SHOP SMALL & GIVE BIG
These groups, stores make it easy to buy local for the holidays
On the heels of Black Friday comes Small Business Saturday — but for some groups and stores in Pittsburgh, supporting local brands is part of their mission year-round.
If you’re looking to switch up your holiday shopping from the big box stores, here are some places, websites and pop-ups to check out.
MONMADE
It’s one thing to come up with a great idea. It’s another to turn it into a viable business.
MONMADE is a trade group developed by social impact investor Bridgeway Capital’s Craft Business Accelerator that helps Pittsburgh-bred brands grow strategically and effectively. For some, that means fine-tuning their marketing, or developing a sustainable financial model. For others, it’s about making connections with manufacturers or buyers, in Pittsburgh and beyond.
The best candidates are producers that have a quality concept and some momentum behind their work, says director Adam Kenney. From there, MONMADE helps them build a professional profile for its website (monmade.org), which showcases about 40 producers. Another 40 are in various stages of preparing to be added to the website. Eventually, MONMADE would like to draft a multimonth curriculum that more established producers can progress through.
Beyond exposure and education, MONMADE is about being a champion for entrepreneurs.
“It allows the maker to focus on making and business development of an individual company, while you have someone else out there advocating,” says Nisha Blackwell, founder of Knotzland artisan bowties made from salvaged fabrics. The three-year-old company is part of the trade group.
Shop her designs and more at the Penn Styled pop-up shop series, running from noon to 6 p.m. Saturday and Dec. 2, 9 and 16 at the Trusst Lingerie showroom (5125 Penn Ave., Garfield). MONMADE also has a chalet at the People’s Gas Holiday Market in Market Square where people can shop some of the brands it supports. From Dec. 1 through Feb. 18, about 30 of its producers will be on display at the Pittsburgh Glass Center in Garfield for the “Interiors with Impact” exhibition. The public can learn more at a free opening event from 6 to 9 p.m. Dec. 8. RSVP at interiorswithimpact.eventbrite.com.
love, Pittsburgh shop
Housed in the former Mount Washington Community Development Corp. building on Shiloh Street, love, Pittsburgh exclusively stocks brands and goods by Pittsburgh-based producers, including candles, clothing, art work, mugs, ornaments, greeting cards, jewelry, chocolates and more.
“We realized there wasn’t a place that was pulling both local makers and artists into one gift shop, specifically in Mount Washington,” says Kelly Sanders, the creator of the too many sparkles line of notebooks, cards and art pieces crafted from upcycled vintage fabrics. She opened love, Pittsburgh in July with Monica Yope, who owns Pop Craft (pop-up crafting workshops for adults).
Both frequent events such as Handmade Arcade and Neighborhood Flea, so they used those networks to curate the boutique’s budding inventory — which is up to about 60 brands now. For the holidays, they’ve packaged some of them into Pittsburgh gift boxes. They range from the “Pittsburgh Crush” box
($22) with notebooks, stickers, a pencil and a Plant Lady Wannabe crocheted cactus to the “Pittsburgh Infatuation” box ($80) with a tea towel, candle, coasters and more. Can’t make it into the store? Browse the online shop at lovepittsburghshop.com.
The shop will be rolling out special promotions for Black Friday, Small Business Saturday and Cyber Monday. On Dec. 6, there will be a gift party on site with Pop Craft from 5 to 7 p.m. Follow love, Pittsburgh on Instagram (@lovepittsburghshop) or sign up for the store’s newsletter on its website for more holiday announcements.
Information: 301 Shiloh St., Mount Washington. Hours: noon to 5 p.m. Sundays through Wednesdays and 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. Thursdays through Saturdays. Contact: 412-208-1234.
Shop the Burgh
As the year winds down, holiday markets across Pittsburgh pick up. But what about those who can’t make it out to them? Or brands that operate mainly, or only, online?
That’s where Shop the Burgh comes in. The Instagram (@ShopTheBurgh) aims to bring together Etsy stores by Pittsburgh-based brands and artisans. It also groups similar brands into themed Pinterest boards that include photos with links to where people can purchase the pictured items online. These boards are promoted through the Shop the Burgh Instagram account. For the holidays, it’s curated a gift guide with nearly 100 options from locally owned or made brands.
Kelly Aiken — a London transplant who moved here a year and a half ago — came up with the concept this fall. She, too, manages an online store through Etsy.com for her business TinyKeaCo, a line of handmade bags, scarves and home decor.
So far, 38 artists have gotten involved, including pottery makers, woodworkers, jewelry designers and artisanal soap makers. In addition to her approaching brands, they’re already reaching out to her or using the #ShopTheBurgh hashtag in their own Instagram posts to get her attention.
“It’s growing quite organically,” she says.
Beyond making it more convenient to shop locally online, Ms. Aiken hopes the endeavorpagehelps connect shoppers with the people behind the products.
“When you shop small, you’re supporting a dream,” she says. “That kind of personal touch I like.”
The Direction Pittsburgh
The Direction is a retail chain with stores across the Midwest,but no two locations are alike. That’s because each carries apparel, accessories and lifestyle selections by brandsunique to that city.
In Pittsburgh, The Direction has set up shop inside Ross Park Mall on the upper level near Sears. There you might find a petite pierogieshaped pillow or a unisex tee with “Pittsburgh Wins More Than All of Yinz” in bold gold letters. Along with pieces by Pittsburgh brands, The Direction has its own line of clothing that’s tailored to the spirit ofeach city it operates in.
Seasonal items will be added to the mix, like stainless steel ornaments with cutouts of Pittsburgh landmarks by Audra Azoury Gifts. Keep up with new arrivals by following the store’s Instagram page @TheDirectionPGH), or visit www.shopthedirection.com/store/c51/pennsylvania.
Regular hours: 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. Mondays through Saturdays, and 11 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Sundays. On Thanksgiving, mall hours are 6 p.m. to 1 a.m. Friday. Black Friday shopping will continue from 6 a.m. to 9 p.m. There also will be extended hours on Saturday from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. Information: 412-837-8789.