the founder of sariKNOTsari, creates clothes that will always fit, regardless of how your body evolves, using vintage fabrics, with meticulous construction by fairly paid artisans.