5 Christmas gifts that support Indy area small businesses
Hey, Indianapolis and surrounding communities like Greenwood, Plainfield, Lawrence, Fishers, Carmel, Noblesville, Westfield, Avon, and Brownsburg! I could go on, but I won’t I think you get the drift.
We’ve talked about it before. And I’m going to bang this drum.
Again.
Are you ready? I’m gonna shout this from the rooftops.
Again.
Is this thing on?
ahem…
Indy area small businesses need our help, y’all!
You wanna hear some real talk? Saying this takes money out of my pocket because I get a small commission whenever you buy something online by using one of my affiliate links. And believe me, I’m currently not making a whole lot right now, so every tiny commission is important to me.
But this is more important.
This impacts our community – our neighbors, our family, and our friends. Small businesses continue to be the backbone of our economy. And many are operating on razor-thin margins (at best). They could really use our help again during the Christmas season.
So I’ve thrown together a list just for you, oh Central Indiana resident. It’s a list of easy gifts you can buy from some fine locally owned and operated establishments. There’s no muss or fuss with these gift ideas you can find at a few Indy area small businesses.
I think you’ll love these ideas.
1. Take-home kit from Teal Canary
The Teal Canary is a local art studio owned by artist Amy Barile Hommell in Greenwood. She offers private lessons and both large and small group lessons for both adults, kids, and families. But my favorite thing she offers at this time of year is the take-home-kits you can make at home (duh) with your family.
See? They’re pretty cool!
Call or text Teal Canary at (317) 414-2066 and ask about the take-home-kits. They’ll take care of you.
2. Cider from Ash & Elm Cider Co.
I don’t have the data to back up this claim, but it sure feels like we have more brew pubs in the Indy area than we have Starbucks. There’s more microbreweries around here than you can shake a stick at. But you know what this town was missing until 2016? A cidery. Fortunately, Ash & Elm Cider Co. filled that void that most of us didn’t even know existed.
Help them spread the message of their hard cider goodness. Want to give a unique gift to someone who’s 21+? Grab a 4-pack. Or more. Or sign them up for the Cider of the Month Club. Here’s the 2022 lineup. You know…because it’ll keep on giving the whole year…
You can order online. They ship to a lot of places around the country. But I suggest you visit in-person and grab a bite to eat while you’re there. We highly recommend their elote fritters or French fries (or both)!
3. A gift card to Boss Battle Games
If you know anyone who loves arcade games, Boss Battle Games in Castleton Square Mall is the place to be! They have over 100 arcade games ready for you to play. And it’s just 10 bucks for unlimited play all day long!
Y’all.
I love this place. They have my favorite video game of all time. And I want to keep going there again and again and again so I can keep playing it again and again and again. If you know someone who grew up playing video games, go ahead. Make their day. Make a run to Boss Battle Games and buy them a gift certificate. Or two.
4. Dinner from Send a Friend Lasagna
I’ve sung the praises of Send A Friend Lasagna before. In case you didn’t get that memo, it’s amazing.
You can surprise someone with the gift of lasagna and have it delivered. If you’re going to do that for Christmas, though, you’ll need to contact Stephanie and place your order by December 17.
Or…
You can buy a gift card and let them choose which delectable lasagna goodness they’d like to have.
They will not be disappointed.
5. Tickets to PopCon Indy 2022
I’ve been to Gen Con. And I’ve also been to Indiana Comic Convention. I can say, hands-down, that PopCon Indy is my favorite pop culture related convention in Indianapolis. Locally owned and locally operated since its inception in 2014, PopCon is really something special to experience. It’s really unlike any other convention you’ve ever attended.
Tickets for the June 3-5, 2022 convention are on sale now. You can buy individual tickets, or get tickets for the whole family! Tickets to PopCon Indy are the perfect gift for the pup culture fan(s) in your life!
Other ways you can support small businesses in the Indy area this holiday season
If, for some reason, these ideas don’t tickle your fancy, you can check out this Indianapolis Holiday Gift Guide from Do317. Still looking? You can find some more ideas in this post I wrote last year about last-minute gifts. There’s a lot of options out here. I hope you do something to help support our local Indy area small businesses.
And if you do happen to buy something from one of these fine Indy area small businesses, be sure to tell them I sent you. No reason why, necessarily. Just let them know that a lot of us are out here pulling for them any way we can.
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