By Anne-Marie Jones.
It's been a tough year for small, handmade businesses, and they could definitely use your support when Christmas shopping this year!
Consider shopping at markets for your gift shopping this year, or check out some of the following, for my fave handcrafted/artisan businesses, based in the South Island of New Zealand.
Dwindle River - Zenobia Southcombe is a very talented artist to watch! Based in Ōtepoti (Dunedin), Zenobia has an amazing eye for capturing our New Zealand wildlife in photography, as well as being a talented writer and painter. Her 2025 Calendar makes a fabulous gift!
Wild Soul Eclectic - I had the pleasure of meeting Emily and her gorgeous works at Encraftment Market this year, and was impressed at her kaupapa, her creativity, her knowledge, and her genuine passion for jewellery & art crafted with materials from, and inspired, by Aotearoa.
Magpie Castle - I have been a fan of Jinx's paintings for over a decade, so I was delighted when she popped up with her amazing glass creations.
They range from small pieces starting at just $25, right up to much bigger works. The colours are stunning, and they are definitely great gifts!
Take A Whiff - Take A Whiff has been a fave small business of mine since it's inception more than 5 years ago. They are a regular at local markets, and have a studio/workshop you can pop into by appointment and go shopping.
Take A Whiff make affordable body, bath and self-care products, in a wide range of scents. There really is something for everyone!
Kids love the bath fizz, rocks and bombs (trust me, my bathroom is always full of 'potions' thanks to my son - he thinks the Monkey Farts scent is hilarious!), and the Shower Steamer Sample Packs are great gifts for teachers, hard-to-buy-for people, or as a spare gift to have on hand.
And with their prices being so reasonable, you can totally justify adding a few treats for yourself to your shopping cart too!
Maxine Burney - Maxine is a very talented artist, based in her own studio at The Arts Centre. You can often see her working in action, plus you can buy cards, prints, original paintings and sometimes also works by other local artists.
There are also a few other great businesses located in The Arts Centre, like Frances Nation, so you can probably tick a few pressies off your list!
HAPA - HAPA have two gorgeous stores in Christchurch - at the BNZ Centre in Cashel St, and The Tannery. What I love about HAPA is their genuine support for NZ handcrafted work, particularly their commitment to supporting Maori artists and creators.
HAPA is a great place to get a few gifts sorted at once, as they have a wonderful selection for young, old and all genders. They have some pretty unique stuff, making it a good choice for the 'hard to buy for'!.
I picked up this gorgeous set of baubles, by NZ artist Reuben Price, for one of the gifts I'm giving this year.
Hopefully if you still have a few last-minute gifts to grab, this list will inspire you to support small and support local this year. There are heaps of markets happening this week, these can be awesome places to find special, handmade gifts.
