With the season starting earlier than ever, please make sure to shop local and shop EARLY. And always be kind and patient as these small businesses (and really everyone in general) are just trying to do their best! Bonus if you’re done early – then you can just sit back and relax in December! 🙂
Enjoy my 2023 guide featuring Minnesota businesses. Make sure to peek through as I do have promo codes exclusively for you too!
Minnetonka
Always on my feet, I never go anywhere without my Minnetonkas! I am in love with their Home and Away collection as it has a style for every occasion and trip I go on. Plus they are all indoor/outdoor so I can zip in and out as I need to without changing shoes. I think I nearly have almost every pair in the collection, hehe. These are always one of my favorite gifts to receive and give. Mostly because cozy season lasts so long over here in Minnesota!
Shop at MinnetonkaMoccasin.com or follow them @Minnetonka on Instagram
Discount Code: Use Lizanne20 for 20% off + Free Shipping over $60
Dates Valid: Now – 12/31
North Road Knits
Winter is coming and what better way to keep toasty with a locally knitted piece! My friend Jamie founded North Road Knits in 2008 and makes these beautiful, handmade, one-of-a-kind knitted accessories in Grand Marais. About 5 years ago, Jamie took to knitting full-time, and began publishing her knitting patterns. If you’re in Cook County Minnesota you can find her knits in a few of the local shops, and in summer and fall you can visit her on weekends in the Co-op Parking Lot at The Saturday Market. You can tell her pieces are inspired by her life in Grand Marais. The lightweight hats are my favorite for year-round but her merino wool pom hats (pictured here) are perfect for the Minnesota winters (and come in AMAZING colors and patterns!)
Shop at northroadknits.com or follow at @northroadknits on Instagram
Discount Code: Use Lizanne10 for 10% off your entire order
Dates Valid: Now – 12/31
Northmade Co
Northmade Co is a small family-owned Minnesota Clothing Company with an adorable shop in St. Paul! Started by Brian and his wife Jamie, Brian works with local artists to make his visions come alive for Northmade products. All goods are designed and printed in the Twin Cities and I have to say their Minnesota designs absolutely nail it on the head. Their Purple & Gold collection is perfect for the wishful Vikings fans in your life (hey, this could be the year!) or my favorite is the city felt sweatshirts too! Pictured here is another personal favorite – their MN sauna tee 🙂
Shop at NorthMade.Co or follow at @northmadeco on Instagram
Discount Code: Use Lizanne15 for 15% off your entire order
Dates Valid: Now – 12/31
Soundwoven Goods
Soundwoven Goods is a brand new shop in South Minneapolis full of color and wonder. It offers a unique selection of gifts with an emphasis on color, form, and function. Opened by Sarah Lawrence just this past June, the shop’s selection of home and lifestyle goods are ethically sourced with an emphasis on inclusivity and diversity among artisans. You can tell the shop is inspired by her years of travel and time spent living in the Pacific Northwest, Morocco, and of course, Minnesota! Her current cold weather and holiday-inspired collections are just magical!
Shop at SoundwovenGoods.com or follow at @soundwovengoods on Instagram
Discount Code: Use SHOPSMALL10 for 10% off in-store and online!
Dates Valid: Now – 12/31
Barkuterie Box
Barkuterie Box is a small batch, chef-run kitchen dedicated to treating our best friends (the furry, four-legged ones) with French charcuterie-inspired dog biscuits! It’s charcuterie for dogs 🙂 Each product is created in their kitchen by professionally trained chefs and their whole foods biscuits are free from chemicals, fillers, preservatives, and artificial sweeteners, and coloring. You know you are getting the highest quality when you order as only a limited number of biscuits are baked fresh at the start of each week! From monthly subscriptions starting at $13 a month to every size of Barkuterie box, there’s definitely a fun treat for your Fido!
Shop at Barkuteriebox.com or follow at @Barkuterieboxes on Instagram
Discount Code: Use SANTAPAWS for 15% off $20+ or more plus FREE snack pack stocking stuffer
Dates Valid: Now – 12/31
Katie White Designs
Katie started making clay jewelry in 2022 while she was waiting at the Mayo Clinic for a heart transplant. After her transplant in May, she took her hobby and turned it official, as she began selling her earrings and coined it Katie White Designs! Making jewelry gave her a purpose and pushed her through her recovery. She realized that when she wasn’t feeling good, all she needed was a fun pair of earrings to make her feel better. A little more human. Katie makes jewelry because she wants to bring a little joy to other people and brighten their days just a bit. I have to say I get a little smile every time I see her new collections and I am so excited about her launch of bracelets this holiday season too!
Shop at KatieWhiteDesigns.Store or follow at @katiewhitedesigns15 on Instagram
Discount Code: Use Lizanne20 for 20% off your order
Dates Valid: Now – 12/31
Up North Coffee Co
Proudly roasted in Minnesota, Up North Coffee is on mission to make the best-tasting cup of coffee in The North, and encompass Minnesota’s great natural beauty while doing so. They also focus on ethically sourced coffee beans, sustainable packaging and business practices that limit environmental impact. Their holiday set pictured above is always a favorite of mine and they truly have the best Minnesota packaging if I do say so myself! 🙂 You can mix and match with the Holiday set too to pick JUST the right bag of coffee. Holiday sets go live shortly so keep an eye on their website so you can snag the 20% off!
Shop online at UpNorthCoffee.com or follow at @upnorthcoffeeco on Instagram
Discount Code: Use LIZANNE for 20% off your total purchase
Dates Valid: Now – 12/31
Jane Candle Co.
Jane Candle Co. is a BIPOC/AAPI mother + daughter duo creating luxuriously long-lasting clean burning candles for every season. With the highest quality ingredients, striking branding, and joyful intentions carefully curated by owner Macailah and her mom Angela. If you catch them at a pop this season, make sure to stop by and smell their goodies! They truly have the best scents that are just so pleasing to the nose. Plus who doesn’t love a good wood-wick candle?! 😉
Shop at JaneCandleCo.com or follow at @janecandleco on Instagram
Discount Code: Use JOLLYJANE for 20% off your entire order
Dates Valid: Now – 12/31
Grandma Skills
Shop at GrandmaSkills.com or follow at @grandmaskills on Instagram
Discount Code: Use Lizanne10 for 10% off your entire order
Dates Valid: Now – 12/31
Ukiyohi
Shop at Ukiyohi.com or follow at @ukiyohi on Instagram
Discount Code: Use LATELY for 20% off your entire order
Dates Valid: Now – 12/15
Urban Undercover
Inspired by everyday travel, Urban Undercover makes elevated basics that are versatile, sustainable, quality-designed, and just simply things you want to wear! Sairey, the founder, has the biggest love of travel and makes it evident in her brand She believes when you travel, you experience, explore, and expand yourself and grow as a person. Every day holds a new adventure and Urban Undercover is here to outfit you for your journey! She just launched her travel tee’s, making me want to hop on a plane and get away! From stowaway underwearables, to clothing and accessories, they have it all!
Shop at UrbanUndercover.com or follow at @urbandundercover on Instagram
Discount Code: Use Lizanne15 for 15% off your entire order
Dates Valid: Now – 12/15
HINDES
Handcrafted aromatherapy and skincare for all, HINDES was founded by Mo, a lover of nature with a compassionate and caring heart. Her passion for self-care routines and natural wellness inspired her to create HINDES after crafting her own body lotions and aromatherapy blends for years. After discovering the power of CBD, she connected with hemp growers and labs in Colorado to learn all she could and to harness it effectively. From body oil, room spray, roller blends, and face masks, HINDES offers luxurious self-care products, made locally with high-quality ingredients
Shop at ShopHindes.com or follow at @shophindes on Instagram
Discount Code: Use SANTASHIPPING for Free Shipping all season long!
Dates Valid: Now – 12/31
Wilder Woodshop
Shop at TheWilderWoodshop.com or follow at @thewilderwoodshop on Instagram
Discount Code: Use Lizanne for 10% off Cheese Slicers
Dates Valid: Now – 12/15
Onkka Prints
Shop at NanOnkka.com or follow at @onkka.prints on Instagram
Discount Code: Use Lizanne10 for 10% off your entire order
Dates Valid: Now – 12/14
Love From Minnesota
If you’re looking for the perfect gift for the Minnesota Lover or looking to send some Minnesota love out of state, Love from MN has such a great variety to spread the love! Women-owned and family-operated for over 45+ years, their mission is to provide their customers with an extraordinary travel convenience and gift shopping experience, to capture lasting memories that are reflective of the local culture and lifestyle of the area. Fun Fact – They even have some Chicago gear to keep spreading that Midwest cheer! Their black stealth sweatshirt is a current favorite!
Shop at LovefromMN.com or follow at @lovefrommn on Instagram
Discount Code: Use LIZANNE for 20% off apparel (only)
Dates Valid: Now – 12/31
Zero(ish) Co.
The Zero(ish) Co is a “zero waste” online shop offering sustainable tools and refills to help you lower your waste and carbon footprint. Their mission is to help people of any walk of life make more sustainable choices that fit within their means and lifestyle, regardless of whether it’s “perfectly” zero waste or eco-friendly. I love how approachable this company is because sometimes it truly is overwhelming on how or where to start your journey! Take a cue from the image above and make a little eco-friendly box that you can mix and match with a few items from the site to give your eco-conscious friend or maybe someone in your family has expressed interested in more eco friendly products!
Shop at Zeroishco.com or follow at @zeroishco on Instagram
Discount Code: Use ECOHOLIDAY for $10 off $50 or more
Dates Valid: Now – 12/31
Experiences
While I TRULY love a great local gift during the holidays, I also love gifting experiences, so I team up with some great businesses for promos to gift the adventure loving person or maybe for the person who already has everything 😉
Tofte Trails
Needing an escape to nature? Tofte Trails on Minnesota’s North Shore just recently opened this year and it’s an absolute dream and needs to be on your radar! Nestled on 17 acres, you are close to all of the north shore’s best adventures. The property consists of 5 luxury cabins built from 140-year-old reclaimed barn wood. Each cabin has a well-equipped kitchen, beautiful bathroom + tiled shower, gas fireplace, projector for late night movies, and even a private deck with your own personal solo stove too! For winter, each cabin also has a gear shed to store your ski or snowboard gear! It’s one minute from Highway 61 and under 10 mins from Tofte town. You are 10 mins to Lutsen for skiing and just 2 mins to Oberg and the Superior Hiking Trails! Take advantage of this exclusive promo of 10% off your stay with them and book a getaway this winter!
Book your stay with this unique offer here or follow at @toftetrails on Instagram
Promo Code: Use the link above with preloaded promo or lizanne10 at checkout for 10% off your stay
Dates Valid: Now – April 1st 2024
Miracle at Big Rock
Christmas Lives at Miracle at Big Rock! This year you can enjoy a walk-through or drive-through tour of over 17 million Christmas lights expanded over a mile-long trail, shop local artisans and vendors in the heated barn, visit with Santa, take a ride down the sledding hill, and enjoy a private family or corporate party in their Grinch’s Lair! The Grinch-themed Private space holds up to 20 of your favorite friends within the grounds of Miracle at Big Rock. One of the best views of the lights at Miracle, the massive tent is fully heated, has power to charge your phone, a private fire pit, and a private patio! Pre-purchased drinks and food will also be available. Save 10% off with the promo below!
The magic starts November 24th and goes through December 31st! Catch the drive-through nights on Mondays and Tuesdays nights and get $1 off your ticket with the promo below! Make the evening even more special with a private tent rental, like the Grinch’s Lair!
Book your experience and grab your tickets at MiracleatBigRock.com or follow at @miracleatbigrock on Instagram
Promos: Use LIZANNEDRIVE for $1 off Drive Through Night Tickets or Lizanne10 for 10% off Grinch’s Lair experience (Valid Wednesdays, Thursdays, Sundays)
Dates Valid: Now – 12/31
The Lumberjack
Instead of your typical holiday happy hour or gift exchange, release your inner Minnesotan with a night of AXE Throwing at The Lumberjack in Stillwater with you and your friends or family! They have an amazing new lunchbox addition to their menu with MN-based Eichtens Cheese + Kempston Farms Pepper Jelly to keep you fueled for a full night of fun! Not only do they have axe-throwing, but they also have a plethora of other games, shuffleboard, and outdoor games making it for a unique night out!
Shop gift cards or book your experiece at TheLumberjackMN.com or follow @lumberjackaxebar on Instagram
Discount Code: $20 Bonus card when you purchase a $100 gift card for the Lumberjack!
Dates Valid: 11/23-12/25
Let’s Dish
Shop savory dishes at Letsdish.com or follow at @letsdishmn on Instagram
Discount Code: Use Lizanne15 for $15 off $100 or more for pick up, delivery, or in-store
Dates Valid: Now – 1/31/24
Electric Trails
One of the coolest ways to experience the North Shore is with Electric Trails and their Super 73 E-bikes! We LOVED renting them this summer so much that we did it twice! We zipped all along the Gitchi Gami trail from Grand Marais to Cutface Creek and through Schroeder and Temperance State Park too! They offer 2-hour rentals with tour options available launching from Shroeder or Grand Marais. It’s great for people with limitations since it’s truly low impact and FULLY electric! Note: Renters mus be 18+. While this is seasonal and their shop is closed for 2023, they are giving me an EXCLUSIVE 20% off gift card purchases so you can gift the experience to your north shore lover on your list! The link below brings you directly to the booking site with the 20% off automatically applied.
Snag your North Shore E-Bike Experience here or follow at @electrictrails on Instagram
Promo Code: Use the link for 20% off Gift Card purchases
Dates Valid: Now – 12/31
Electric Shores
Captain your own ship as you cruise the serene waters on the purposely slow, easy-to-drive, all-electric boats from Electric Shores! Launching from Excelsior, these fully electric boats are easy-to-drive Duffy boats, making your summer outings that much cooler. The boats are intimate and fun for small groups, yet spacious enough for groups up to 12 people. Bring your own alcoholic or NA bevies on board, and all the snacks you want! They have a cooler on board and a built-in Bluetooth to blast the tunes. These boats will make their return spring of 2024 so gift the gift of easy and chill vibes to your favorite lake-loving friend or family member! They currently have a special for 20% off gift cards but use my code below for 25% off instead! 😉
Learn more at ElectricShores.Co or tap this link here to see your gift card options. Follow at @electric.shores on Instagram too!
Promo Code: Use for LizHoliday25% off gift card purchases for experience
Dates Valid: Now – 12/31
Simply Creative
Hailey opened Simply Creative, a local artisan gift shop & art workshop/class space in August 2023 with the goal of connecting people in our community through art and creativity. As art influences society and communities by challenging opinions, instilling values, and translating experiences across communities; Simply Creative strives to provide a space to do just that. I truly love the variety of classes they offer in their space and there is something to be said about getting out and making something with your hands! I’m excited to team up with Hailey for an exclusive promo on one of her most popular classes – the Stacker Ring Class! I have mine booked this month and can’t wait to share my experience with you!
Book your class at SimplyCreativeMN.com or follow at @simplycreativemn on Instagram
Discount Code: Use LOCALART for $15 off Stacker Ring Class!
Dates Valid: Now – 12/31
I hope you enjoyed my 2023 gift + experience guide and that this list sparked some ideas for gift-giving for a loved one or even yourself (I won’t tell!) or you even learned about a new Minnesota brand to keep your eye on! Even if you don’t have the means to purchase this season, you can support them in other ways, by giving them a like or follow on social media, or sharing their products with others!
Happy holidays, shop small, and may your gift-giving be filled with joy, warmth, and a touch of Minnesota magic!
xox,
Lizanne