Holiday Gift Ideas from Milwaukee Small Businesses

Looking for the perfect holiday gift this season? Milwaukee small businesses have you covered. No matter how or where you're celebrating, we've compiled a list of locally-sourced gift ideas that will cover everyone on your list. Spread holiday cheer to your loved ones and your Milwaukee community.

FOR THE FOODIE

Indulgence Chocolatiers – Indulgence Chocolatiers meticulously handcrafts all of its confections in its Milwaukee, Wisconsin kitchen. Working with the finest chocolate from around the world and other locally sourced ingredients, our talented chocolatiers create confections that are as delicious as they are beautiful.

Lush Popcorn – Lush popcorn is a family-owned and operated company that started as a labor of love. Specializing in decadent, handcrafted, and liquor-infused flavor varieties of gourmet popcorn.

Miss Molly's Cafe – Spread the gift of cookies. Become a member of the Miss Molly's Cookie Club. A new cookie will be created by their bakery team every month and members will be the first to try it.

Milwaukee Food Tours – Since many of us are traveling less in 2020, Milwaukee Food Tours wanted to bring a variety of gift boxes that highlight what they love right to your home. Their gift boxes, tours, and trips are guaranteed to fill your bellies with treats and your hearts with good cheer whether you are looking for a girls outing, family celebration or date night during the Christmas season.

Stone Creek Coffee – This Milwaukee-based specialty coffee roaster has incredible roasts for the most discerning coffee drinkers.

The Real Good Life – Their meal planner subscription service gives you the opportunity to put your unique spin on the weekly menu. With this subscription, you will receive three meal recipes per week plus at least one snack or extra. Additionally, they'll give you the grocery list and all the nutritional information.

FOR THE SELF CARE GURU

Big White Yeti – Makes beautiful soy candles that are 100% soy wax, pure fragrance oils and undiluted essential oils, and cotton wicks. That's it. Clean, pure, long-lasting candles. Their seasonal collection will put anyone in the holiday spirit.

Fern And Nettle - All-Natural Handcrafted Skincare. This line of all-natural handcrafted skincare is beautifully packaged and smells absolutely delicious.

Nourish Natural Products – Each of their inspired wellness products blends only organic, good-for-you ingredients found in nature. Their joy-filled mission is to help you feel happy & healthy, and remind you that YOU MATTER. Every purchase includes free shipping.

Partisan – Partisan allows you to build a gift box using products from Milwaukee makers and artisans. Handpick your favorite products for a truly thoughtful holiday gift, all while supporting local Milwaukee makers. Curated artisan items include Lush Popcorn, succulents from Belle Fiori, Cream City Caramels, candles from Milwaukee Candle Company, and skincare by Fern & Nettle. Packages hand-delivered locally, contact-free or shipped nationally.

Shovel + Spade – is a line of fiber-based goods designed for sustainable living in today’s modern society. Consciously crafted with local wool + reclaimed materials, to combine color and beauty with function, creating simple and practical solutions for daily life. Their ever-popular Woolly Bars offer up a zero-waste, biodegradable, skincare alternative. Naturally antimicrobial, individually hand-felted essential oil soaps, made with locally sourced wool, offered in a variety of exclusive scents.

Shred415 East Side – Send the gift of physical fitness. Every workout is divided into four 15-minute intervals, alternating between treadmill drills and strength training.

Style Up Group –Have you heard that "experiences" being more popular gifts than "things?" Give the gift of organization or any of our other home services to a loved one! This makes an incredible gift for new parents or busy professionals. To purchase, send us an email.

FOR THE PERSON WHO HAS EVERYTHING

Artery Ink – Products made to encourage and inspire you to learn more about the body you live in, with the mission of helping you take better care of it, so in turn you can live your fullest, happiest and healthiest life possible! All of our artwork is unique and done collaboratively. It's a mix of traditional pen drawings and digital design. 

Bird's Tail Jewelry – Jewelry for every day. Each Bird’s Tail piece is handcrafted in their studio located just outside of Milwaukee, using natural, semi-precious stones and 18k gold filled and sterling silver metals. For every piece purchased, Bird's Tail will donate a piece of BT jewelry to a woman who is battling breast cancer.

Cracked Designs – Shop this woman-owned and operated Milwaukee company for their witty handmade greeting cards.

Ivy Illustrations - Ivy is a freelance illustrator and painter specializing in Live Fashion Illustration and her signature Animal Head-Human Body portraits. Shop her original art collection or contact her for a personalized illustration. 

L.Lynn Lettering Co  – Beautiful holiday decor and DIY Kits! Home decor for every style. All of her products are designed and made by hand in her Milwaukee home.

Raising Good Shop - a Milwaukee-based family apparel brand. From local pride to new parent excitement, there is something for everyone to wear from this shop.

Sparrow Collective – This Bayview boutique features the work of over 100 independent designers and artists from around the United States.

Tactile Craftworks – Choose from a variety of their beautifully handcrafted leather goods, including journals, passport wallets, and flasks.

The Waxwing –  Houses carefully curated local Great Lakes makers and artists. You'll be sure to find something for everyone on your list here.

URSA - The shop features a carefully curated selection of home decor, jewelry, apothecary, plants, and more.

Ramie & Co - Our polymer clay jewelry is made-to-order and lovingly handmade for you. I create bespoke jewelry to ensure your piece is truly personalized.

Bayview Printing Co. - Bay View Printing Co is a full service design, letterpress and offset printing shop in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. We're a community design & letterpress print shop and we treat our clients, customers and members like our friends.

FOR THE KIDDOS

Betty Brinn Children's Museum – Join, renew or give a family membership as a gift today, and receive one-year of free admission when we reopen in 2021! Proudly support your children's museum as a member and take advantage of current enrollment rates. Your great benefits and member card will be activated the day we open our doors. We can't wait to see you again soon!

Black Bear Boutique - a finely curated collection of baby and children’s clothing and accessories sure to please parents and children alike.

Bug and Goose Play Cafe - Relax and have a coffee while your kids have a blast playing in a safe space. Their staff prides itself in creating an incredible experience.

Discovery World – Located on the shoreline of Lake Michigan, Discovery World Science and Technology Museum is one of Milwaukee's best things to do for children and families. Becoming a Member of Discovery World means your family will enjoy FUN & savings all year long! Your membership can pay for itself in just a couple of visits!

First Stage - Family All-Access Pass memberships offer access to stream all of First Stage's virtual productions for the 2020/21 season, as well as Theater Academy class discounts, and discount offers for future live theater performances. Single Tickets for our streaming performances are available at three different price points. Purchase just one ticket per household, selecting one of three price options that work best for you. Prior to the performance's streaming dates, members and ticket buyers will receive an access code for streaming via email.

Little Sprouts Play Cafe – Our play cafes are ideal for children up to 6 years old - with toys and structures meant to inspire your child’s imagination. We strive to provide young kids with a space to socialize, engage, and feel safe. Young kids will love our imagination inspired play. Parents will love our free Stone Creek coffee and free WI-FI.

Lynden Sculpture Garden - With a collection of more than 50 monumental sculptures sited across 40 acres of park, lake and woodland, the Lynden Sculpture Garden is committed to promoting the enjoyment, understanding, and appreciation of art, sculpture and the environment through the exhibition of art and sculpture, educational experiences and connections with the community.

Schlitz Audubon Nature Center - Works to conserve our land's diverse habitats on Lake Michigan and provide meaningful experiences and environmental education for all. Take advantage of everything Schlitz Audubon offers throughout each season. With a family of four, an annual membership pays for itself in just three visits.

Spanish with Suzy - s a virtual Spanish and Cultural Education school for little kids and families. Our classes combine music, dancing, screen shares, books, teacher/student interaction and more! All of our lesson plans are created by us and follow a simple, predictable format.

State Park Pass  - Annual vehicle admission stickers offer admission to all state parks and forests for the calendar year. Annual stickers for 2021 will go on sale beginning Dec. 1.

The Milwaukee Domes – As a Friend of the Domes, you will become part of the team, made up of individuals from every walk of life, reaping the reward giving back to community truly provides. You will be helping to support educational programs and projects of all kinds at the Domes.

The Milwaukee Art Museum - Milwaukee Art Museum membership provides you with exclusive Member-only benefits and access to countless opportunities that engage and delight. As a Member, you receive not only priority access to timed admission tickets but also first look at our online offerings, ensuring that you receive the “Member treatment” whether you are visiting us on-site or from home.

The Milwaukee Public Museum - As Wisconsin's natural history museum, MPM inspires curiosity, excites minds, and increases desire to preserve our world's natural and cultural diversity.

Wehr Nature Center - The Friends of Wehr is dedicated to the support and promotion of the Wehr Nature Center and its environmental education programs. With an annual membership, you will have the satisfaction of supporting a nature destination you love. Your annual membership also provides you with other perks.

If you have any additional gift ideas please email us at melissa@brainchildstudios.com. Come back often: we're adding to our holiday gift guide every week.