The Nugget’s guide to shopping local this holiday season
When Santa and Mrs. Claus arrive in the window at Maruskiya’s, the gift shop on Front Street, Andrew James knows one of his busiest seasons is about to begin. The store has been owned by his family for decades, so the holidays are a nostalgic time for James and his customers, some of whom have been regulars for 30 or 40 years.
“It’s nice to see people coming in during the festive holiday season and to visit with people in our shop,” James said.
Many Nomeites will be scrambling to buy gifts for their loved ones in the next few weeks.
And while Amazon deals might call to some consumers, Nomeites can spread holiday cheer in the community by supporting local businesses.
Shoppers who buy their gifts locally aren’t just making thoughtful purchases for their friends and family—they’re investing in the livelihoods of their neighbors and helping keep money in the community.
“We’re asking people to keep their dollars in Alaska because it really helps grow our communities, it benefits our workers by sending more dollars into their pockets and it really just also adds to the character and vibrancy of our state, which is something that we want to really promote as well,” said Katie Nave, who manages the BuyAlaska program for UAA’s Alaska Small Business Development Center.
To assess the impact of shopping locally vs. non-locally in Alaska, the group commissioned a study in 2021 from UAA’s Center for Economic Development. The analysis found that 63 percent of a purchase from a local business stays and circulates in the state, compared to just 22 percent of a purchase from a non-local business.
“In other words, $1 spent at a local business has almost three times the impact of $1 spent on a non-local business,” Nave said. “This is really important, because the money that’s spent in our local economy recirculates and grows.”
Businesses like Maruskiya’s and Naataq Gear, a more recent addition to Front Street, buy Alaska Native art from local craftspeople, helping support families in the region. Beyond stocking shelves with locally made retail, Alaska business owners are also more likely to use local supply chain and local service providers, Nave explained, and they’re more likely to collaborate on new and innovative opportunities for local entrepreneurship. There’s actually a name for this phenomenon: the local multiplier effect.
“It’s really important every year, and especially around the holidays, to shop in our local businesses,” said executive director of the Nome Chamber of Commerce Paul Kosto. “They have inventory problems, they have supply chain problems just like everybody else in the world, but they’re struggling through that to make sure that the citizens of Nome have the ability to buy goods and services, whether that be Christmas presents or food or materials for making stuff around Christmas time.”
Brick-and-mortar shops in Nome these days have to compete with Amazon and other online retailers.
In the last few years, the City of Nome has been able to collect its 5 percent sales tax from Amazon purchases. So the city’s tax revenues— which help pay for municipal functions like road maintenance and policing—aren’t as affected by online shopping as they used to be, Kosto said.
Kosto said he’s noticed that several local businesses over the last few years have tried to figure out how to offer something online businesses can’t: easy returns and resolutions to problems, especially for big items like appliances and electronics.
The Chamber of Commerce bought a TV for the Nome Visitors Center from BestBuy in Anchorage, Kosto said. When it arrived broken, months passed before the issue was fully resolved. When the group had a similar issue with a TV from Nome Outfitters, the problem was resolved that day.
“By the time you deal with shipping and time and other inconveniences, it really comes about out to be about the exact same cost in Nome as when you’re purchasing from outside,” Kosto said.
Beyond convenience and good service, local businesses offer local jobs and serve as meeting places for the community—assets that are hard to put a price tag on.
“They’re hiring locals, they’re hiring our kids that are getting out of high school, or are even still in high school, giving them their first opportunities for an income and maybe even getting them on career paths,” Kosto said.
BuyAlaska has an online gift guide featuring 45 businesses—including Naataq Gear—across the state, and The Nome Nugget has some more suggestions:
Pingo Bakery and Seafood House:
Owner and chef Erica Pryzmont shows that local shopping it’s just important—it’s also delicious. Pryzmont creates a holiday menu during December and early January. She bakes special goods, including cranberry orange cinnamon rolls, only available two weeks out of the year. Gift cards are available for purchase. Traveling out of Nome for the holidays? Pingo merch, hand-carved wooden spoons and ice fishing sticks made by Pryzmont’s husband Phillip are available.
Bering Air:
Many other iconic local businesses around Nome offer merch, including Bering Air. The aviation nut in your life might appreciate a Bering Air-branded hoodie, water bottle, cap, beanie, shirt or buff. And there’s always the option to gift Bering Air Gold Points for future flights.
Nome Arts Council:
The Nome Arts Council calendar is a gift that sticks around for the whole year. Showcasing photos submitted by local photographers, the $20 calendar is a great snapshot of Nome to share with those near and far. All funds support the arts in
Nome. It’s available for purchase at Maruskiya’s, Naataq Gear and Trinh’s Floral and Coffee Shop, or it can be ordered by email at nomeartscouncil@gmail.com and shipped by USPS.
Maruskiya’s
Customers of Maruskiya’s will find a robust collection of ivory figures, earrings, whalebone carvings and other Alaska Native artwork. Andrew James said the shop is sourcing pieces year-round from artisans in Nome, Gambell, Savoonga, Shishmaref and other villages across the region.
“It really spreads money around
the region in a way that’s really impactful and important for both our business and for the artists and their families that we work with,” James said.
The shop stocks Nome-themed Tshirts and other items that also make popular gifts for customers who are shipping or bringing items to relatives outside of region.
Naataq Gear Gift Shop:
Alice Bioff, the owner and proprietor of Naataq Gear Gift Shop, said supporting local businesses in Nome
also supports the people who make Indigenous art, which preserves language, culture and traditions.
The shop sells the work of over 20 artists, along with the kuspuk-inspired clothing of the Naataq Gear brand Bioff started. Gift cards to the shop are available, but Bioff said the most popular gifts for the holiday season are earrings or anything made with sealskin.
Sew Far North:
Sarah Savage, sales associate at Sew Far North, said shopping local helps support the community.
“A lot of small businesses shop through us or crafters who sell their work throughout the community,” Savage said.
This time of year, fabric and supplies are popular purchases as many customers are making kuspuks and parkas for presents, Savage said. Gift cards are also available and make a great gift for a crafter.
Tundra Delights:
“Local business owners work really hard and put everything into their business,” Tundra Delights owner Billi Jean Miller said, “I think they know what the community wants and how to best fit their needs.”
Through Tundra Delights’ community-financed elder fund, over $3,000 worth of elders’ drinks have been paid for. Gift cards to the shop are available and a great way to spread the love during the holidays.
Nome Animal House:
Non-profits around Nome have offerings for holiday shoppers who want the money they spend on presents to go toward a good cause. The Nome Animal House, for example, is hosting a “Cups for Pups” initiative for the newly formed non-profit Tigaraha Pet Resources. The organization sells handmade ceramic mugs, cups upcycled from glass bottles, mason jar koozies and fused glass pendant necklaces. Prices range from $15-$40 and proceeds go toward Tigaraha’s spay-and-neuter fund. This year, the Animal House is also selling Christmas trees as part of the fundraiser.
“It’s crazy how hard it is to get 50 trees to Nome, Alaska,” said Ashley Vaughn, a vet tech and assistant manager at the Animal House.
Beyond the fundraiser, the shop has lots of Christmas-themed toys and treats that would make good gifts for pets.
“We see a lot of people coming in to shop for their dogs and their pets—they’re part of their family, too,” Vaughn said.
Nome Kennel Club:
Mushing is an iconic part of Nome’s history. Shop local and represent the “world’s oldest dog mushing organization,” the Nome Kennel
Club. The organization has sweatshirts, t-shirts, long sleeve shirts, patches and stickers available for order at nomekennelclub@gmail.com