7 Gift Ideas when shopping local at Small Businesses in Ripon, CA

As a small business owner, I know how much time and effort it takes to run a small business.  With Small Business Saturday and the holidays coming up I would like to encourage you to shop local.  I encourage you to see what treasures you can find from these amazing small businesses we have right here in Ripon and in the Central Valley.  Let's Shop Small and Support Local Small Businesses as much as we can so they can keep their doors open and support their families.

We have so many amazing small businesses to shop at right here in Ripon, that it is so hard to just choose a few.While I am highlighting a few favorites,  I encourage you to check out the Ripon Chamber of Commerce business listing and their social media pages on facebook and instagram as they share promotions from local businesses.

1)  Gift Certificate to Studio Joy Pilates

Studio Joy offers an amazing product line, as well as pilates classes for every level from beginner classes to more challenging classes.

I love their calm scented items from their candles to their room spray.  They also offer soft, comfy lounge and fitness wear that is a perfect gift.

Their pilates classes are great for working out your body with smooth movements that help your body and every class ends with a relaxation time that helps all of the stresses of life just slip away.  This is the perfect place to get a gift.

2) Home Decor

If you haven't been to The Shoppe, located back near Ripon High School on Pine Street, then you must go check it out.  They have everything from Christmas decor, to fun signs, jewelry, candles from Jessie Messy, as well as, travel mugs and so much more.

If you haven't shopped around Ripon we have some other fun boutiques from Main Street Floral, to Magpie Antiques, to the new clothing boutique at Faux Glow.

So take an afternoon to check out these fun shops and buy some gifts from our local small businesses.

3) Gift Card to a local restaurant or coffeehouse

We have some amazing restaurants here in Ripon. There is no way I can choose just one, but I will mention a few. I love Primo's for their delicious Mexican food and margarita's. The Vine House is a great place for a girl's night out or a fun date night.  Brothers 209 has amazing burger's and salads. My kids love their chicken nuggets.

I love our coffeehouses in Ripon.  They each carry items that are my favorite. Ripon Coffeehouse has blended frappuccinos that are the best in the Central Valley and Austin's Coffee Crafters has the Alma Mater drink and the best turkey bacon sandwich ever.

4) Spa Gift Certificate

We have some amazing spa locations right in Ripon.  From Natural Path Wellness Center and also Sanctuary Spa and Skin.

If you need a gift for someone that needs some extra pampering, this would be the perfect gift.

These businesses also carry gift items, skin care, candles, etc.  So stop in and get a gift certificate and check out all of the fun gift items they sell.

5) Gift Ideas for the Kids

Shopping local for toys and items for the kids can get tricky.  Some local ideas are the Ripon Fun Factory and House of Cars which carry toys and collectables. All kids love shoes and Stride Rite in Modesto is locally owned. (and their Uggs for kids and adults are pretty amazing too!)

Raggamuffin in Modesto is a great place to shop for little ones.

Usborn Books make great gifts and my kids have loved Usborn since they were little.  Check out Darla's website here and she's local in Ripon.

We like to get our kids something that is an experience.  A few ideas locally are Boomers in Modesto, The Chartreuse Muse Art Gallery in Modesto and Happy Artists Create located in Escalon.

6) Local Farms and Home Businesses have some great handmade gift ideas.

Our local flower farms are offering beautiful wreaths and floral arrangements.  As well as, some dried arrangements.  You can find Dutch Roots Farms products online, at their road side stand, and at Klean Eatz Market.

Klean Eatz Market has amazing homemade breads, pies, jams, and honey.  Everything is made from scratch and many of their ingredients are from local farmers.

Also check out Jayme Lee's Home Sweet Wreaths.  They are stunning and she delivers them right to your home.  Each one is custom made and can be used again every year.

7) Photography:

This year, I believe, has taught us how important our family is to us.  Yes, there are days where we may have felt we have spent too much time with them, but for the most part I hear that people have enjoyed how life has slowed down a bit and they've really been able to focus on what is important to them.

Photography captures these moments in time and allows us to look back and remember those days.  So while we may not want to remember the bad stuff of Covid, family photos allows you to remember the people you love most in this world and the good times you've had together. So a gift certificate for a portrait session is a gift that lasts a lifetime.

Contact me if you'd like a beautifully wrapped gift certificate for a future photo session.

Here is a link to our Ripon Chamber of Commerce that lists the businesses who are members of the chamber.

Follow the Ripon Chamber on Instagram as they share all of the promotions from local businesses, so you can make a list of places you'd like to go shop at or purchase gift cards from to hand out as gifts this year.

Our small businesses have been hit the hardest this year.  So let's continue to show them our support so they can keep their doors open. Amazon, Walmart and Target or other big box stores do not need any more support as they have exploded in revenue this year.  It's the small businesses who support local families that we need to focus on this year.  Let's show them what they mean to us.

May you and your family have a wonderful time together during this holiday season.