Written by 2020 Midwest Shop Local Gift Guide
Thank you for using EntryPoint’s 2020 Midwest Shop Local Gift Guide! We at EntryPoint created this guide to help you support small local businesses in the Midwest by providing you with information about these companies and the products they would like to promote as gift ideas – all in one place. On this page, you will find information about gifts under $100 that are created and sold by small businesses in the Midwest. If you’re looking for gifts in this price range, start here!
Watch the special holiday edition of our weekly livestream series The Cackle to learn more about these companies’ stories, products and services, and what gifts they can offer you ahead of the 2020 holiday season!
For gifts in other price ranges, like gifts under $50, check out the other categories in the guide!
SHOP GIFTS UNDER $100
Art of the Table • Grand Rapids, Michigan
Art of the Table is a specialty retail store owned by Amy Ruis and located in Grand Rapids, MI. The business focuses on tabletop accessories, gourmet food, and beverages. They are an excellent source for gift giving, as they create custom gift baskets for any occasion or person, ranging from gifts for the board room, the closest of friends, new babies, and the bereaved. The Art of the Table staff is also knowledgeable in pairing wines/beers/cocktails with foods, as well as picking out placemats for the table and wares for the kitchen.
Ash & Erie • Detroit, Michigan
Jeans, Sweatshirts, Shirts, and More – $58
Ash & Erie is a clothing company led by CEO Steven Mazur and located in Detroit, MI. Ash & Erie is the first major brand for shorter men. Their premium clothes are designed exclusively for men 5’8″ and below.
Bags to Butterflies • Detroit, Michigan
Bags to Butterflies is a social enterprise founded by Michelle Smart and located in Detroit, MI. The company empowers formerly-incarcerated women with transitional employment, resources, and a caring network. They are taking an innovative approach to create jobs using a common women’s accessory: a handbag. Their handbags are one-of-a-kind and created using repurposed wood. Bags and Butterflies selected this material to demonstrate how something (or someone) can be transformed into something new and beautiful, and their employees are shown how that same transformation can take place in their lives with commitment and dedication on their part.
Battle Brothers Shaving Co. • Grand Rapids, Michigan
Battle Brothers Shaving Co. is a personal care company that is led by Owner and CEO Andrew Weiss and is located in Grand Rapids, MI. This company creates shaving utensils inspired by the military values of brotherhood, service, and quality. Their MkII Razor is made from the same aluminum as the Black Hawk helicopter, making it light and nimble, and giving users the finesse to cut down every hair that stands in the way of their best shave.
Cadence Baby • Ann Arbor, Michigan
Cadence Baby is retail company that is led by CEO Lindsey Thompson and located in Ann Arbor, MI. The company creates babywearing slings that allow parents to easily and practically keep babies close to them, as many babies are more content and cry less when making physical contact with their parents. All of their products are OEKO-TEX 100 certified, which means that every aspect of our products are tested for harmful substances. Cadence Baby’s designs also include key details such as extra fabric to fit most body types and added length in the shoulder pad for additional comfort. These designs help keep babies both comfortably and safely close to their parents. The company has a mission to support new parents and babies, and aims to help parents enjoy the messy but joyful rhythm of life that comes with new additions to the family.
Empowerment Plan • Detroit, Michigan
Empower Detroit Unisex Black Crew Neck – $60
Empowerment Plan is a social enterprise that is led by Founder and CEO Veronika Scott, and is located in Detroit, MI. Empowerment Plan produces a durable and innovative coat that transforms into a sleeping bag. The company aims to provide employment opportunities to the homeless and to ensure that each person they hire is able to earn a stable income, find secure housing, and regain their independence.
Feeling Fused • Cleveland Heights, Ohio
Feeling Fused is an art company led by artist Missy Perlic and located in Cleveland Heights, OH. Feeling Fused offers fused glass art pieces ranging from fun and frivolous to pretty and practical. Perlic is fascinated by the play of light on glass, and she is continually looking for ways to maximize that effect. Many of the items offered by Feeling Fused include bits of dichroic glass, iridescent glass, metal inclusions, and crystal beads to add sparkle and shine. Each piece of artwork is handmade and unique, and Feeling Fused has an item for everyone to bring beauty and light into their life.
Genusee • Flint, Michigan
The Roeper – Blue Light Filter Glasses – $99
Genusee is an eyewear company led by Founder and Owner Ali Rose VanOverbeke and located in Flint, MI. Genusee crafts eyewear from recycled plastic water bottles as a response to the impact of the Flint Water Crisis. The company’s mission is to create jobs while turning the surplus of plastic waste caused by the man-made water crisis into closed loop products. Genusee aims to upcycle single use plastic into products that have more value and purpose, and are able to upcycle 15 water bottles with every purchase.
Healthy Roots Dolls • Detroit, Michigan
Healthy Roots Dolls: Zoe – $79.99
Healthy Roots Dolls is a toy company founded by Yelitsa Jean-Charles and located in Detroit, MI. The company creates dolls and storybooks that empower young girls and represent the beauty of our diversity. They go beyond just painting a doll brown. They create an educational play experience with curl care.
Holland Bowl Mill • Holland, Michigan
The Holland Bowl Mill is a retail and manufacturing company led by Dave Gier and Kory Gier and is located in Holland, MI. This company is now the best and largest solid wood bowl production facility in the world, making beautiful solid hardwood bowls of the highest quality, the same way they were made over 150 years ago. A variety of colors and grain patterns give testimony to the uniqueness of each bowl, no two are exactly alike. They take great pride in bringing this beauty to all their customers. Functional and decorative our wood bowls are keepsakes that will last for generations.
McPherson Local • Saline, Michigan
McPherson Local is a retail company owned by Jennifer McPherson and located in Saline, MI. The store is located in a historic former library and all of its products are made in Michigan. They are home to over 130 Michigan artists/makers/farmers/bakers and small businesses representing 36 Michigan cities. Their mission is to bring back the idea of shopping small, supporting community members, and being a safe space general store for everyone.
Mike The Hatter • Cleveland, Ohio
Mike the Hatter is a retail hat shop owned by Stephanie Travers and George Anastaskis, and has locations in Cleveland and Broadview Heights, OH. The shop was established in 1937 by the Anastasakis Family and remains family-owned and operated. Mike the Hatter offers one of the largest selections of hats and caps in the country, featuring feature men’s, women’s, and kids hats as well as custom hats for weddings and special events. They also provide on-site repairs and cleaning services.
Original Moxie • Ypsilanti, Michigan
Original Moxie is a personal care company that is led by Founder and CEO Rachel Blistein, and is located in Ypsilanti, MI. The company offers a full line of comprehensive, diagnostic hair care, including shampoos, conditioners, moisturizers, definers, sealers, and treatments. Each of these products is crafted using formulas created by Blistein herself. Original Moxie’s flagship store also functions as a full-service salon, where they offer in-depth haircare consultations, product and styling demos, professional treatments, and texture-positive cutting. They also provide professional education for stylists who share Original Moxie’s passion for healthy hair, natural ingredients, and beautiful, precision cuts.
realLINGUA • Ann Arbor, Michigan
realLINGUA is an educational service led by CEO Keith Phillips and located in Ann Arbor, MI. The service is a language-learning platform that helps students learn a second language just like their first. Using authentic native-speaker conversations, it eliminates the need to memorize a dictionary’s worth of vocabulary or regurgitate grammatical rules ad nauseam when trying to learn another language. Its immersive foreign language-learning delivered via a patent-pending approach in a self-directed learning app. Rooted in descriptive linguistics and implicit learning, realLINGUA exposes the language-learner to high-frequency language from actual native-speaker conversations as it is really used in everyday dialogue – unscripted, in-context, at-speed – making their approach as close to the way humans naturally learn language as possible! realLINGUA pairs that content exposure with “linguistic mirroring” practices through memorization, retention, and pronunciation activities.
Simply: Health Coaching • Ann Arbor, Michigan
Simply: Health Coaching is a personal care service that led by Coach and Chief Officer Liza Baker and is located in Ann Arbor, MI while maintaining a virtual presence as well. The company provides Integrative Nutrition® health coaching services to hardworking women in the mission-driven/nonprofit sector with the issue of helping under-resourced, overwhelmed, and overworked women promote their own health and wellness.
TAIT Design Co. • Detroit, Michigan
TAIT Design Co. is an independent product design studio that is owned by Matthew Tait and Audrey Elkus and is located in Detroit, MI. The studio specializes in thoughtful and timeless homewares and toys for people of all ages. All of their products are made from 100% USA-sourced materials and are assembled by hand in Detroit. From hand screen printed balsa model airplane kits to stunning wall clocks, their entire line makes for great holiday gifts.
The Guild of Artists and Artisans + The Gutman Gallery • Ann Arbor, Michigan
Artwork From Various Artists – $65
The Guild of Artists & Artisans is a nonprofit membership association of independent artists led by Executive Director Karen Delhey and located in Ann Arbor, MI. Founded in 1970, the Guild’s mission is to develop and present art fairs to provide marketing opportunities for its members which also serve as educational, cultural and entertaining events for the community. It does so through five Fine Art Fairs annually, The Gutman Gallery (which opened February 2020), and several programs offered throughout the year.
York Project • Detroit, Michigan
York Project is a clothing company led by CEO Josh York and located in Detroit, MI. This manufacturer and brand stands for the principles of People, Product, and Planet. Each product provides a one-for-one donation to the Detroit homeless and is made by employees making a fair wage. York Project makes their products from American fabric with the highest attention to detail in design and manufacturing. Additionally, York Project clothing is made in a way that minimizes environmental impact. Dyeing goods locally with recycled water, using fabrics made from recycled water bottles, upcycling all fabric waste, and buying from a local supply chain are a few of the man practices that help them achieve these goals.
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