With holidays just around the corner, Startup Tucson would love to encourage you to support local entrepreneurs as you do your holiday shopping and plan your parties this year. Below is a list of some of the awesome gift/party ideas from Startup Tucson members and partners.
Guide Categories
Household Goods
CERO's team sells ethically made, zero-waste, and vegan products online and at their local shop. It's a great place to find something for that eco-conscious family member since they also proudly carrying over a dozen local businesses and makers.
The Company Eco team makes gifts that are carefully curated by local Tucsonans for everyday people. Check out their custom engraved kitchen sets!
La Luna specializes in handmade concrete home decor & accessories. Checkered vases, disco ball planters and unique warm green coasters, need we say more!
Alex creates CUSTOM dream furniture that has the ability to transform your space. Using a collaborative development process, he can build you something truly unique to wow that special person.
Spring & Vine creates small-batch, handmade goods inspired by the nature and landscape of the beautiful Sonoran Desert. Want to go beyond a gift? Their team also offers backyard clay workshops.
Fashion & Accessories
Alexa at Adela Artisan sells handmade clothing and accessories inspired in the culture and tradition of Mexico with all of their products are made by Mexican indigenous artisans. You can find her bags at The Monica.
Accessories for the colorful bold woman on the inside. Also available for browsing at Proper Shops!
Bralessly is a woman-owned small business sewing clothing with care in Tucson, Arizona. Their ‘no bra’ products are eco-friendly and sustainable. Check out their super comfy shirts and more. Erica and her team also run Sonoran Stitch Factory and support tons of other local entrepreneurs.
The FRAQTALS system is the most innovative manual screen-printing press in the industry. Check out the Fraqtals shop for one-of-a-kind tshirts, hats, rugs and more. Their team is also the Main Stage winner of IdeaFunding 2022!
Jenna is an Artist, and designer based in Tucson. Her store celebrates Tucson through beautiful products such as bandanas, cards, and prints.
This desert inspired jewelry is sure to wow the copper queen in your family. Using metal clay to capture the intricacies of the little lives that can easily be overlooked, these pieces are unique and sure to please.
The most festive of our recommendations, Eva makes beautiful and unique Santa hats from the highest quality materials and sometimes the unexpected materials. A perfect edition to any winter wardrobe for years to come.
Points Jewelry is a small, Latina-owned and operated business with delicate jewelry meant to embody an appreciation for the breathtaking and satisfying beauty found in the most simple of shapes.
A long time Startup Tucson fave, Sigfus creates fun and whimsical pieces to bring joy into your life. We are constantly inspired by the new designs Lauren creates, including now three rounds of special TENWEST earrings. Seriously EVERYTIME we wear her earrings we get asked where they are from, safe to say we're obsessed :) Check out her new household goods as well!
Our family's shared love of all things western led to the creation of The Punchy Boutique and its selection of children's western wear and women's apparel. C'mon in and visit whether it's virtually or find us with our mobile trailer at an event near you!
Looking for timeless western shirts and workwear? Look no further! West Major’s mission is to build a perennial American brand in the Southwest that makes the highest quality, U.S.A. made, western shirts and workwear in the country.
Art & Photography
Galeria Mitotera is a space to celebrate Chicanx culture, uplift artists of color in the community and create a safe space for community members and artists to inspire one another through art and togetherness. Their online store offers art, jewelry and more.
Arte y Cultura, celebrates heritage and culture through beautiful art. The etsy store includes beautiful ornaments and wine glasses.
Martha Retallick is a Tucson-based documentary photographer and journalist. Drawn to documentation projects that feature people in action or flora and fauna, her website features prints for sale and her book, City Nature, is available for purchase. Startup Tucson is also a big fan of her newsletter!
Wellness & Beauty
Higher Vibrations offered alternative and holistic health service natural medicinal, spiritual and herbal solutions. Their site sells therapeutic oils, tea and sea moss blends.
CBD products for you and your pet!
Serene Essentials sells vegan skincare, soy candles & other amazing essentials for self care & serenity.
Kids & Games
Welcome to the world of Berry Cultured, where they teach kids to live whimsically, love extravagantly and dream boldly! Winner of IdeaFunding 2023, their family of products are a work of passion, from plushes, pillows, costumes and more, Berry Cultured offers wonder and play while also connecting kids with culture, positivity, and love.
Billight is a patent-pending pool table lighting and gaming system. It is the first of its kind to combine twenty-first century technology and the classic game of pool. Features include Call Your Shot, brand new games, scoreboard, and party modes. Billight will light your pool table into a spectacle!
Julie creates unique desert art using acrylic on canvas. Her work is available in prints and as greeting cards or as our favorite -- Desert Dwellers Flash Cards! Great gifts for kiddos here in Arizona or afar and very easy to mail!
Think chemistry is boring and hard? Think again! The M.C. Detective Agency series of chemistry comic books are filled with colorful characters and exciting storylines that translate complex chemistry into comic books. These imaginative comics have turned the Periodic Table into a playground of chemical adventure, and have allowed elementary school students to master chemistry concepts often taught at the college level. A perfect gift for early eager learners ages 8+.
Magic Portal Books combines virtual reality and your cell phone or tablet to teleport you along an educational journey!
Meet the Math Squad! Page a Day Math provides award-winning Addition, Subtraction, Multiplication, and Division practice that helps children remember essential math basics so they can understand and answer math problems easily and confidently! There are also GAMES!
Why & Wiser's makes artful games & gifts for clever kiddos & their grown-ups. They are all completely original designs, full of bright and colors and unique art created by up-and-coming artists and designers. Our favorite is the Prickly Pairs card game -- like Go Fish but instead you send someone to "Take a Hike" -- instant crowd pleaser!
Food & Beverages
If you’re looking to give the perfect gift for the foodie in your life, or are hosting family or friends during the holidays, relax and let some of these entrepreneurs help you with your entertaining!
Celebrate Tucson’s unique flavors and status as a UNESCO City of Gastronomy with SoAZMade, the best gift guide for local food. With everything from desserts, to fine wine, to tortillas and hot sauce, SoAzMade is the best place to find the perfect (and delicious!) gift for the foodie in your life!
Beautiful boards, boxes, and more for special occasions. Check out options and order through Instagram.
Ready to give protein shakes a try? Syd provides freshly homemade plant-based protein shakes made with nutritious ingredients that support your health goals, especially on the go.
Unique Gifts
Gaia provides creates hemp-based health and wellness treats for pets of all sizes. Check out their wellness chewables for all your furry friends.
Spencer's Shroomery is a great local source for all things mushrooms. They offer high-quality organic grain spawn, substrates, and tools for mushroom cultivators of all skill levels. Grow your own!
Give the gift of photography! Tucson Headshot creates beautiful portraits and personally styled photo sessions. Delivering convenience, a high standard of work, and a signature process that takes the work out of your hands.
Experiences
Another Startup Tucson fan favorite, the Arizona Wine Tours team makes a day down to Arizona wine country one to remember. We've been... three times!
A Culinary Inheritance brings healthy, creative recipes and meals to fellow Tucsonans. With in-home personal chef services, culinary consulting, and special events, Jenna, the founder and chef of A Culinary Inheritance answers the question of “what’s for dinner?”
Fria is a Tucson-based ice cream truck serving up your childhood faves, paletas y más! Available to book for parties and corporate events.
Looking to shake things up? Bond with family and friends? Have something new and interesting to do this holiday season? Check out Fox in a Box Tucson for the best rated escape room in town!
A little bit of everything!
Still looking? Check out Why I Love Where I Live's curated collection of local goods and products that will make you feel connected to Tucson. We never leave with only one thing!
Located in the heart of downtown Tucson, Proper Shops is a collective of local merchants and artists featuring the best products inside their social lounge atmosphere.
Happy Holiday shopping and thank you for supporting local entrepreneurs!
--The Startup Tucson Team