Supporting Small Business: Thanks, Tom!

‘Small Business Saturday’ is this coming weekend. Yet, on Vashon, EVERY DAY is a small business day. Your on-island purchases support your friends and neighbors. Buying local right now, helps to get our beloved businesses through the cold, dark, low-traffic winter.

Have you seen Tom Conway’s gift idea post on the ‘Vashon for All’ Facebook group? Not only did he raise the bar for recognizing our small business buddies this Holiday season, but he also invited the community / business owners to add to the list.

We reached out to Tom and got his approval to share his list. Some may not be on Facebook. Some may have lost the link to this phenomenal post. Here’s a copy/paste of his post from Monday, November 25, 2024. Make sure to click the link to support Tom’s post and see what new gift ideas have been added. (note that Tom states ‘101’ in the intro below, but there were already three more ideas by the time I copied the post.)

PS…. for more small business connections year round, make sure to bookmark our Chamber Member Directory.

THE BIG VASHON GIFT IDEA LIST (<— click to go to Tom’s Facebook post in ‘Vashon for All’)

101 items/suggestions at current count!

One way of thanking our Vashon Businesses and hard-working island Creatives is to buy local. I thought it would be fun and handy to start a list of local gifts and services you could give to support our island businesses. PLEASE ADD to LIST in the comments below. And I'll update the list each time:

  1. Vashon Theatre movie passes

  2. Ice cream tokens for Island Queen

  3. Giraffe gift certificate (great gourmet seasoning/spices)

  4. Little Bird Gardens or Kathy's Corner gift certificate

  5. Coffee card to local hotspots: Caffe Vino Olio or The Vashon Island Coffee Roasterie

  6. Snapdragon Gift Certificate

  7. The Ruby Brink (make a gift basket from their amazing ready-to-go foods)

  8. Swiftwater Gallery Group, original local art.

  9. Flower subscription from Herban Bloom

  10. Shaving soap from Refill Vashon

  11. Shop the VIVA Artists Studio Tour Dec. 7-8, 14-15, https://vivartists.com/viva/events/holiday-tour-2024/

  12. Shop the Jingle Bash (Nov 30) organizer @Ilovevashon

  13. Pandora's box, for 4-legged, finned and feathered friends.

  14. Beautiful goat milk soap from Stella Maris Farm

  15. Create a gift basket of teas from Anu Ranu (next door to Herban Bloom)

  16. The Country Store and Farm has lots of great gifts!

  17. Books and calendars at the Vashon Bookshop!

  18. Local farmstand goodies and treats. Map here: https://www.vigavashon.org/farm-stand-map

  19. Dragon’s Head Cider Uptown: gift cards, bottles of cider, and gifting a membership to their Cider Club.

  20. Vashon Made - formerly SAW (by Cafe Luna) representing many Island artists and craftspeople.

  21. Donations on behalf of: VIPP, Haven, Dove Project, Vashon Food Bank, VYFS, Senior Center, VIGA, Journeyman, Women Hold the Key...

  22. Gift certificate for a premium hot towel shave from C’Mon Barber! "Get Spiffy, Stay Classy" is their motto!

  23. Gift card or delicious seasonal offerings (branded fruit cake, peppermint bark, or fudge) from Vashon Island Baking Company.

  24. Lin's Vegan Soap: https://www.linsvegansoap.com/

  25. Yumminess from Green Butterfly WalkUp Cafe & Juice

  26. Kronos has fantastic gifts and lots of stocking stuffers.

  27. The Pharmacy has 'Vashon' merchandise, kitchen gifts, and so much more!

  28. Don't forget Burton's Spiceberry Home for great gifts.

  29. Glass Bottle Creamery: Gift card (good for arcade tokens or ice cream).

  30. Vashon Nails gift certificate.

  31. Burton Coffee Stand gift certificate/coffee card.

  32. Easy Shoelaces make a great stocking stuffer, owned by vashon islander: https://easytieshoelaces.com/product/easy-tie-shoelaces/

  33. Wellness. A session or more with a local healer.

  34. The cutest vintage & pre-loved clothing shop located upstairs in The Country Store.

  35. Vashon Sugar Shack: King Caramels, Gift Cards, Holiday Cheesecakes, and Fruit Shrubs.

  36. Nordic Store across from the Library

  37. Luna Bella’s Consignment Boutique: A gift certificate for your favorite fashionista!

  38. Snapdragon Bakery and Cafe will offer boxes of pastries for holiday breakfasts with loved ones !

  39. Gift Cards from Ace Hardware.

  40. Libations: Wine from Palouse Winery and Maury Island Winery and Wine Shop Vashon. Also cider and perry from Nashi Orchards and Dragonshead. Nashi also makes non-alcoholic cider and perry, a luxurious treat for friends who don't drink alcohol.

  41. Gift card to Pop Pop Bottle Shop for teriyaki dinner or a subscription to wine club!

  42. "Vashon Calling" CD's - local Vashon musicians on all four editions! https://www.vashonevents.org/support-us/vashoncallingalbum

  43. Camp Colvos gift card, or a 4-pack: Beer or non-alcoholic Hop Water

  44. 10 pass swims at the County pool next to Vashon High School

  45. There is an art show "Under Current" MidMod Vashon on Dec 14th and 15th on that will have a variety of creative stuff from on and off island. contact Joel Colvos

  46. Gift cards for drinks/coffee at AJ's Espresso!

  47. Granny's Attic gift cards!

  48. Made In Paradise Rockworks stone lamps & vases. Obsidian wind chimes, leather keyring and jewelry. At Swiftwater Gallery, jingle bash and VIVA Studio Tour #42 with 6 other artists, fund raiser for the senior center.

  49. Donate to IFCH (Interfaith Council to Prevent Homelessness) They help a lot of people. https://ifchvashon.org/

  50. Charlene Fowler: Desk calendars, for more info email chararts129@gmail.com.

  51. Donate to VIGA’s Food Access Partnership

  52. Massage therapists gift certificates. (Christina Pappas)

  53. Give a Strategic Planning session with Signature Photo Organizing to help the family picture keeper get started organizing their photos? I am local to the island and make house calls Www.SignaturePhotoOrganizing.com

  54. Vashon Center for the Arts: Donating to the Kay Circle in their name. Buy art from the miniatures show, and don't forget the 2025 season has performances that will be off the charts! Give tickets for the experience and build your community!

  55. I know Kronos has already been mentioned, but they also have gift certificates & the largest selection of orname is this island has to offer. They try & not get the Christmas stuff out until the day after Thanksgiving, but I hear they may be starting to put out the ornaments due to demand!!!

  56. Vashon grown and crafted lavender wands

  57. One of a kind glass creations by Glass On Vashon

  58. Bonus on Granny's gift cards on Granny's one week starting today. $50 becomes $55 ...$100 becomes $110

  59. Local arts at VALISE Gallery and Studio Tour

  60. Gift certificate for CFM carpet cleaning.

  61. Raven’s Nest Gift Certificate for apparel, jewelry and art.

  62. Made In Paradise Rockworks stone lamps & vases. Obsidian wind chimes, leather keyring and jewelry. At Swiftwater Gallery, jingle bash and VIVA Studio Tour #42 with 6 other artists, fund raiser for the senior center.

  63. Cafe Luna Gift Certificates/card

  64. Luna Bella's is the Best store!! EvERY time i go in there I find somethings AmaZing.

  65. Gift Certificates to Sea Change Tattoo Parlor

  66. Gift certificate for a takeaway dinner and dessert from Sugar Shack!

  67. Coffee subscription from Pollard Coffee (PollardCoffee.com), wine from Pollardperse.com, wine from Andrewwill.com

  68. Gator Lanphear has Vashon island Croc Charms. $5 each.

  69. Agnes & Chloe Vintage upstairs @ the Country Store. Amazing clothes, curated and beautiful!

  70. For the most beautiful jewelry from local islander Lisa Witherspoon at L Witherspoon Jewel Box...https://www.facebook.com/lwitherspoonjewelbox...

  71. Tarot Card readings, I have gift certificates for Tarot Readings ($65) and Custom Spell Jars Sessions ($25) from Hearthwitchery. DM or email rachelle.corvidae@gmail.com to place an order.

  72. Dog Grooming gift certificate: Wet Whiskers!

  73. JINGLE BASH - Local vendors and major holiday fun, Saturday November 30. https://www.facebook.com/events/566114212417648/

  74. The VIVA Holiday Tour, Saturdays & Sundays, December 7-8 & 14-15, from 10 am - 4 pm, includes 44 studios and galleries representing over 150 artists. https://www.facebook.com/events/1626035634654187

  75. Ace Hardware has a good selection of art supplies.

  76. Mike Urban’s Vashon Estate Sales and Artpothecary have everything from bits and bobs to books and furniture and jewelry. A fun treasure hunt!

  77. Nashi Orchards is offering “holiday treat boxes” with house-made crackers, pork rillettes, brown-sugar shortbread, spiced nuts and, of course, NA Perry with cranberry syrup for mocktails and cocktails. Stop by the tasting room if you are interested.

  78. Mostly Nordic: a wonderful shop in village next to the Lodges. https://www.mostlynordic.com/pages/visit-us

  79. Handmade on Vashon! https://handmadeonvashon.com for a wide variety of island artists creations always online & on the Viva Studio Tours (studio #44) Free local pick-up too!

  80. Gift certificates for cooking classes to Leslie Mackie’s Project Barn Storm.

  81. H.A. + Co: A wonderful shop in Burton filled with special treasures.

  82. Women Hold the Key: What about a donation to help support women's community through nonprofit https://womenholdthekey.com/

  83. Fernhorn Bakery and Breads! Get them at Jingle Bash and selected farmstands.https://fernhornbakery.com/

  84. Harbor Mercantile Gift Certificate in Burton

  85. Give someone you love the gift of Vashon Senior Center membership ($35), a 10-lunch card ($55 - that’s $5.50 for the best lunch on Vashon), or make a donation on their behalf. Anyone ANY AGE can be a member, come for lunch, or join in most activities (over 20+ each week). The Senior Center also provides rides, chore help, lunch deliveries to the homebound, check-in calls and more for Vashon folk age 55 and over. (Yes, FIFTY-five… that’s nearly 1/2 the population of Vashon. That’s probably you!) https://www.vashoncenter.org/contribute

  86. Herban Bloom downtown for great gifts and flowers and gift certificates for fresh flowers.

  87. Spiceberry in Burton is a great gift destination: https://www.instagram.com/spiceberryhome/

  88. Airlift Northwest subscription, a life-saving gift: https://www.uwmedicine.org/airliftnw

  89. Gift certificate membership to Vashon Athletic Club: https://www.vashonathleticclub.com/

  90. Flash Oracles for anyone on your list, anywhere. Unique, profound, no shopping, shipping, or wrapping. Order any quantity, drop me their emails and names, and I do the rest. https://www.susanlynchshamanicservices.com/

  91. Gift certificates for Treasure Island, home of the island of treasures! I'm personally selling my whole record collection through there crate-by-crate, but Marci and other resellers have a cornucopia of goodies in stock....

  92. Gift Certificate Vashon Nails & Spa.

  93. Brooke Gassiot: Here’s my small business with calendars, greeting cards and stickers Ferrykiss.com

  94. Gift certificates to Vashon Theatre include tickets to Best of Seattle International Comedy Competition night of stand-up comedy with 2023 winner competition winner and two other comedians at 7:30 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 28. Perfect stocking stuffer!

  95. Laura Daughenbaugh I don't have a selling spot on island but I am at the Pike Place Market on Sundays til the end of the year. I have stickhorses. You can also connect through my website. www.imjusthorsinaround.com

  96. Vashon Events has a page dedicated to shopping on Vashon: https://www.vashonevents.org/shoppingonvashon

  97. Check out all the shops in Vashon Village: https://www.vashonvillage.com/tenants

  98. One the island's most talented artists and creative minds, Mike Leavitt is having an online art sale. Amazing things at https://www.mikeleavittart.com/

  99. Karie Olson Sherman offers pet portraits and can make gift certificates to give to friends or family! www.Karieshermanart.com

  100. Leo here - my massage practice is open Mon-Thu on Vashon: modmassageseattle.com. Over 10 years experience, both in relaxation-style work and effective treatment work for chronic pain, injuries, etc. LGBTQIA+ affirming, body positive, covid-cautious space.

  101. How about the gift that keeps on giving - a subscription to Vashon Island's very own local newspaper, The Vashon-Maury Island Beachcomber! https://www.vashonbeachcomber.com/

  102. Give CasaBonita gift cards & spicy salsa! https://www.casabonitavashon.com/

  103. Studio V: Studio V is a fanciful jewel hidden right in the heart of downtown Vashon, filled to the brim with unique surprises. It's a collective sewing workshop that features artisan clothing by Sally Shivers, hand dyed finery by Dorothy Dunnicliff, and unique handbags, embellished jackets and ponchos by Roxy Hathaway and Nancy Scott Wienker. 17600 Vashon Highway SW, Ste B-150, right next to Refill Vashon on the back deck.

  104. The Golden Afternoon (behind Herban Bloom). Thoughtfully Sourced Clothing • Footwear • Jewelry and Art https://www.instagram.com/golden_afternoon_shop/

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