What better holiday season than 2020—this wild ride of a year—to eschew those mail-order mainstream gifts or big box store baubles in favor of shopping local for the ones you love? Imagine how much we could do for our local economy and culture if we all decided to make Small Business Saturday (Nov. 28, 2020, for the record) a fulltime commitment between now and Dec. 25? In this article you’ll find just a few ideas for gifts that are made or sold in Coastal Virginia.
Clean
Help your loved ones get fresh the way nature intended with these locally made beauty and grooming products. The gift of good hygiene never felt better with eco-friendly and chemical-free options like a sweet raw honey body wash or classy beard set that keeps quarantine facial hair in check.
Raw Honey Body Wash in Lavender, Grounding and Bloom aromatherapy scents, The Farm Life, $12, The Farm Life General Store in Virginia Beach or TheFarmLife.com
Hair & Scalp Oil combats itch and slows hair loss with essential oils that revitalize follicles, The Farm Life, $14, The Farm Life General Store in Virginia Beach or TheFarmLife.com
Rugged Distinction Gift Set in Fire scent with beard oil, swag bag, brush, comb, shampoo, beard balm and grooming towel, Rugged Evolution Beard Care Products, $100, RuggedEvo.com
All Natural and Handmade Deodorant in Lavender Vanilla and Lavender Sage scents, Perfectly Natural Soap, $8–$10, Retail locations in Williamsburg and Smithfield or PerfectlyNaturalSoap.com
Glow Natural Activated Charcoal Facial Cleanser deep cleans with a creamy, charcoal-infused blend, Perfectly Natural Soap, $15, Retail locations in Williamsburg and Smithfield or PerfectlyNaturalSoap.com
Holiday-themed Beer Brine soaps in varieties like Sugarplum Fairies and Frankincense and Myrrh, Flutterby Soap Company, $12, Virginia Beach Farmers Market, FlutterbySoapCompany.com
Pomegranate Cider Body Moisturizer sooths dry skin with an organic mango butter and oil blend, Less Than, $18.50, Retail locations in Norfolk and Virginia Beach or GoLessThan.com
Giving
’Tis the season of giving and these charity gifts go the extra mile by supporting local causes and nonprofit organizations. Feel less guilty about swiping your credit card on a beautiful bracelet, that also supports sexual assault prevention, with a gift that gives back.
Top Performance and Aria Holiday Bandanas, $4.99, Virginia Beach SPCA, VBSPCA.com/Retail
Save the Bay Business Tie available in four colors, $45, Chesapeake Bay Foundation, CBFShop.com/Shop
Mulberry Bib Apron with adjustable neck and multiple pockets, $29.99, Mercy Chefs, MercyChefs.com
Be the Change Confidence Nugget Bracelet available in two sizes, $35, Fear 2 Freedom, Fear2Freedom.org/F2F-Store
Kehinde Wiley: A New Republic featuring reproductions of Kehinde Wiley’s monumental work, $49.95, Chrysler Museum Shop, Shop.Chrysler.org
Glass-blown Shell created by Dynasty Gallery, $40, Virginia Beach Surf & Rescue Museum, VBSurfRescueMuseum.org
When you order from Amazon this holiday season, visit Smile.Amazon.com and select a local nonprofit to support. Amazon donates a portion of every eligible AmazonSmile purchase to the organization of your choice.
Cozy
Add warmth to a few wardrobes by getting wrapped up in these comforting staple pieces and accessories in neutral colors that never go out of style. From cashmere gloves to joggers and cardigans meant to be lived in, these are gifts that support local but combat the cold.
Men’s Knit Cashmere Gloves in the Pomice color are super soft and made in Scotland … but sold in Williamsburg, Robert Mackie of Scotland, $34.95, Scotland House, Ltd. in Williamsburg or ScotlandHouseLtd.com
Eve Fringe and Jesse Aztec cardigans pair perfectly with just about anything—especially fire pits, Lola Boutique, $58, Retail location in Virginia Beach or IHeartLola.com
Mohair and Wool Hat with oversized fur pom in white, Linda Richards, $130, Little England Mercantile in Gloucester or LindaRichards.com
Vendimia Jogger brings loungewear to a new level with the ability to hang out or work out in this set and still look good, Electric and Rose, $158, LABL Fitness & Fashion in Virginia Beach or LABLVb.com
Beanie and Scarf Set in black and white buffalo check, C.C. Beanie, $19.99 for the hat and $22.50 for the scarf, DeVane + Co Boutique in Chesapeake or DeVaneAndCo.CommentSold.com
Tasty
There is no denying that the holiday season goes hand in hand with gifting (and eating) satisfying gourmet goodies. This year, forgo the figgy pudding in favor of local jam that’s “so figgin good,” kick mom’s marinade up a notch or enhance a night of movie classics for your favorite family with a tin of festive popcorn or peanuts.
World Famous D’lish Sauce can be used to jazz up just about any dish from grilled meat to soups and salad, Cowboy Syd’s, $8.99, area TASTE locations and FishPigCafe.com
Retro Holiday Tin filled with three addictive bags of popcorn pleasures, Jody’s Popcorn, $24.95, Retail location in Virginia Beach or JodysPopcorn.com
Yorktown Colonial Historical Blend is a mix of coffee beans based on the coffee varietals available in America at the time of the Revolutionary War, Mobjack Bay Coffee Roasters, $15.99 for a 1-pound bag, Retail local in Yorktown or MobjackBayCoffee.com
Sea Salt & Cracked Pepper and Handcooked Virginia Peanuts are plump, crisp and cooked in golden peanut oil with no additives or preservatives, The Peanut Shop of Williamsburg, $26.99 or $27.99 for a 32-ounce can, Retail shops in Williamsburg and Smithfield or ThePeanutShop.com
Fig, 24 Carrot and Cranny Apple Jam use fresh fruits sourced from local farms, It Started with a Fig, $7, Westside Produce in Norfolk, Cromwell’s Produce in Pungo, The Creative Wedge in Virginia Beach, Old Beach Farmers Market or ItStartedWithAFig.com
Gourmet Apples are coated in fine chocolate and coatings like marshmallow, nuts or caramel drizzle, The Royal Chocolate, $12.95, Retail location in Virginia Beach or TheRoyalChocolate.com
Arielle Patterson
Melissa M. Stewart
Melissa M. Stewart was the former editor of Savor Virginia and Coastal Virginia Magazine. After she got her first story published in the second-grade school newsletter, she has since been an avid writer and word nerd for 20 years. She has served as production editor for AmeriForce Media and marketing communications manager for Volvo Penta. When she is not working, Melissa spends her time in Virginia Beach keeping up with her two spunky daughters, planning beach days, creating craft cocktails with garden ingredients and running to make up for all the wonderful food she discovers around Virginia.
