The Best Places to Shop Small for Holiday Gifts in the Bay Area

For many Bay Area businesses, the last two years have been an exercise in resilience. But a quick stroll down popular commercial corridors like Haight, Valencia, or Divisadero Street in San Francisco will show that small businesses are alive and well. Beyond hanging tough, local entrepreneurs have continued to innovate by starting new ventures, launching new products, and giving back to their communities in big ways. This holiday season, here are some of our favorite places to shop small in San Francisco and across the Bay Area.

Rare Device 

Occupying a prominent storefront on the corner of San Francisco’s Divisadero and Hayes Streets for nearly a decade, Rare Device is a beloved purveyor of "beautiful things to hold in your hands," according to the shop’s website. When the previous owners were getting ready to sell the business in 2011, Giselle Gyalzen, Rare Device’s current owner, couldn’t bear the thought of her favorite shop shuttering. 

Jumping in to take the reins, Gyalzen lovingly built on Rare’s Device’s legacy. The shop owner curates an eclectic mix of curiosities for adults and children, from colorful home goods and hand-printed greeting cards, to unique toys and books for kids. This holiday season, gift the whimsical Cloud Mug by Bowl Cut Ceramics—made by San Francisco graphic designer Ricky Kwong, or a one-of-a-kind End of Day Lamp by Oakland-based Kerbi Urbanowski. To adorn your walls, check out the One Day at a Time Print from artist Lisa Congdon, part of Rare Device’s Holiday pop-up on display now, or snag a 2023 Risograph Calendar by Risotto to make sure your new year gets off to a colorful start.

These glass lamps are one-of-a-kind creations, designed by artist Kerbi Urbanowski and made by hand in her Oakland, California studio. Crafted from pieces of recycled scrap glass and mounted to a handmade wood base, the abstract colors and shapes make each lamp a delightful piece of functional art. 

Culk

Culk founder Sam Culkins got his start in 2011 by printing T-shirts in his garage and selling them on the streets of San Francisco. Today, the small business develops and prints an expansive array of design-driven apparel from a warehouse in San Francisco’s Mission District. From stylized versions of urban landmarks, to tongue-in-cheek throwback graphics, Culk products garner instant local recognition. "I like obsessing over ideas and projects," says Culkins. "Although I'm constantly getting burnt out, it feels good because both my business and my creativity are continuously evolving."  

This year, gift tees from the Friends of Culk collaboration, like the striking Kristina Micotti Blue Tiger Tee, or the perfectly cropped Jen Kindell Poppy Tee—both featuring original designs by Bay Area artists. For a Culk classic, pick up a super cozy Minimal Bridge Beanie—available in mustard, cream, grey, and black. 

This collaboration features a poppy graphic by Jen Kindell, who has been designing and printing nature-driven original art in San Francisco for 10 years. With a slightly cropped, flattering cut, the tee’s black background showcases Kindell’s simple, stylized take on the California state flower.

Earthen

For owner Julia Lemke, Earthen started as a side project. While working as a full-time graphic designer, Lemke began dabbling in ceramics and selling her handmade creations on the side in 2012. What started as a hobby became a full-fledged passion, with Earthen opening its Lower Haight location in 2018.

Lemke’s interest in ceramics can be traced back to a glaze chemistry class she took in college. "What I love about ceramics is the range—it’s part art, part science," she says. Earthen sells an array of ceramics and homewares by featured artists and makers, with a working ceramics studio in the back of the shop. Swing by the shop to snag the globally-inspired Everyday People Cuff from artist Yu Yu Shiratori, Village Lilac Blanket by Hillery Sproatt, or statement-making Kinetic Sculpture by Electric Sun Creatives. Sure to be a staple at any holiday table, the Salt Box + Spoon from Earthen is a practical keepsake with a delicate crackle glaze.

From San Francisco ceramicist Julia Lemke, this handmade ceramic vessel is designed to store Maldon Salt or your favorite spice blend in style. It features a unique crackle glaze which varies from piece to piece, and delicate teak spoon which nests inside—a perfect tabletop pairing.

Three Babes Bakeshop

Three Babes Bakeshop was established ten years ago by Lenore Estrada and two friends who shared a passion for baking and $10,000 raised on Kickstarter. "We decided to start a pie business because pie is a single product that we could master that’s also versatile—the filling is always the star!" says Estrada. From those humble beginnings, the business has grown into a thriving team of about 20 people.

Recently completing a long-awaited move from their Bayview commercial kitchen to a new space in San Francisco’s Mission District, Three Babes Bakeshop features a weekly rotating pie menu with no shortage of mouth-watering pie options, along with cookies, crumbles, and other sweet treats. This year, a new pie bundle—aptly named The Whole Shebang—will feature a trio of seasonal favorites to cover all the bases for your holiday feast. The shop also offers nationally-shippable pie kits, which pair with virtual classes so anyone can bake along at home.

Estrada is also the proud founder of SF New Deal, a nonprofit dedicated to helping small businesses persevere through the COVID-19 pandemic. Working for 18 months to assist other small business owners and workers, SF New Deal has distributed more than $30 million to small businesses in San Francisco. 

Mud Witch

Colorful, curvaceous, joyful, irreverent—these are just a few words to describe the eye-catching work of San Francisco ceramicist Viviana Matsuda, who was featured in this year’s Dwell 24. Matsuda started ceramics as therapy when their father, a potter, passed away. Soon getting hooked, Matsuda began experimenting with sculpting unconventional, unexpected forms, growing their business into what is now Mud Witch.

Designing mugs, bowls, and planters in a rainbow of colors, shapes, and sizes, the plethora of unique forms are each "beautiful in their diversity," says the designer—a message of inclusivity that underscores Mud Witch’s craft. Although pieces regularly sell out, a shop restock is planned for December 11, along with Build-a-Mug Gift Certificates for purchase. Gift certificate recipients may choose their mug’s shape and color and even customize the designs with a name.

Seek Collective

Carol Miltimore started Seek Collective in 2014 after a decade of working as a fashion designer for high-profile brands such as Calvin Klein, Converse, and Armani Exchange. "After working in the apparel industry for so long, I understood how exploitative it is on the people making clothing and textiles, as well as on the environment, so I was searching for a better method of producing in an honest, responsible, and transparent way," Miltimore says.

Initial solo trips to India for an artist residency gave Miltimore a deep appreciation for the country’s rich history of textile production and sparked curiosity about how she could enhance connections between art, product, consumers, process, and makers. Designed in Berkeley and produced by artisan partners across India, Seek Collective embraces the slow fashion movement with their carefully crafted and sustainably produced new wardrobe classics. 

The hand-printed Throw Pillow features Seek’s signature Dahlia Print in cocoa, a pattern which can also be gifted on the 4-piece Napkin Set. The zero-waste Sleep Set, a Seek favorite, is newly available this year in the Echo Print, with a bold blue and black colorway. The Monty Coat, made from recycled cotton, is an all-season staple perfect for layering on chilly winter days.

These 100% cotton napkins, hand block printed in India, feature Seek Collective’s Dahlia motif in cocoa and off-white. One of many zero-waste products from Seek, the napkins are made from fabric scraps from past capsules—bringing a sustainable touch to any table setting. 

Preserved

For the special someone on your list looking to start or level up on their fermentation craft, look no further than Preserved, a unique kitchen shop in Oakland that specializes in traditional preservation and fermentation methods, from pickling to canning and kombucha brewing.

Owner Elizabeth Vecchiarelli brings 15 years of experience with local, sustainable, and handmade food to Preserved. Passionate about the health benefits of traditionally preserved foods, Elizabeth now shares her knowledge with the community while honoring ancient preservation traditions. The Fermenting Vegetables Starter Kit, Fruity Tea Towels, and handmade Smock Apron are just a few giftable finds among Preserved’s vast array of tools, supplies, kits, books, and cooking accessories.

With an airtight glass jar, ceramic pickle weight, storage cork, sea salt, and a handy recipe booklet, this impossibly convenient bundle will have you ready to experiment with healthy ferments at home.

Morningtide

Morningtide, a curated lifestyle shop in the East Bay, was started by friends and multihyphenate creatives Lisa Wong Jackson and Lisa Fontaine in 2017. Fontaine is a clothing designer and ceramicist, while Wong Jackson owns and runs stationery company Good on Paper. Morningtide’s Albany storefront features a delightful array of new and gently used fashions, ceramics, jewelry, kids’ gifts, and sustainable homewares by independent designers.

"Inspired by our Northern California upbringings, we are excited to be able to support our local artisans, ethical production practices, and provide high quality products made from natural materials," says Wong Jackson. The shop’s thoughtfully curated holiday gift guides, from Stocking Stuffers to gifts for the Self-Care Obsessed, will make tackling this season’s holiday checklist a breeze. Other giftable standouts include the handmade Large Serving Bowls by Mendocino-based ceramicist Colleen Hennessey, 100% Alpaca Micaela Greg Beanies, and eco-friendly Large Oak Paddle Board—perfect for entertaining.

Perfect for gathering and serving, this oak paddle board features a unique circular shape and rich natural grain pattern. Sustainably crafted from a single piece of wood, each handmade board is a durable and unique keepsake that will grow more beautiful with time. 

Aggregate Supply

Andrew Soernsen and Mark Morris started Aggregate Supply by way of their clothing business Turk+Taylor, which was born shortly after the two met working at a restaurant in San Francisco’s Castro District. The duo—both with art degrees—began designing graphic tees, as well as modern, tailored pieces for men and women. Aggregate Supply started in 2012 as the concept shop for their existing brand. When Soernsen and Morris couldn’t keep up with demand, they slowly started incorporating other pieces from brands like Levi’s and Pendleton to round out the shop.

Today, Aggregate Supply is an eclectic lifestyle boutique with a sharply curated range of unique and colorful offerings, including men’s and women’s apparel ("Stacks and stacks of denim," says Soernsen), plus local pottery, barware, apothecary picks, pantry selections, and more—a true one-stop shopping destination. Aggregate Supply is located in San Francisco’s Mission District, with the newest location on Chestnut Street in the Marina District. 

The Fredericks & Mae Confetti Cutting Board & Cheese Knife Set is a fun and colorfully joyful set for holiday entertaining, while deliciously-scented Flamingo Estate Garden Essentials Candles are sure to complete the festive ambiance. For wardrobe statement pieces and eye-catching accessories, peruse the Henrik Vibskov Drop Coat in Vintage Rose Pink or the vibrant COMME des GARÇONS Neon Wallet.

In eye-popping electric hues, this wallet features a minimal profile, zipped up in a vibrant checkerboard of orange and green leather. Injecting fluorescent fun into daily essentials, the collection also includes an equally vivid mini coin case, and folding card holder.

Sarah Kersten Studio

Oakland’s Sarah Kersten started her ceramics business in 2012 at age 25, running a true one-woman show with just a pottery wheel. Over the past nine years, she’s grown the business and added eight employees so the studio can produce ceramics at a larger scale than would have been possible for Kersten alone.

Handcrafting functional pottery for the kitchen, Kersten’s pieces are meant to be held, used, and enjoyed. "At the end of the day, my favorite part is when my customers tell me that they use my pottery every day in their home," she says. "Nothing beats that feeling. It means so much to me." 

This holiday season, snag a Small Fermentation Jar from Sarah Kersten Studio—or, even better, gift it along with your Preserved Fermentation Kit—or stuff a lucky stocking with the perfectly petite Mise en Place Ramekin Set. New this year, the Medium Oval Platter is a dining and entertaining workhorse that is perfect for serving meals or displaying fruit—at the holidays and year round.

Nesting together in a sweetly compact set that fits in the palm of your hand, this ceramic ramekin trio is as beautiful as it is versatile. Use the petite vessels as mise en place bowls while cooking, or put them on your nightstand for jewelry—either way, it won’t be hard to find a home for these multi-use treasures. 

Stuff

A wonderland of vintage and modern treasures, Stuff is an expansive 17,000-square-foot antique collective that has been a cherished part of San Francisco’s Mission District for over a decade. From the can’t-miss orange facade to the disco ball in the bathroom, Stuff offers up vintage delights with a heavy dose of pure fun.

Started by vintage enthusiasts William Lenker and James Spinello in 2011, Stuff brings together more than 60 dealers and an ever-changing inventory of one-of-a-kind finds, from Eames chairs, to colorful Pyrex bowls and 1960s Dorothy Thorpe glasses (perfect for holiday cocktails). Satiate your treasure-hunting itch without leaving the city, and cross a few gifts off your list in the process.

Acacia

Finding herself unfulfilled in her career as a lawyer, a bold pivot led Acacia founder Lily Chau to move from New York to San Francisco, where she opened her Mission District boutique shortly thereafter. "It began as an exploration and experiment," says Chau. "I had zero experience with retail, design, or owning a business." Today, Acacia is filled with carefully considered, functional goods for the home, with an emphasis on clean lines and earthy materials.

In sourcing for Acacia, Chau gravitates towards independent makers and smaller brands, choosing handmade products that are designed to last. "I so enjoy discovering and bringing these beautiful, useful, wonderfully designed things together, even if they’re the most ordinary and prosaic of household items," she says. 

For thoughtful gifts to spark holiday joy, check out the ultra-portable &Tradition Setago Lamp, or the smoked glass Essential Small Tumbler from Hawkins New York—a beautifully casual option for wine or cocktails. Cozy picks like the Baby Alpaca Throw and Hibi Incense Matches are sure to help you amp up the holiday hygge this season.

A combination of the words "Seta"—Spanish for mushroom—and "go," this charming mushroom lamp from is a portable delight. Compact and modern, the rechargeable LED lamp can be used indoors or out, and the lightweight design allows it to be moved with ease.

post.script.

For post.script. founder Chandler Tang, owning a small business in San Francisco is in her blood. Born and raised in San Francisco, Tang comes from a family who ran a laundry service, restaurant, bookstore—and more—all in the city. "Running post.script. is a tribute to them," she says.

 Coming from the corporate retail and beauty world, Tang had past stints at Levi’s and Sephora before realizing she wanted to start a store of her own in her hometown. Opening the doors of post.script. in San Francisco’s Pacific Heights in 2019, the bright and cheerful shop features an eclectic mix of stationery, home goods, and accessories. "I look for colorful, fun, offbeat, playful, and unique items that inspire joy," Tang says. "We celebrate design and show that design can be fun."

This holiday season, delight your near and dear with the simple and sustainable Hanaduri Hanji Notebook in Blue Square, beautifully minimal Fruitsuper Spoon Rest, or quirky Poketo Thinking Cap. A collaboration with Carissa Potter of People I've Loved, the Let Yourself Heal print is a post.script. exclusive, with a portion of the proceeds benefiting the Asian Mental Health Collective.

Equally appealing to the design lover and the clutter-averse, this striking spoon rest just might become the most beautiful thing on your kitchen countertop. Available in white marble or black soapstone, the minimal triangular monolith effortlessly elevates your spoon with a design that’s deceptively simple—and even a little bit mesmerizing. 

Looking for something else? Let our gift guides lead the way. 

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