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Sometimes you really want to support the little guy/gal, but the convenience of online retail giant Amazon is too tempting. We’re here to tell you, you can have the best of both worlds. Amazon now has campaigns promoting small businesses, woman-owned small businesses and emergent brands. There’s even a handmade items category. So you can bring your business to small brands and still enjoy efficient speedy delivery and the ease of one-stop shopping.
We’ve sifted through these small brand selections to bring you 10 super-fun gift ideas (some of which you may need to buy for yourself, as well). If you have Amazon Prime, you’ll get free shipping, of course. Not yet a member? Sign up for your free 30-day trial here. (And remember, even those without Prime get free shipping on orders of $25 or more). Order now and your gifts will arrive in plenty of time for Christmas..
Spread the love with this anatomical plush heart stuffy
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Woman-owned Nerdbugs is a small biz that specializes in adorable body-organ stuffies. Yes, I said adorable body organs. This nine-inch-high Nerdbugs Plush Heart would make an excellent gift for a science-minded little one, a medical professional or anyone you want to give your heart to.
Some shoppers give this heart as a get-well present:”Great gift for my mom from her granddaughters post-surgery. Not too big like the heart pillows the hospital gives. These are super cute. Definitely happy and would recommend.”
Check out the cute breast, uterus, lungs and kidney as well.
Split this pair of squeaky White Paw Dog Toys between your two favorite pups
Any White Claw fans with a dog will adore this gift. So will any dog for that matter. Split it up as two gifts and it’ll run you just $9 a pop. This fun two-pack of durable, seven-inch squeaky toys is great for dogs small and large, and it has already earned more than 3,700 five-star reviews!
One five-star fan wrote: “My dog is a soft-toy destroyer. She usually tears them apart in five minutes, stuffing everywhere. But for some reason she has not gotten these apart yet! The fabric seems a little more durable but I think it also helps that there are no hanging pieces like a tail/ears, etc. She loves to toss them around. Squeaker isn’t in an area she bites all the time so it’s not overly annoying. Was super cute to post a picture of her with it and me with my own White Claw.”
Friends don’t let friends wait around for a confidence boost. Gift these 10 colorful, mega-positive Ban.do Graphite Pencils and they’ll have your compliments at their fingertips. The set arrives sharpened and ready for action. Who wouldn’t want to hear that they’re smart or a total champ?
One shopper shared, “Love these! The compliments are all fabulous, the pencil itself is of good quality and the erasers actually work! My coworkers were really excited to get these, and a year later they all still have happy little compliments sticking out of their pencil cups.”
She loves plants and has too many, so why not get her a little nod to her obsession, without adding clutter to the windowsill? This handmade 11 oz mug looks and feels special, because it is. An original design by Loftipop Mugs, this mug has an impressive 4.8-star rating from shoppers: “Perfect,” said one fan. “I received my mug today and I love it. Nice, crisp colors, well-packaged, perfect size (I hate those huge 14 oz mugs, some of us have arthritis in our hands). This is my Christmas gift to myself. Well done.”
If plants aren’t your giftee’s cup of tea, check out the book lover and cat fanatic versions.
This Rose Apothecary Candle is an inside joke for fans of Schitt’s Creek
Got a Schitt’s Creek fan on your list? They’ll love this Rose Apothecary candle! But even if the recipient doesn’t get the reference, it’s still a great gift. The 8 oz handmade vegan candle is hand-poured in small batches, and, as the seller’s description, says: “A real person does a little happy dance with every purchase made!” The naturally scented wax is made from soy and coconut and the wick is all cotton. The vessel itself is reusable or recyclable. It’s really pretty, and it’s made in the U.S.A.
“Dreamy,” remarked a fan. “This aesthetically charming candle (I believe up to [SC character] David’s standards!) also smells like heaven. Kind of a deep woodsy coconut scent. Buying more now.”
I LOL’d when I saw this star-stealing Kong, from Tree Buddees. The 10-inch-tall plastic tree topper is light enough that it won’t become a tree toppler. It’s perfect for young folks getting their first tree, your own tree and anyone with a sense of humor. It works well atop a real tree, but it also has hidden magnets to secure it to an artificial one. The 4.9-star rating is a testament to the quality.
One five-star reviewer said, “This has to be the best tree topper on the planet. My husband and I have been trying to find a nice tree topper that we both agree on and this definitely was the best choice. It’s light, sturdy, goes on the tree really nicely. looks fantastic and fun to look at. I wrapped lights around the top stem of the tree to really make him pop.”
Crack up your Aunt Judy with the wine workout ornament, another fun decoration from Tree Buddees. The three-inch glass ornament is lightweight and surprisingly tough to break. One happy gifter wrote, “Purchased a few of these for my wine-loving friends. They arrived intact, and seemed to be a hit! I should probably get one for myself now.”
These telescoping Marshmallow Roasters double the fun — and they’re on sale
Tis not the season, exactly. But what the heck. These extendable marshmallow/hot dog roasting sticks are a promise of fun to come — and their off-season-ness may be why they’re on sale for $26 (down from $32). The telescoping forks are delightful and (somewhat) useful gizmos that take s’mores-making to the next level! And if you know someone who that’s important to, this is the gift for them!
They’re a top seller in camping utensils with more than 1,500 perfect ratings. One five-star fan writes, “These roasting sticks were a great gift and I plan to order some for myself. They’re lightweight and come with a convenient bag for storage and packing ease. Love that they are each a different color so that everyone can keep track of “their” stick. If you have kids, you know that this will help eliminate conflict! They also have little caps to cover the pointy ends.”
This cleverly tacky Christmas sweater by small biz Tipsy Elves will delight your kids when it’s time to get dressed for holiday parties, and charm everyone they encounter. It’s available in children’s sizes X-Small to X-Large. Check out the other versions too: One features a Christmas shark, the other a very holiday unicorn.
One happy shopper shared, “Adorable sweater….had lots of compliments…Very well made and cozy.”
It’s been quite a year. This handmade wooden ornament commemorates the high point — the arrival of the COVID vaccine. It measures roughly 3.25 by 2 inches and the cool design is laser cut. Put a bow on it, stuff it in a stocking, place it on a tree or even wear it on your own person. Everyone will want one, so be sure to stock up. The price is right.
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Looking for more great Amazon deals? Check these out:
TV deals:
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Pioneer 50-inch PN50951-22U LED 4K UHD Smart Fire TV, $260 (was $470), amazon.com
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TCL 75-inch 5-Series 4K UHD Roku Smart TV, $999 (was $1,500), amazon.com
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Insignia NS-32DF310NA19 32-inch Smart Fire TV, $150 (was $200), amazon.com
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Hisense ULED Premium 55-Inch Class U8G Quantum Series Android 4K Smart TV, $750 (was $1,000), amazon.com
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Toshiba 43-inch Class V35 Series LED Full HD Smart Fire TV, $240 (was $320), amazon.com
Headphones and earbud deals:
Smartphone and tablet deals:
Video game deals:
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Samsung Odyssey G7 Series 27-Inch WQHD Curved Gaming Monitor, $500 (was $700), amazon.com
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Assassin’s Creed Valhalla Xbox One Ultimate Edition [Digital Code], $106 (was $120), amazon.com
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Corsair K95 RGB Platinum Mechanical Gaming Keyboard, $167 (was $200), amazon.com
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Marvel’s Spider-Man: Miles Morales Launch Edition (PS5), $30 (was $50), amazon.com
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Logitech G305 Lightspeed Wireless Gaming Mouse, $30 (was $50), amazon.com
Smart home deals:
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Blink Outdoor 3 Cam Kit bundle with Echo Show 5, $150 (was $335), amazon.com
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Furbo Dog Treat Tossing Full HD Wifi Pet Camera, $118 (was $169), amazon.com
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Amazon Echo (4th Gen), $60 (was $100), amazon.com
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Fire TV Stick with Alexa Voice Remote, $25 (was $40), amazon.com
Vacuum deals:
Fashion deals:
Kitchen deals:
Beauty deals:
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Crave Naturals Biggie Glide Thru Detangling Brush, $12 (was $15), amazon.com
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Modelones Poly Extension Gel Nail Kit, $37 (was $40), amazon.com
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Waterpik CC-01 Complete Care 9.0 Sonic Electric Toothbrush with Water Flosser, $100 (was $130), amazon.com
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Organic Vitamin E Oil for Skin & Scars, $20 (was $25), amazon.com
Bedding deals:
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Mellanni Queen Sheet Set, $33 (was $48), amazon.com
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Madison Park Queen Comforter Set, $120 with on-page coupon (was $195), amazon.com
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Lush Decor Reyna Ruffled 3 Piece King Bedding Set, $86 (was $320), amazon.com
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BioPEDIC 4-Pack Bed Pillows, $32 (was $50), amazon.com
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