Invest Local, Shop Small: A 2025 Holiday Gift Guide
OFN’s Annual Gift Guide is here! Starting with Small Business Saturday, let your holiday shopping support jobs in your community and strengthen your local economy. Start with these CDFI-financed businesses.
Estimated reading time: 6 minutes
Small Business Saturday is next week, and it’s a great moment to slow down and think about where our dollars go.
This time of year brings no shortage of ads, deals, and big-box promotions, but shopping small is one of the most reliable ways to strengthen the communities we care about.
Choosing local is an investment in the people who help our communities thrive. Putting our dollars to work for small businesses builds community wealth, supports good jobs, and lifts entrepreneurs who are working hard every day to create opportunity.
This year, OFN invites you to join us and support CDFI-financed small businesses owned by entrepreneurs who bring creativity, culture, and economic life to their communities. Let’s see them and celebrate them!
Why Shop Small?
When you shop small, you help strengthen local ownership, local jobs, and local pride. Your choices make a real difference in many ways.
- Small businesses keep local economies strong. Small businesses represent 99.9 percent of all U.S. firms and employ nearly half of the private workforce. Their ability to adapt and innovate is one of the reasons they remain central to economic stability and growth.
- Small businesses are major job creators. Small businesses have created roughly two-thirds of net new jobs over the past 25 years. For many workers, a small business provides a first job, a pathway to gain skills, and long-term economic security.
- Local dollars stay local. Two-thirds of every dollar spent at a locally-owned business stays in the community. That money supports nearby shops and services and helps build stronger commercial corridors.
What Small Business Owners Say
Community support is not just a feel-good idea. It is a real economic force that keeps small businesses moving forward. Recent research from American Express shows the impact of spending locally and how Small Business Saturday matters:
- Community support is an engine — 95% of small business owners say their community is the reason they continue to thrive, a sharp rise from 86% last year.
- People show up for the businesses they love — 93% of owners say they can count on their community when they need support. This confidence has grown from 84 percent in 2024.
- Support is growing year over year — 96% of entrepreneurs say the level of community support has increased over the past year.
- Small Business Saturday is a major moment — owners estimate that nearly 20% of their annual revenue will come from Small Business Saturday sales.
CDFI-Funded Small Businesses to Support This Season
FOOD & DRINK
Asheville Tea Company (Asheville, North Carolina)
Regional tea maker crafting farm-to-teacup blends for a vibrant taste of the region. ashevilleteacompany.com/
CDFI Partner: Mountain BizWorks
Dirty Girl Coffee (Online)
A coffee company with a social mission to support women’s economic progress in Ohio’s Appalachia and beyond. dirtygirlcoffee.com/
CDFI Partner: Finance Fund Capital Corporation
Folk Saints (Asheville, North Carolina)
Handcrafted, small batch and organic Dulce de Leche made in Asheville. folk-saints.com/
CDFI Partner: Mountain BizWorks
Peaceful Fruits (Online)
Description: Social enterprise selling fruit snacks produced through inclusive, community-based employment. peacefulfruits.com/shop
CDFI Partner: Finance Fund Capital Corporation
Sakari Farms (Bend, Oregon)
Indigenous- and woman-owned enrolled (Inupiaq) tribal farm and educational business. www.sakarifarms.com/
CDFI Partner: Akiptan
APPAREL, ACCESSORIES, PERSONAL GOODS
Chaussures LLC (Online)
Footwear and accessories brand offering quality shoes and leather goods. www.yourchaussures.com
CDFI Partner: Freedom Equity Inc.
Djimi Djama (Online)
A social enterprise and online marketplace that connects African artisans to the global economy. djimidjama.com/
CDFI Partner: Colorado Enterprise Fund
Glowing Duck (Buford, Georgia)
Toy and novelty brand specializing in colorful t-shirts, photo collectibles, and gifts. All made in the U.S. glowingduck.com/
CDFI Partner: Thrive Community Lending
Sarah Hearts (Asheville, North Carolina)
Designer-owned shop featuring colorful accessories, craft supplies, and home goods. shop.sarahhearts.com/
CDFI Partner: Mountain BizWorks
Suay Sew Shop (Los Angeles, California, and Online)
SUAY is a Los Angeles based, 100% vertical sewing and production shop founded in 2017. https://suayla.com/collections/this-shirt-is-a-rescue
CDFI Partner: REDF Impact Investing Fund
The Plant Gays (Online)
Houseplant retailer offering curated plants, planters, and plant-care goods. plantgay.com/
CDFI Partner: Finance Fund Capital Corporation
Whimsical Charm (Los Angeles, California)
Woman-run business offering made-in-the-U.S. baby blankets, apparel, and keepsakes. whimsicalcharm.com
CDFI Partner: Inclusive Action for the City
HOME, FLORALS, LIFESTYLE GOODS
Forget Me Not Florist and Gifts (Long Beach, Mississippi)
Local flower shop offering custom arrangements, gifts, and seasonal décor. www.facebook.com/forgetmenotfloristandgifts
CDFI Partner: Renaissance Community Loan Fund
Oopsy Daisy Floral and Gifts (Mooreville, Mississippi)
Floral shop providing custom arrangements, home décor, and curated gifts. www.facebook.com/oopsydaisymooreville
CDFI Partner: Renaissance Community Loan Fund
Southern Charm Furniture (Gulfport, Mississippi)
Custom and ready-to-ship furniture and design shop offering pieces and interior styling services. www.southerncharmfurnitureanddesign.com/index.html
CDFI Partner: Renaissance Community Loan Fund
The Square Gift Company (Fulton, Mississippi)
Woman-owned gift and home décor retailer offering unique accents, children’s items, and seasonal goods. www.squaregiftco.com
CDFI Partner: Renaissance Community Loan Fund
Time Change Generator (Online)
Creative studio in Cleveland, Ohio, specializing in screen-printing repeat patterns on fabric. www.timechangegenerator.com/shop
CDFI Partner: Finance Fund Capital Corporation
Teresa Audet Studio (Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania)
Artist studio offering handcrafted furniture and baskets made in traditional craft. www.teresaaudet.com/shop/basket-making-kit
CDFI Partner: Bridgeway Capital
Lovett Sundries (Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania)
Family-owned shop offering hand-packaged, handcrafted soaps, grooming, and cleaning products. lovettsundries.com/
CDFI Partner: Bridgeway Capital
Sow True Seed (Online)
Employee-owned cooperative providing high-quality, open-pollinated seeds in support of sustainable food production and regenerative agriculture. sowtrueseed.com/
CDFI Partner: Shared Capital Cooperative
OUTDOOR, RECREATION & GEAR
Everything Kayak (Gulfport, Mississippi)
Outdoor retailer offering kayaks, fishing equipment, and adventure gear. www.everythingkayak.com/
CDFI Partner: Renaissance Community Loan Fund
MADE X MTNS Holiday Gift Guide (Asheville, North Carolina)
Outdoor-focused gift guide highlighting regional makers, gear companies, and artisans. madexmtns.com/outdoor-gift-guide/
CDFI Partner: Mountain BizWorks
GIFTS, ART, CULTURAL GOODS, EXPERIENCES
CatSpring Yaupon (Cat Spring, Texas)
Women-led producer of yaupon tea and tea blends made from sustainably harvested native plants. catspringtea.com/
CDFI Partner: Akiptan
Escazu Chocolates (Raleigh, North Carolina)
Women-owned chocolate factory in Raleigh, North Carolina. escazuchocolates.com
CDFI Partner: Carolina Community Impact, Inc
Fish Boutique (Pascagoula, Mississippi)
Independent boutique with curated gifts, clothes, and accessories. fishboutiquems.com/
CDFI Partner: Renaissance Community Loan Fund
Lipstyck Lab (Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania)
Pittsburgh’s first custom Lipstyck Bar. https://www.lipstycklab.com/shop
CDFI Partner: Neighborhood Community Development Fund
Studio Two Three (Richmond, Virginia)
Community art space offering artist-made goods, prints, apparel, classes, and workshops. www.studiotwothree.org
CDFI Partner: Virginia Community Development Fund
Traditions Gift Shop (Lewiston, Idaho)
Native-owned shop offering beadwork, apparel, food gifts, artwork, and cultural items. www.nezpercetraditions.com/
CDFI Partner: Nimiipuu Community Development Fund
CDFI CURATED GIFT GUIDES
Entrepreneur Fund Gift Guide
Holiday guide featuring businesses supported by Entrepreneur Fund.
CDFI Partner: Entrepreneur Fund
Grow America Gift Guide
Holiday guide featuring mission-driven small businesses supported by Grow America. www.nezpercetraditions.com/
CDFI Partner: Grow America
Inclusive Action for the City
Holiday guide featuring Los Angeles based small businesses supported by Inclusive Action for the City.
CDFI Partner: Inclusive Action for the City
Invest PGH Gift Guide
Curated regional gift guide showcasing businesses financed by Invest PGH.
CDFI Partner: Invest PGH
Main Street Launch Holiday Gift Guide
Holiday gift guide featuring small businesses that have worked with Main Street Launch.
CDFI Partner: Mainstreet Launch
Momentus Capital Holiday Gift Guide
Curated holiday gift guide from small-business owners nationwide. https://momentuscap.org/insights/holiday-gift-guide-2025/
CDFI Partner: Momentus Capital branded family of organizations (Capital Impact Partners & CDC Small Business Finance)
Mountian Association Gift Guide: Supporting Eastern Kentucky Makers & Businesses
Curated gift guide celebrating creativity and the spirit of Kentucky featuring local makers, artists, and small businesses.
CDFI Partner: Mountain Association
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