Shopping local for the holidays: Here are your options in Sussex County
Feels like 2020 has lasted three years and now there is talk of shortages of some products amid the pandemic and a potential for shipping slowdown.
It is a perfect year to shop local for Christmas. Luckily, there are plenty of options in Sussex County. Below are a few choices to get you started:
Not everything was awful in 2020. For some it was an opening to start a new business that add to your shopping options this year.
Signs of Hope: Meesh Rhodes made her first sign with the word “Hope” on it at the beginning of the pandemic because she felt so hopeless. She placed it in front of her home in Milton.
Then she, her husband and son made some more and started putting them around town. People started asking for them. At first she asked for donations, but then started charging for them because it was her only means of income during the pandemic.
The signs are still for sale along with stickers, T-shirts, bags and magnets at their Broadkill Tattoo Company and Gallery. Their work is in 18 states now, Rhodes says. Visit SignsofHopede.threadless.com
Matlock Family Farms: Maggie Matlock of Matlock Family Farms started making bath products, pocket warmers, dish cloths and other home and self-care products as something to do with all the time she had on her hands. Her website is MatlockFamilyFarm.com. She offers free delivery and will ship to anywhere in the country.
JBTees4Me: Jeannie Biamby had just bought a custom printer to make T-shirts for her cleaning company when COVID hit and shut down most of her business. She turned the printer into a business, instead.
“With COVID we had to do something,” said Biamby.
She makes custom T-shirts, cups, tumblers, hats, Christmas ornaments and, of course, masks. “Anything you can put a design on,” she said. People can send her designs or pictures for a custom product, or choose from her stock of designs and products. Shipping is offered as well as meeting people locally. facebook.com/JBTees4Me .
Sweet Serenity Chocolates and Desserts: Chocolate and fruit gift baskets, cake pops, truffles, etc. all made in Seaford. They only ship in the months of December and January, so just in time. www.sweetserentiychocolates.com
First State Charcuterie: Owner Jenna Bullock spent her recent honeymoon working out the details of her business idea to curate and deliver boxes full of charcuterie. She opened her business in October with three sizes of charcuterie boxes that include cheeses, meats, fruits and vegetables, nuts, crackers, olives, honey and serving utensils.
For Christmas she is planning to offer an extra-large size that serves 20 people. The company is out of Georgetown, but delivers locally, free within 15 miles of Georgetown, to your door. facebook.com/FirstStateCharcuterie.
Henlopen Sea Salt: This newly formed business is making artisanal salt from local water. “Our sea salt really is a fantastic holiday gift, for a couple of reasons,” said owner David Burris.
“It’s literally a piece of the sea that people can send to those who don’t live here. It is an outstanding culinary product in its own right. It’s a great way to stuff a stocking or round out your holiday giving for less than $10.”
Flavors include 100% Henlopen Sea Salt, Whiskey & Wood Smoked Sea Salt, and Hatch Green Chile Sea Salt. henlopenseasalt.com
Styled: This Lewes-based company is mostly known for its event planning, but owners Jess Bain and Carly Miller don’t stop there. They also offer custom gift baskets, wreaths, floral arrangements and mantel pieces.
Styled is not a retail store, said Miller. Everything they do is custom to go with themes, décor and desires of clients. The best way to contact Bain or Miller is through email at info@styled.de.com.
Abracadinner. Give the gift of not having to cook. This one is not such a new company, but one re-imagined because of the pandemic. Kris Etze is a personal chef living in the Lewes area.
COVID canceled all her cooking classes, but she can fill a freezer with fresh-made meals for the long hard winter. She also has options to work with special dietary needs. abracadinner.com
More: How to avoid giving COVID-19 a seat at your Thanksgiving table: Expert tips and advice
More: Lewes Lights spreads Christmas joy with interactive map of displays
Damon Pla Fine Arts: The creator of the 3-story Menhaden Mural in Lewes now has a gallery in Ocean View offering a selection of landscape & surreal original acrylic paintings and reproductions. The gallery is located at 101 Atlantic Ave., Ste. B, Ocean View. Visit damonpla.com
GlassHowes: Offers stained glass and mosaic art for purchase, but also the option to take a class to learn how to make your own. Owner Malinda Howes is also available for custom orders. It is located at 140 E. Market St., Georgetown. Visit GlassHowes.com.
Moon Honey Art: Located in Lewes, they offer art made from sea glass and local wildlife photography.Visit facebook.com/moonhoneyarts
Half-pint Ink: They offer custom signs, gift cards and engraved growth charts, handmade in Lewes. Visit halfpintink.com
If you just want to spend some time shopping and still want to keep it locally made, here are a few other options in the Sussex County area.
Shore Marketplace, Furniture Gallery complex, Route 1, Lewes. The marketplace has 44 local vendors selling all types of items handcrafted from local artisans.
It’s All Country, 12600 Sussex Highway, Greenwood. Country and primitive decor and more. Featuring a great variety of creative local vendors. https://www.facebook.com/groups/1802441906698818
Red Barn, Route 404 (Seashore Highway) about 3 miles west of Georgetown. Locally made lotions, signs, honey, pepper jelly and jams. RedBarnCountryStore.com
Farmhouse 302, just south of Milford on Route 1. Gift shop supporting local artisans, offers decor, gifts, painted furniture and other handmade items. facebook.com/Farmhouse302
Developing Artist Collaborative Sip and Shop Christmas event. Nov. 27-29, just north of Dewey Beach from 10 a.m.-4 p.m. at the former Forgotten Mile Ale House on Route 1. Tented event with art and jewelry with a backup plan to make it virtual if need be because of COVID. DevelopingArts.org Click on Sip & Shop.