2024 SMALL BUSINESS

GIFT GUIDE

Group of women practicing Pilates on reformer machines in a fitness studio, with one woman leading and standing near the machines.
Six crocheted winter hats with fur pom-poms, in different colors including blue, multicolor, black, red, green, and pink, arranged in a row on a white surface.
A smiling woman with blonde hair, wearing a coral shirt and floral pants, sitting on a light-colored sofa. She is holding a fan of color swatches in her right hand. On the coffee table in front of her are a white mug, a small green succulent plant, a woven basket, and additional color swatches. The background features white curtains and a bright, airy room.

SHOP SMALL FIRST.

Shopping small is close to most of our hearts, but the convenience of big box stores is a tempting allure.

It’s not that we can’t shop from big box stores (it would be nearly impossible not to).

Instead, we encourage shopping small first.

Our 2024 Small Business Gift Guide includes a mix of products, services, and stores where you can shop in-person. Use this guide to find gifts your favorite people will love before you turn to big box stores!

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Close-up of an adult hand handing a small essential oil roller bottle labeled 'ALLYVIAN BOTANICA' to a child's hand in a home setting.
Clothes hanging on a wooden rack, featuring patterned and solid colored shirts and pajamas suitable for children.

How to Shop the Small Business Gift Guide

How to Use This Guide: Bookmark this page so you can come back anytime. Included with each business is a button to leave this page and shop directly on the small business’s website.

Please note there are no affiliate links of any kind in this guide. Every dollar you spend with a small business owner in this guide goes straight back to the owner. This Gift Guide is a way for us here at Founding Females® to centralize small business shopping and walk in our mission to support female entrepreneurs.

The 2024 Small Business Gift Guide is organized into three categories: Online Retail, Services, and Shop In-Person. Some businesses fit into more than one category.

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When you see this symbol, you’ll know you can shop for products online. Purchase soon to allow ample time for shipping!

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When you see this symbol, you’ll know you can purchase gift cards or packages for a future service.

Outline of a small storefront with a striped awning, door, and window, with the text 'SHOP IN-PERSON' below.

When you see this symbol, you’ll know you can pop into this small business and shop in-person.

Meet 30 of Our Favorite Small Businesses…

Two women holding teeth whitening tools in a bright room, smiling at each other, with a neon sign in the background. One woman is wearing a pink shirt, and the other is wearing a light pink uniform.
Outline illustration of a person with a heart on their chest and three stars above their head.
Outline of a small shop with striped awning, door, and window, labeled 'Shop In-Person'.

Renewed Radiance

At Renewed Radiance, we offer anti-aging treatments, laser services, microneedling, body contouring, facials, and peels. We also carry a great selection of skincare products.

We have a certified laster technician and licensed esthetician and can help you achieve your anti-aging goals.

Visit us in person at 101 S Main St, Morton, IL 61550.

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KM Jewelry Design

At KM Jewelry Design, the individual is the inspiration for each jewelry work of art! That’s right, not gemstones or diamonds or gold or texture, but the individual wearer! Each client enjoys a very personalized jewelry design experience that leaves them feeling encouraged about who they are, where they’ve been, and where they are going.

Each extraordinary jewelry piece is specially tailored to each individual’s story and reminds them to stay true to themselves or signifies a special occasion in their lives.

One-of-a-kind jewelry about YOU. For YOU.

Child's hand coloring a fabric puppet of a cartoon girl with purple braided hair and a heart shape on her chest.
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Kiboo Kids Interactive Toys

Color, Play, Wash, Repeat! Kiboo Kids creates interactive plush toys designed to engage little artists. Kids personalize their Kiboo toys with our colorful markers any way they want.

When complete, they can throw their toys in the washing machine and start all over again! (and grownups love that it's a quiet toy. No assembly or batteries needed!)

A woman in a pink sweater and black pants standing in a gift shop, smiling at the camera, surrounded by holiday decorations, plants, and display shelves.
Outline of a small shop with an awning and a window, with the text 'Shop In-Person' beneath it.

The Wink House

The Wink House is Peoria's one-stop shop featuring over 50 local small businesses under one roof.

We provide unique gifts, clothing, home decor, and a large selection of healthy wellness products.

Shop in-person at 3605 W Willow Knolls Dr, Peoria, IL 61614.

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Lion Concierge Physical Therapy Services, PLLC

In Home Fitness Enhancement Services for people wanting a licensed physical therapist to monitor their form, response to exercise, and special attention to clients' goals.

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Upgraded MindsetZ

Upgraded MindsetZ Coaching and Cosulting offers inspirational collections designed to empower you on your journey toward self love and purpose fulfillment.

Our products are thoughtfully designed to keep you motivated and help you continue to thrive and succeed through life!

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Pretendly

Pretendly is our local Family-Run Neurodiverse Kid Art Shop online and in the community aiming to "Spread the Friendly with Pretendly"!

We share unique clothing, accessories, and gifts designed from our young daughters' original art.

Shop in-person at The Peoria Riverfront Museum in Peoria, IL, and The Picket Fence Foundation in Chillicothe, IL.

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House of Colour Normal

It is our mission to help our clients build a lasting, easy to manage, sustainable wardrobe that not only looks great and provides confidence, but also represents each client's authentic self though color and style analysis.

Book your color or style appointment today!

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Always Flourishing Photography by Hannah Knight

Always Flourishing Photography creates scroll-stopping professional branding and headshot photos that make showing up online easy and allow your brand to flourish.

Always Flourishing Photography is owned by Hannah Knight, an Illinois-based branding photography & senior photographer and photography mentor.

Row of brown paper bags with dog treats labeled Bear's Bites, displaying different flavors and dog pictures.
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Bear’s Bites

Bear's Bites is a single ingredient pet treat and whole dog food company helping people help their pets live their healthiest life.

Bear’s Bites products are organic and contain no additives and no preservatives. Our products are proudly made in the US.

Close-up of a person's wrist wearing two gold bracelets, one with colorful gemstones and the other with a pearl, and a gold heart-shaped charm.
Outline of a small store or shop with an awning and a window, labeled "Shop In-Person."

Infinite by Katie Permanent Jewelry

Infinite by Katie specializes in custom permanent jewelry, offering timeless, personalized pieces made with high-quality 14k solid gold, 14k gold-filled and sterling silver.

Our jewelry is designed to celebrate life’s meaningful moments, creating an unforgettable experience for every customer.

Book your permanent jewelry appointment by tapping the button below.

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Outline of a small storefront with a door and window, striped awning on top, labeled 'Shop In-Person'.

Anastasia Lindsey (Author & Poet)

I am a local author who sells paperback and hardcover books, along with writing prompt card decks for fellow writers and aspiring writers looking to journal.

I also have custom poetry packages to help those create special, unique, and meaningful gifts for special occasions!

OCEAN is also available to shop in person in several Barnes & Noble locations.

A Pilates class in a studio with three women lying on reformer machines, the instructor standing nearby, demonstrating exercises.
Line drawing of a small shop with an awning and a window, labeled 'Shop In-Person'.
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Willow Lane Yoga & Wellness

Willow Lane is a movement studio that offers yoga, Pilates, reformer Pilates, EXO chair, Fuse Ladder and Melt classes.

We offer small group classes, private and semi private sessions. There is something for everyBODY!

Visit in-person at 7800 N Sommer St # 204, Peoria, IL 61615.

Top-down view of a person undergoing a hair treatment or dyeing process, with their long, wet hair illuminated by blue light, while lying on a treatment table under a hair steamer or UV light.
Outline of a small store with a striped awning, door, window, and a sign that says 'Shop In-Person'.
Outline of a person with a heart on the chest and three stars above the head

The Skyn Nook Headspa

Glow your own way with scalp facials. At The Skyn Nook, we believe in turning up the natural beauty already inside you and celebrating what makes you YOU. No rules. No gimmicks. No barbie dolls. Just real talk and raw, balanced beauty – inside and out.

We want you to glow as you! This is the place where you can breathe deep, sip something sweet, and do something REALLY good for yourself.

Visit in-person at 112 Landmark Drive, Normal, IL, 61761.

Person sitting on the floor surrounded by color swatches, paint tubes, brushes, and a tray with jewelry, holding a floral-themed art print with the quote "Be still and know that I am God."
Line drawing of a small store with a striped awning, a door, and a window, labeled 'Shop In-Person'.
Outline of a person with three stars above their head and a heart on their chest.

Humble Hands

Humble Hands offers watercolor stationery, custom engraved gifts, watercolor kits, and personalized items.

Visit in-person at The Wink House (3605 W Willow Knolls Dr, Peoria, IL 61614).

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Line drawing of a small shop with an awning, door, and window, labeled 'SHOP IN-PERSON'

Love + Lavender Children’s Boutique

Love + Lavender is a Central Illinois children's boutique. We carry high-quality clothing size newborn through 10. We also offer baby and children's gifts and accessories.

Shop online by tapping the button below or in person at 4544 N. Prospect Rd in Peoria Heights, Illinois.

Woman with curly blonde hair sitting on a cream-colored sofa, holding a white mug, smiling, wearing a pink sweater and dark jeans, in a bright living room with a large green plant in the background.
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Katie Travis Consulting

Katie Travis Consulting is your Career Pivot Expert and Resume Boss.

Services include: Professional Resume Design, LinkedIn Optimization, Career Pivot like a Boss program, Nail Your Interview Digital Guide, and E-gift Cards.

A jar of Daisy Kings whipped body lotion in vanilla latte scent and a tube of Lip Balm Vanilla Latte resting on a folded cloth bag, on a soft surface.
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Daisy Kings Non-Toxic Tallow Products

At Daisy Kings we handcraft locally sourced tallow into clean, non-toxic skincare products.

Our products are made with minimal ingredients while delivering quality skincare with real benefits.

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Mama Made Tee’s, Home Products, and Accessories

Mama Made offers cute, cozy graphic tees, relatable accessories, and the best smelling handmade home products.

Here, you can count on tees ☻ home products ☻ accessories ✿ central Illinois ✿ handmade.

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Lettering Works

Lettering Works offers custom branding packages, courses for artists, and artfully-crafted merchandise (think fun stickers and postcards)—all with the mission to bring more creativity into our community and beyond.

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Alevan Botanica

Alevan Botanica is a holistic wellness company rooted in Ayurveda and aromatherapy; our organic essential oil and herbal products are designed for you to feel your best in mind, body and space.

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Vitality Physical Therapy & Wellness

Vitality Physical Therapy & Wellness provides mobile physical therapy services for those recovering from injury or illness with focus on a holistic approach.

Mobile wellness visits are for those looking for guidance on strength training, nutrition, and stress management in their current season of life.

Collection of knitted winter hats with fluffy white pom-poms, in various colors including blue, gray, black, red, green, and pink.
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grayhouse creations

I crochet modern crochet home goods and cozy winter wear. All pieces are handmade by me, Lesley, in Central Illinois.

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Admiral Landings Designs

Admiral Landings Designs sells custom and one-of-a-kind handcrafted lampshades, using beautiful, yet unconventional upholstery grade fabrics and trims.

Four colorful Christmas ornaments with wooden designs and strings, decorated with holiday motifs such as a mug, Christmas tree, snowflakes, and stockings, on a green surface.
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Happy Krab Creations

We offer custom and personalized wooden creations. This Christmas season, we are specializing in personalized family ornaments.

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T candles

T candles offers an on-site pour bar for your event or party!

We will guide you in creating your signature candle by helping you with wicking, picking your fragrance out, and more.

This is a non-structured setting that will allow you and your guests to continue to mix and mingle.

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Ashlee Sang Consulting LLC

Using everything from high-touch consulting to DIY conscious marketing templates, I guide multi-passionate, overthinking business owners through their values-aligned brand messaging and decision-making so they can connect with the real people who need what they have.

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Devoted Caregivers

At Devoted Caregivers, we understand the importance of receiving high-quality care in the comfort and familiarity of your own home.

Located in Decatur, IL, our dedicated team is committed to enhancing the quality of life for our clients through compassionate and personalized home care services.

We specialize in memory care and fall risk management, ensuring that each individual receives the attention and support they need.

A woman holding a book titled 'Dream Build Grow' with a leopard print design on the cover. The book is about starting a business, written by Francie Hinrichsen, MBA. The woman is wearing a black jacket and has white painted nails.
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Dream, Build, Grow: A Female’s Step-by-Step Guide for How to Start a Business

Know someone dreaming about starting a business in 2025? ‘Dream, Build, Grow’ is the female’s go-to guide for starting a business.

This interactive guide provides realistic, achievable, and step-by-step coaching to start a new business.

The book walks women through important steps like clarifying a business idea, researching, setting up processes, and marketing and business plans, all the way to launching and scaling a business.

Click the button to purchase a copy or shop in-person at The Wink House in Peoria, IL and Muse in Morton, IL.

About Founding Females®

Founding Females® helps women take the best next step in entrepreneurship.

Whether you’re just getting started or looking scale your business, we’re here to guide you.

We’re actively supporting women with the following resources:

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Let’s make it easy to shop small.

Want to be included in Founding Females® 2024 Small Business Gift Guide? Complete the form below. The deadline to complete the form is November 26.