The holiday season is upon us and there’s no better time than now to shop local. There are tons of Toronto born and based businesses that offer amazing goods we know the people on your list will love. From custom candles to kitchen goods, to subscription services, and more. No matter who you’re shopping for, you’re sure to find something here. So without further adieu, let’s jump right into it.
Here are 17 amazing local Toronto gift ideas for anyone on your holiday shopping list.
THE GOOD SOY
This Toronto-born brand offers handcrafted, natural products for all your home, and self-care needs. Their specialty is aromatherapy and custom candles (which you can personalize to make your gift extra special). But they’ve also got tons of other home, bath, and body offerings. Plus, everything they sell is 100% natural, vegan, eco-friendly, and non-toxic! We recommend checking out The Good Deed collection. They’ve got adorable mask chains up for grabs and 100% of the profits from the collection are donated to a local charity. This holiday season, they’re supporting Covenant House Toronto. You really can’t go wrong shopping here!
Where: Check it out online
MELLOW SOAP GIFT BUNDLE
Give the gift of self-care this holiday season with a bundle from GTA-based brand Mellow. Their gift kits include your choice of goodies, including body scrubs, bath soaks, facial masks, exfoliators, and more. Everything is handcrafted to perfection with your well-being in mind. Who needs to go to the spa when you can have the spa delivered right to your door? We know we’d be delighted to receive this gift! Not that we’re dropping hints or anything…
Where: Check it out online
THE WOODSMAN’S DAUGHTER
Kitchen accessories never looked so good! Hit up The Woodsman’s Daughter for customized pieces like cutting boards, bowls, utensils, and more. These creative works are expertly curated and crafted by hand using Canadian hardwood. They’ve got an incredible rustic, woodsy vibe that we cannot get enough of. Their perfect if you’ve got a chef on your list. Or just someone who really loves having an aesthetically-pleasing home.
Where: Check it out online
IQ LIVING COOKWARE
Speaking of kitchen goods, you can also opt for a more modern vibe with the crazy cool cookware from iQ living. This local brand has every product you need to fill the chef in your life with glee. From pots to pans to kettles, oven mitts, and more. There’s nothing this spot didn’t think of!
Where: Check it out online
CRAFTY CALENDAR
The new year is around the corner (thank god), so now’s the best time to gift a 2021 calendar. 313 Design Market has loads of crafty, out-of-the-box options we know the people on your list will love. We’re talking rotary calendars, bike-shaped calendars, cube calendars, module calendars, and more. Not to mention all the creative designs their wall calendars sport. Whew, has the word “calendar” lost all meaning to you too?? A marker of new beginnings after this horrendous year is definitely something we’d be happy to unwrap.
THE HAPPY BOX
This stellar service takes all the work out of looking for local stores this holiday season! They’ll put together an entire box of gorgeous gifts from local spots for you. Just click a few buttons and you’ve got perfectly packaged arrangements of all kinds of goodies. There are tons of different boxes available, but our personal favourite has got to be the “Bored at Home” Box. It comes with DIY activities, snacks, and games to get anyone through the quarantine.
Where: Check it out online
PILOT COFFEE SUBSCRIPTION
Got a caffeine addict on your list? The Pilot Coffee Subscription is perfect for them. Sign them up and they’ll receive their favourite coffee blends delivered right to your door. The whole thing is completely customizable, right down to the frequency, quantity, and start date of your deliveries. You can choose from a wide range of signature blends or you can leave it up to their expert roasters to decide!
Where: Find your nearest location here
GENERAL ASSEMBLY PIZZA SUBSCRIPTION
If coffee isn’t really your gift-recipient’s thing, woo them instead with some General Assembly Pizza. This local spot is offering the world’s first pizza subscription service and it makes for a fabulous holiday gift. Sign them up to receive all their favourite pizza flavours delivered right to their door. The spot’s got tons of incredible options to try, so they’ll never get bored with this neat treat!
Where: Check it out online or at 331 Adelaide St W
CUCHARA JEWELRY
Select individual pieces or a curated holiday gift set from this local jewelry shop. They have tons of beautiful products, from necklaces to earrings to bracelets to rings. Plus, you can get personalized pieces with custom engraving. A gift from this spot is perfect for that special someone on your shopping list.
Where: Check it out online or at 888 Dupont St
TYPE BOOKS MYSTERY BAG
If you’ve got an avid reader on your list, this Mystery Bag is something you’ve got to see. It’s basically like having a personal stylist, only in book form. Just get your gift-recipient to fill out a quick survey, then Type Book’s experts will curate a collection of books they’ll love. The element of surprise give the experience a little extra thrill. Plus, they’ve even got a deluxe version available for the holiday season! It comes with extra books and special selections.
Where: Find your nearest location here
GRASSHOPPER RECORDS
The musician on your list will be delighted with a pick from this gorgeous local record store. Maybe we’re snobs, but we believe there’s no denying that music just sounds better when it’s played on vinyl. This record store has a huge collection to choose from. Plus, they’ve got great hours if you need to fit a little late-night shopping into your busy holiday schedule.
Where: 1167 Dundas St W
MRKT GALLERY ART
Know someone who’s living space needs a little sprucing up? Art from this incredible local gallery could be the answer. Walls have never looked better than when covered in works from the MRKT Gallery. This spot features work from loads of badass female artists. You can shop the whole collection or browse by style to find the perfect piece your gift-recipient needs.
Where: Check it out online
LIKELY GENERAL
Who doesn’t love unwrapping an entire apothecary on Christmas morning? If that’s a gift you want to give, this Toronto spot has got you covered. They have tons of incredible goods like body lotions, soaps, scrubs, and more. Plus, fabulous treats like superfood truffles, teas, and coffee beans. This place is seriously a one-stop-shop for all things wellness.
Where: Check it out online or at 389 Roncesvalles Ave
CRYSTALS FROM HOUSE OF ENERGY
If there’s someone on your list looking to manifest their way into a better 2021, this crystal shop is the place to hit. Located in the trendy Kensington Market, their shelves are stacked with all the good vibes you could ask for. Their crystals make for gorgeous additions to DIY jewelry. Plus, they have other neat offerings like books, tarot decks, apothecary items, and more.
Where: Check it out online or at 145 Augusta Ave
CROWN FLORA FLOWER SUBSCRIPTION
This next pick is the gift that keeps on giving. You can send a little boost of love into your friends home this holiday season with a subscription to Toronto’s Crown Flora. When you sign someone up, they’ll receive curated floral bouquet arrangements every other week until their subscription runs out. Every flower arrangement is thoughtfully planned out to fit their classic Crown Flora aesthetic. Plus, they have gorgeous chocolates, candles, and more available if you’d like to add a little extra to your gift.
Where: 1537 Queen St W
DYNASTY PLANT SHOP
Friends who have been bitten by the botany bug will adore a gift from this Toronto spot. Dynasty Plant Shop has all the gorgeous house plants to make any living space just a little bit brighter. Plus, they’re offering free Toronto-wide delivery on orders over $150. Or contactless curb-side pickup at either of their two Toronto locations. Great gifts and COVID-19 safety? Sign us up.
Where: Find your nearest location here
SANTA SAC FROM JUST CRAFTY THINGZ
What’s a good gift without a killer creative way to wrap it? This local GTA business is selling hand-made Santa sacs, and we’ve gotta say, these things are a must-see. Imagine the look on your little one’s face when they open their gifts wrapped in a sac directly from the man himself! Using “North Pole Express Special Delivery”! C’mon, it’s just too good. You can even have them custom-made and personalized to perfection. On top of all that, the store also offers loads of crafty holiday items like tree decorations, custom sweaters, and more!
Where: Check it out on Instagram
So shop local this holiday season and support all these amazing Toronto businesses. We know we’ll be hitting up a few of them for the folks on our shopping list.
