Maybe you already do it every year, or maybe you’ve always said you would but never gotten around to it. Whatever the case, it’s happening in 2024. This is your year to shop local for the holidays.
If you’re ready to ditch the big-box conglomerates and online megastores for your holiday shopping, we’re with you! Luckily, Greater Cincinnati is filled with incredible locally owned and operated businesses, each offering unique products or experiences for everyone on your list.
Here’s a roundup of gift ideas to get your creative gift-giving juices flowing, along with a suggested local business for each idea. Shopping small has never been easier.
The gift: Book a session to make something beautiful with a friend and give the gift of quality time.
The place: The Candle Lab, Anderson Township or Over-the-Rhine. Design a bespoke jar candle with a wide selection of scents to mix and vessels to fill.
The gift: Get your loved ones an annual pass to a local institution.
The place: Cincinnati Museum Center, West End. With three museums all housed in one of Cincinnati’s most iconic buildings, plus reciprocal agreements for discounts at museums all over the country, this pass has something for everyone.
The gift: Pick up something useful (or just beautiful) from a local artist or artisan.
The place: Rookwood Pottery, Over-the-Rhine. The famous Cincinnati ceramics shop makes everything from dishware to ornaments to decorative tiles.
The gift: Take a pal for a tour and tasting at a craft distillery.
The place: New Riff Distilling, Bellevue. New Riff’s beautiful facility and gleaming copper column still are just across the river from downtown Cincinnati.
The gift: Shopping for a child (or a child at heart)? Skip the superstore toy aisles and pick up a gift from an old-fashioned toy store.
The place: King Arthur’s Court, Oakley. This toy store will make anyone feel like a kid again. For extra “wow” factor, take the recipient to the store to choose their own gift.
The gift: Know someone who loves goetta, lives at Skyline, or observes Reds Opening Day like it’s a religious holiday? Pick up a shirt, hat, or other wearable proclaiming the recipient’s love of all things Cincinnati.
The place: Cincy Shirts, 3 area locations. From notable sports moments to pop-culture mashups, the Cincy Shirts design team is a never-ending font of creativity. And if you need a specific size or design, the shop will print it on demand within minutes.
The gift: A top-of-the-line speaker or the latest video game system.
The place: altafiber, 8 area locations. In addition to being your favorite internet and TV provider, altafiber sells the latest and coolest connected devices for the tech head in your life. From drones to smart light bulbs, altafiber’s got it!