The 2024 small business Christmas gift guide

It’s time for my annual Christmas gift guide and, like last year, I’ve decided to focus entirely on independent retailers, artists and makers. I try to shop small whenever I can, and small businesses need support more than ever – in fact when putting this post together, I was saddened to see just how many wonderful names have vanished from the scene over the last 12 months.

So, keep scrolling for gift inspiration to make your Christmas shopping a little easier. I’ve divided it into six categories, so you’ll find ideas for design enthusiasts, foodies, nature lovers, those in need of rest and relaxation, crafty types and more. For each I’ve picked out considered, meaningful pieces at a wide range of prices, so you’ll find everything from stocking fillers and small items that are ideal for Secret Santas to special keepsakes that will be treasured forever.

Before I go any further, I’d like to include a quick plug for my own book, The Soft Minimalist Home – Calm, Cozy Decor for Real Lives and Spaces. It’s a mix of practical advice and inspirational home tours and would make a great present for anyone with an interest in interiors. Shameless I know, but then I am a one-woman business myself! And if you want to buy it while still shopping small, you’ll find it at Lifestory, Holloways of Ludlow, New Mags and various other independent retailers.

Gifts for the design lover

Ideas for those who appreciate pared-back design, timeless style, beautiful materials and handcrafted pieces….

1. Studio Brae minimalist clay candelabra (available in black, white and grey), £55, Artists & Objects
2. Abstract watercolour art print (various designs available), £15 for an A5 size or £25 for an A4 size (frame not included), Iya Gallery
3. Alabaster candleholders, €40.50-€103.31 depending on size, By Mölle
4. Conran Shop smoked-glass vase, £45, Lifestory
5. Handwoven textile art (various unique designs available), from £85, Woven Form
6. Handmade brush-oxide ceramic bowl (various designs available), from £14, Moments of Life
7. ‘Brush’ stud earrings, £40 for brass or £60 for sterling silver, Red Bird Makes [AD – affiliate link]
8. ‘Gry’ glass tealight holder (available in clear, ‘Smoke’ and ‘Cognac’, €41, Cooee Design
9. ‘Ècru’ alpaca-wool throw designed by Cecilie Manz (available in brown, beige and white), €299, Elvang
10. Silver and gold spinner ring, £143, Muka Studio [AD – affiliate link]
11. ‘Parallel’ hand-woven cushion from Guatemala (available in off-white, navy and ‘Canyon’), €130, Collective Stories
12. Handmade ‘Artemis’ necklace, £85 for gold or £65 for silver, Elin Horgan
13. ‘Alexandra’ handmade decanter and glass set (choose between plain or fluted glass), £140, Lagom
14. Grace McCarthy hand-built clay ‘Rainbow’ vase (available in black, white and ‘Sand’), £75-£95 depending on colour, Artists & Objects
15. Ferm Living portable ‘Arum’ lamp (available in black, ‘Cashmere’, ‘Oxide Red’, blue and ‘Grass Green’), £169, Someday Designs
16. Handmade recycled-paper and limestone ‘Cliff Edge’ bowl, £55, Chalk Path Studio

Gifts for the wanderer

Ideas for adventurers, nature lovers and all those who like to travel near and far…

1. Places To Stay – The Most Stylish Accommodation in the UK book, £15 for a printed copy or £9 for a digital copy, 91 Magazine
2. Moments in Japan digital travel guide by Emilie Van Camp (including a 350-page PDF, Spotify playlist, Google map and language tips), £30, Moments of Life
3. Slow Travel Britain – 22 Mindful Journeys across England, Scotland and Wales book by Lodestars Anthology, £35, Hoxton Mini Press
4. Rains ‘Mini W3’ waterproof backpack (available in numerous colours), £79, Godshot Studio
5. Quilted organic cotton wash bag (available in ‘Fawn’, ‘Ink’, ‘Moss’, ‘Ochre’ and ‘Rust’), £45, Bedfolk
6. Aya & Ida reusable bottle for hot and cold drinks (available in numerous colours), £26 for a 350ml size or £29 for a 500ml size, Lifestory
7. Huskee reusable coffee cup made from recycled coffee husks (available in black and white), £14.95 for an 8oz size or £16.95 for a 12oz size, Lifestory
8. Aromatherapy travel candle (available in ‘Calming’, ‘Sleep’ and ‘De-tox’ scents), £20, Norfolk Natural Living
9. Lightweight and multifunctional baby alpaca-wool ‘Traveller’ scarf (available in beige, ‘Army Green’, dark grey, light grey, navy and ‘Nude’), €155, Elvang
10. Personalised walking journal (available in ‘Almond’, ‘Coffee’ and ‘Apricot’), £11.99 for an A6 size or £16.99 for an A5 size, Teppi
11. Lightweight and highly absorbent waffle linen travel towel, £60, Trakke
12. Gift card for a stay at a cabin in Shropshire, Exmoor or the Yorkshire Dales, £50-£700 depending on the option chosen, Rest & Wild

Gifts for the foodie

Ideas for keen cooks, wine connoisseurs, home bakers and anyone who deserves a delicious treat…

1. Champagne, cheese and charcuterie gift box (various other options also available), £100, On The Table
2. Linen apron (available in ‘Flax’, ‘Pebble’, ‘Slate’ and ‘Olive’), €28.93, By Mölle
3. Recipe journal (available in ‘Sage’, ‘Forest’ and ‘Mustard’), £19.95, Scribble & Dot
4. The Organic Company food bag set, £15.99, Lively Concept Store
5. Audo Copenhagen ceramic bottle grinder set, £120, Tea & Kate
6. Handmade brown oak cake knife, £27, The Future Kept
7. ONSURI signature extra virgin olive oil (500ml) from Jordan, £16.50, Tea & Kate
8. Olea ‘Pia’ rosé balsamic vinegar (250ml), £16, Tea & Kate
9. Nicolas Vahé salt with basil and parmesan, £9.50, Lifestory
10. Sunday Suppers book by Karen Mordechai, £30, Hudson Home
11. ‘Petal’ beech chopping board / serving tray, £32, &halt
12. Textured natural wood chopsticks (available in yellow Tsuge boxwood, Buna beech, Tetsuboku ironwood, Shitan rosewood and Kuroban blackwood), £12 per pair, Nimi Projects
13. ‘Bread Boxx’ subscription, with ingredients and recipes to make a different bread from around the world each month, £38 for three months, £76 for six months or £148 for twelve months, Baker Boxx
14. ‘Marita’ hand-painted stoneware oven dish, £34, Att Pynta
15. Ferm Living ‘Hale’ oven mit, £19, Lifestory
16. ‘Lång’ handmade English oak serving board / platter, £40, Brüün

Gifts for the homebody

Ideas for those who like cosy nights in, snuggly weekends at home and a bit of rest, relaxation and pampering…

1. Handmade linen one-size-fits-all robe (available in numerous colours), €131.40, By Mölle
2. You You Ang ‘Flower’ cherry-blossom incense sticks, £20, Workshop Living
3. Multipurpose ‘Idan’ oil for body, hair and nails (30ml; larger sizes also available), £16, LIHA Beauty
4. Personalised skincare gift set (choose between ‘Nourishing’, ‘Calming and ‘Balancing’ cleansing balm, toner and cream), £96, Harvest
5. Plükt organic ‘Blossom’ tea with calendula, oregano, jasmine, cowslip, peppermint, cornflower and echinacea, £8.95, The Future Kept
6. ‘Sulis’ essential oil blend with eucalyptus, lavender, mandarin and peppermint to cleanse and restore (other options also available), £17, Cedar Lifestyle
7. Merino herringbone blanket (available in numerous colours), £140 for a smaller size or £184 for a larger one, British Blanket Company 
8. Kinta stoneware teapot (available in ‘Clay Grey’, ‘Matt Black’, green and ‘Mustard Yellow’), £30 for a 500ml size, £35 for a 950ml size or £40 for a 1350ml size, UStudio
9. How to Make the Best Coffee at Home book by James Hoffmann, £16.99, Lifestory
10. Boxed handmade ‘Cedar & Bitter Orange’ soap (other scents also available), £12, Dook
11. Luxury scented candle set, with two hand-poured 400g candles of your choice, £75, Sincerely Lumière
12. Fragrance Your Home book by Lesley Bramwell, £15, Essence + Alchemy
13. Kirsty Anderson handmade ‘Black Drip’ mug, £28, Artists & Objects
14. Nishiguchi Kutsushita alpaca and wool socks (available in white, ‘Mocha’ and ‘Charcoal’), £26, Tea & Kate
15. Bare Bones vegan salted hot chocolate, £11.25, Lifestory
16. ‘Luna’ relaxing and stress-relieving natural bathing salts, £38, Essence + Alchemy

Gifts for the plant lover

Ideas for the green-fingered people in your life, whether they have houseplants, a window box, a small city oasis or a sprawling country garden…

1. Plant selection box (various options available, including small plants, pet-friendly plants, mini plants and succulents), £25.95-£42.95, Fancy Plants
2. Bloomingville ‘Inea’ black metal watering can, £28, Folk Interiors
3. Traditional hand-crafted Sussex gardening trug (various sizes available), £45-£110, The Truggery
4. Seed collecting kit (contains seed envelopes, wooden seed labels, a mini dibber and a pencil), £17, The Truggery
5. Stainless-steel houseplant tool set, £36, Sowvital
6. ‘Grow Box’ seed kit (various options available, including ‘Wellness Garden’, ‘Kitchen Garden’, ‘Balcony Box’, ‘Shade Garden’ and ‘Rewild Garden’), £20, Herboo
7. Complete plant-care set (contains plant food, leaf-shine spray, a plant atomiser, tool and plant-pot cleaning spray, pruning snips and wooden plant labels), £45, Norfolk Natural Living
8. Gardeners’ hand cream, £18, Sowvital
9. ‘Bumblebee Meadow’ bee- and butterfly-friendly wildflower seeds, £5.99, Norfolk Natural Living
10. Recycled plastic bird feeder (available in ‘Slate’, ‘Terracotta’ and ‘Olive’), £49, Tea & Kate
11. Hand-thrown speckled plant pot, £30, Dor & Tan
12. ‘Green Fingers’ scented candle (tomato leaves, basil and tigergrass), £22, Druid Edinburgh
13. Niwaki rattan snips, £59, Pottery West
14. Cultivate & Eat grow-your-own basil set (choose between dwarf bush basil, lemon-scented basil and dark opal basil), £9, Tea & Kate
15. Green Home Book by Susanna Vento (houseplant inspiration and care tips), £28, Godshot Studio

Gifts for the crafter

Ideas for those who love to create, make and try their hand at something new…

1. ‘Sculpting the Female Form’ gift box (contains air-dry clay, tools and access to an online masterclass), £70, Kana London
2. Bespoke jewellery-making kit (contains everything you need to design and create a ring, pendant or earrings, which will then be cast in silver), £99, Cahve
3. Beginners’ complete paper-marbling kit, £72, Marmor Paperie
4. Modern embroidery kit (contains a stitch guide, instruction booklet, thread, needles, a wooden embroidery hoop and a pattern; numerous designs available), £9.99-£27.50, Stitch Happy
5. Seaweed press, £23.50, Studio Wald
6. Woven – Make Your Own Accessories from Raffia and Cane book by Tabara N’Diaye, £17, La Basketry
7. Easy animal crochet kit (numerous options available, including cat, bunny, dog, lion and more), £15-£40, TOFT
8. Soy scented candle-making kit (various options available), £28-£31.50, Hazel & Blue
9. Flower-press kit (contains a wooden press, card, Japanese scissors, glue, an advice sheet and an organic cotton storage bag), £55, Me & My Bloomers
10. Origami kit (various options available, including paper stars, wreaths, diamond baubles, lampshades, pots and kids’ party crowns), £12-£28, Origami Est
11. Handbuilt – A Modern Potter’s Guide to Handbuilding with Clay book by Lilly Maetzig, £18, Lifestory
12. Beginners’ weaving kit (contains a loom, tools, thread, a pattern and digital instructions), £26-£87 depending on the option chosen, Fünem Studio
13. You Will Be Able to Knit by the End of this Book book by Rosie Fletcher, £16.99, Lifestory
14. ‘Make Your Own DIY Rope Bag’ kit, £35, La Basketry

As well as the above, various independent makers offer gift vouchers for workshops. Take a look at scent creation, candle making and aromatherapy bath products with Cedar Lifestyle (Manchester), wax-carved jewellery making with Elin Horgan (Bristol), wheel-throwing sessions with Pottery West (Sheffield), paper-marbling with Marmor Paperie (London) and a ‘Clay Date for Two’ with Aku Ceramics (Edinburgh).

If you want more Christmas inspiration, see my edit of nature-inspired decorations, six ideas for sustainable gift wrapping and my pick of the best scented candles for Christmas and winter.

Top image by Abi Dare; collage photography courtesy of the respective artists, makers and retailers