And just like that, it’s the holidays again. Which means gifting — and what to gift — is on people’s minds, especially as the ever-present supply-chain crisis threatens to impact the availability of goods ranging from Christmas trees and iPhones to books and Nike sneakers.  An easy way to make sure you can find something meaningful to give your loved ones this year is to skip the big-box stores and Amazon and focus on local. Of course, budgets are tight and unemployment is high (as is the traditional holiday stress) so we aren’t promoting the “capitalist machine.” But we are promoting the idea that if you’re going to give gifts this year, support small businesses.  The U.S Small Business Administration says that for every $100 you spend at an independent business, $48 of that is recirculated back into the local economy. Whereas if you spend $100 at a national retailer, only $14 stays local.  As we all continue to struggle to make our way out of the pandemic, you can put your dollars to work for local recovery while simultaneously checking someone off your gift list. Besides, Jeff Bezos already has one spaceship; no need to Prime a present to help fund another one.  In this year’s Gift Guide you’ll find a collection of suggestions to spark some inspiration or literal purchases from local boutiques — something for everyone on your list. Please note, this is obviously not a representation of every single local small business or every gift inside the included businesses; just use this as a starting point and a reminder to support your neighbors.  
Cozy Beanies $12, Handzy, 17 W. Pike St., Covington; 324 W. Fourth St., Downtown, handzyshopstudio.com Photo: Provided
BlaCk Coffee Lounge “Woke•andA” House Blend $17.50, BlaCk Coffee Lounge, 824 Elm St., Downtown, blackcoffeecincy.com Photo: Provided
Kokodema Kit $30, Fern, 6040 Hamilton Ave., College Hill; 737 E. McMillan St., Walnut Hills, fern-shop.com Photo: Provided
Hand-Crafted Wooden Wand $45, Hierophany & Hedge, 19 W. Pike St., Covington, hierophanyandhedge.com Photo: Provided
1990s Cincinnati T-Shirt $30, The Daily Vintage, 1810 Elm St., Over-the-Rhine, instagram.com/thedailyvintagecincy Photo: Provided
Fiona Kiss Print $24.99, Cincinnati Zoo & Botanical Garden, 3400 Vine St., Avondale, cincinnatizoo.org Photo: Provided
Sarah Bellamy Handmade COVID Ornament $20, High St., 1401 Reading Road, Pendleton, shophighst.com Photo: Provided
Billiter Studio Cincinnati Print $20, Deehaus Decor, 135 W. Elder St., Over-the-Rhine, deerhausdecor.com Photo: Provided
Queen City Pig Ornament $48, Rookwood Pottery, 1920 Race St., Over-the-Rhine, rookwood.com Photo: Provided
Earrings $10-$30, Handzy, 17 W. Pike St., Covington; 324 W. Fourth St., Downtown, handzyshopstudio.com Photo: Provided
Mason Cash Nautical Mixing Bowls $29.99-$39.99, Artichoke, 1824 Elm St., Over-the-Rhine, artichokeotr.com Photo: Provided
The Downbound Dozen — a collection of twelve books the shop loved this year Prices vary, Downbound Books, 4139 Apple St., Northside, downboundbooks.com Photo: Provided
Plush Animal Pillow $33, MiCa 12/v, 1201 Vine St., Over-the-Rhine, shopmica.com Photo: Provided
Artist Enamel Cat Pins $15, Cincinnati Art Museum, 953 Eden Park Drive, Mount Adams, cincinnatiartmuseum.org Photo: Provided
Terrariums $10-$50, Deehaus Decor, 135 W. Elder St., Over-the-Rhine, deerhausdecor.com Photo: Provided
Pooley Vase (in assorted colors) $35, Cincinnati Art Museum, 953 Eden Park Drive, Mount Adams, cincinnatiartmuseum.org Photo: Provided
Fiona Ornament $24.99, Cincinnati Zoo & Botanical Garden, 3400 Vine St., Avondale, cincinnatizoo.org Photo: Provided
Local, Naturally Dyed Bandana $36, Deehaus Decor, 135 W. Elder St., Over-the-Rhine, deerhausdecor.com Photo: Provided
Vintage Military Liner $50, Deehaus Decor, 135 W. Elder St., Over-the-Rhine, deerhausdecor.com Photo: Provided
Opinel Le Petit Chef Set $49.99, Artichoke, 1824 Elm St., Over-the-Rhine, artichokeotr.com Photo: Provided
Abstract wall patch by Threadmade Goods $45, Fern, 6040 Hamilton Ave., College Hill; 737 E. McMillan St., Walnut Hills, fern-shop.com Photo: Provided
BlaCk Coffee Lounge Sweatshirt $40, BlaCk Coffee Lounge, 824 Elm St., Downtown, blackcoffeecincy.com Photo: Provided
Dusen Dusen Everybody Tissue Box $35, Cincinnati Art Museum, 953 Eden Park Drive, Mount Adams, cincinnatiartmuseum.org Photo: Provided
Ina Seifart Perlen Bracelet Keychain (Made in Berlin from Hand-Carved Wooden Beads) $39, Continuum, 1407 Vine St., Over-the-Rhine, continuumbazaar.com Photo: Provided
Terracotta Tops Planter 6040 Hamilton Ave., College Hill; 737 E. McMillan St., Walnut Hills, fern-shop.com Photo: Provided
Holiday Gift Box $95, Gia & The Blooms, 114 E. 13th. st., Over-the-Rhine; 1801 Race St., Findlay Market, giablooms.com Photo: Provided
Kids’ Graphic T-Shirts $20-$28, Gumdrop, 15 W. Pike St., Covington; 326 W. Fourth St., Downtown, gumdroptots.com Photo: Provided
Kids’ Puzzles $20-$25, Gumdrop, 15 W. Pike St., Covington; 326 W. Fourth St., Downtown, gumdroptots.com Photo: Provided
Cincy Hat $32, Wolfpack, 1813 Elm St., Over-the-Rhine, shopthewolfpack.com Photo: Provided
Mosser Glass Bathing Beauties Soap Dish $38, Continuum, 1407 Vine St., Over-the-Rhine, continuumbazaar.com Photo: Provided Photo: Provided by Continuum
Second World War Replica Compass $41, Hierophany & Hedge, 19 W. Pike St., Covington, hierophanyandhedge.com Photo: Provided
Art Puzzles $16-$23.95, Cincinnati Art Museum, 953 Eden Park Drive, Mount Adams, cincinnatiartmuseum.org Photo: Provided
Etched Cincinnati Map Glassware $24, High St., 1401 Reading Road, Pendleton, shophighst.com Photo: Provided
Baby Zodiac Books $7.99, Kismet, 1233 Vine St., Over-the-Rhine, facebook.com/KismetOverTheRhine Photo: Provided
Cincinnati Wire Ornament and Cincinnati Drawn Plaque $22.95 and $16.50, respectively, Kismet, 1233 Vine St., Over-the-Rhine, facebook.com/KismetOverTheRhine Photo: Provided
Dream Girl Fragrance Oil Dropper $44.40, Koko, 318 W. Fourth St., Downtown, kokotheshop.com Photo: Provided
Glass Water Bottle $35, Koko, 318 W. Fourth St., Downtown, kokotheshop.com Photo: Provided
No. 072 Mistletoe Candle $25, Manitou Candle Co., 4015 Eastern Ave., Columbia Tusculum, manitoucandleco.com Photo: Provided
Six-Pack of Truffle Box $20, Maverick Chocolate, 2651 Edmondson Road, Rookwood; 129 W Elder St., Over-the-Rhine, maverickchocolate.com Photo: Provided
Tattooed Strongman Embroidered Art Doll $48, MiCa 12/v, 1201 Vine St., Over-the-Rhine, shopmica.com Photo: Provided
Ferris Wheel Press “Freshly squeezed lemonade” Fountain Pen Ink $20, Paper Wings, 1207 Vine St., Over-the-Rhine, shoppaperwings.com Photo: Provided
Beard Oil $20, Queen City Alchemy, 1808 Race St., Over-the-Rhine, queencityalchemy.com Photo: Provided
Alchemy Gift Set $45, Queen City Alchemy, 1808 Race St., Over-the-Rhine, queencityalchemy.com Photo: Provided
Heritage Mug $38, Rookwood Pottery, 1920 Race St., Over-the-Rhine, rookwood.com Photo: Provided
Jocelyn Faux Fur Mandy Mittens $45, Sloane Boutique, 1216 Vine St., Over-the-Rhine, sloaneboutique.com Photo: Provided
Vintage Mickey Reversible Sweatshirt $40, The Daily Vintage, 1810 Elm St., Over-the-Rhine, instagram.com/thedailyvintagecincy Photo: Provided Photo: Provided by The Daily Vintage
Wild Wild Midwest Tee $32, Wolfpack, 1813 Elm St., Over-the-Rhine, shopthewolfpack.com Photo: Provided
Beez Board Game $40, Woodburn Games, 2803 Woodburn Ave., East Walnut Hills, woodburngames.com Photo: Provided
Dungeons & Dragons Notebooks $17, Woodburn Games, 2803 Woodburn Ave., East Walnut Hills, woodburngames.com Photo: Provided
Rechargeable Light Bulb $30, Paper Wings, 1207 Vine St., Over-the-Rhine, shoppaperwings.com Photo: Provided