While massive multinational corporations push Black Friday and Cyber Monday sales, most people are more interested in Small Business Saturday. Wedged in the weekend between those two national sales days, Small Business Saturday focuses more on supporting local businesses within your community.
Fine Fettle supports local makers, small shops, and community entrepreneurs. It’s one of our core values. That’s why we developed the Family Tree partner program to collaborate with local community businesses to build a holiday gift guide for 2025 that exemplifies Connecticut’s creative spirit.
This year, skip the stress and shop local with our curated list of small businesses making a big impact. These are local Connecticut businesses that share Fine Fettle’s values of quality, care, and community.
Flavor Packed Food & Drinks
Arctic Bites: Freeze-Dried Fun
Arctic Bites offers a unique assortment of freeze-dried candies, fruits, and herbs that can delight your snacking senses and elevate your culinary experiences. Throughout the year, the company sources locally grown products like berries, citrus, and even jalapenos to create unique flavors and textures that can be eaten alone or enhance your favorite holiday cocktails and meals.
Liquid Nirvana: Fresh Nourishment
Liquid Nirvana juice & smoothie bars serve fresh juices, smoothies, and salads that are beautiful, fresh, along with useful juice cleanses. Whether you enjoy in their Avon, Glastonbury, or Farmington location or bring the bottles home, people love these colorful and creative blends of locally grown fruits, vegetables, and other goodies.
New Cambridge Project: Local Craft Brews
The New Cambridge Project is a group of local Connecticut craft brewers united by the goal of reviving Bristol’s historical legacy while embracing its innovation. You can get a variety of local craft beers on tap, along with local wines, whiskies, and canned beers. Stop by the taproom to hang out or pick up a variety of brews to excite your holiday party.
Hop & Vine Taproom: Join the Party
The Hop & Vine Taproom is Stamford’s first self-pouring beer and wine taproom. It offers a constantly evolving lineup of Connecticut craft beers alongside ciders, seltzers, kombucha, and wines from around the world. They also serve in-house crafted mocktails for those who don’t drink (or prefer cannabis), and they keep the party going with theme nights throughout the week.
Cozy Home and Lifestyle Goods
The Li’l Plant Shop: Grow Together
The Li’l Plant Shop carries a wide selection of houseplants, herbs, and flowers for any living situation. Their expert staff come from a variety of backgrounds from floral arrangements to horticulture, and they offer a variety of educational resources and classes to help develop your green thumb. Keep an eye out for the Li’l Plant Bus at the park for local events or stop by the shop in Plainville.
Perennial: Sustainable Gifts
Perennial is an herb shop and bookstore that carries a variety of local, handcrafted gifts, including home goods, food, bath & body products, and more. There’s something for the entire family. From bookworms to homemakers and even kids, you’re sure to find the perfect gift for everyone on your holiday list.
Stylish and Local Fashion and Accessories
Sew New by Kylie: Handmade Embroidery
Kylie Delgado is a local Connecticut seamstress with a bustling business selling handmade bags, clothing, and accessories through her Etsy shop. She’s also available for custom work and commissions to create the perfect gift for your loved ones. This is the perfect place for something unique and handcrafted to commemorate the holidays.
Natural Selection Vintage: Back in the Future
Why buy something new when there are so many amazing retro styles available secondhand? Located inside Retro Junk!, Natural Selection Vintage is Connecticut’s “biggest little” vintage store. They have hats, jackets, jewelry, and styles from decades past. Stop by to rediscover old memories for your loved ones. And don’t forget to make new memories too!
Memorable Experiences and Great Services
The Firestone Studio & Art Café: Crafting and Coffee
The Firestone Studio & Art Café offers a unique experience that’s fun for the whole family. Flex your creative muscles while working with wet clay or painting pottery while enjoying delicious drinks and treats. Located in the heart of downtown Manchester, you can book everything from a night out to a weeklong camp to boost artistic skills with locally made food.
WeHa Candle Co: Homemade Candles
At WeHa Candle Company, you can find a variety of hand-poured candles that are all-natural, non-GMO, non-toxic, and free of paraben and phthalate. Their storefront in West Hartford is filled with locally poured candles and soups, along with hyper local home decor items and other gifts. Stop by or shop online to give your loved ones an unforgettable sensory indulgence.
Essex Indoor Golf: Christmas Country Club
The Essex Indoor Golf Center is fun for all ages and skill levels. You can choose from a variety of legendary golf courses from around the world (like Myrtle Beach, TPC Scottsdale, and Pebble Beach), along with fantasy courses and mini golf destinations in exotic locales, like the Galactic Greens in space. In addition, there’s beer pong, corn hole, skee ball, and more.
All the Single Kitties: Getting Catty
Cats are among the most adorable creatures, and All the Single Kitties is a cat cafe dedicated to all things feline. They go above and beyond rescuing cats around the community by giving them a whimsical kitty haven. Bring the family to play with our furry friends to learn more about them or adopt one to bring home with all the supplies you need for a happy family.
Perfect Stocking Stuffers
Smoking Ape: Headshop Holidays
Smoking Ape is an old-school headshop that offers everything you need for a premium smoking experience. If you have a cannabis aficionado on your holiday gift list, consider shopping their assortment of hookahs, water pipes, vape juices, and more. No matter what type of smoker or cloud-chasing vaper you know, Smoking Ape has you covered.
Wildcraft Herb Shoppe: Apothecary Advent
The Wildcraft Herb Shoppe carries a wide selection of organic loose-leaf teas, bulk herbs and spices, local artisan wares, and natural products for your health and home. Whether you’re looking for a smudge stick or incense to cleanse the home, unique herbal tea blends, or the right spice to take your holiday meals to the next level, they have everything you need both imported and local.
Typsy Gypsy: Metaphysical Treasures
Typsy Gypsy Jewelry creates one-of-a-kind jewelry and accessories from all-natural and repurposed materials. It’s all handcrafted in Bristol and can be found in the Typsy Gypsy pop-up stores or a variety of local retailers around Connecticut, including Eco Evolution in Norwalk, Bridge Healing Arts Center in Farmington, Old Glory in Milford, and Fable in Southington. Pick up a unique piece of heartwork for the fashionista in your life.
Shopping Small with Fine Fettle
At Fine Fettle, we believe in supporting small businesses, because it keeps dollars local, strengthens our communities, and fosters sustainability. You don’t have to wait until Small Business Saturday to support our Family Tree partners. And it doesn’t cost anything to help them out.
Some free ways to support local business throughout the year include:
- Sharing their posts on social media
- Leaving reviews
- Referring friends and family
- Attending local markets or events hosted by Family Tree Partners
Fine Fettle’s mission is to nurture wellness for both our customers and community. This holistic approach ensures we all grow together, every day of our lives.
When you shop small, you’re doing more than buying gifts; you’re supporting families and celebrating community.Check out the Family Tree Partners page or visit these stores in person this Small Business Saturday.
