The ultimate guide to shopping locally in #YEG this Christmas

Tis the season to hunt down the perfect gift for your loved ones, office secret santas, pets and everyone in between. With pressure building to buy more and buy bigger, why not shop local to give back to the Edmonton community as well?

Here are some of the Local Good’s suggestions for the perfect, Edmonton-made present:

The hardest present to find is for the people you don’t actually know that well. Luckily, almost everyone loves chocolate. Violet Chocolate Company and Jacek Chocolate make delicious and beautiful truffles, bars and hot cocoa in festive flavours like gingerbread spice, eggnog and linzer torte.
For a truly waste-free present, gift an experience. Tickets for Rapid Fire Theatre, a craft beer or distillery tour, or a concert are a way to make a memory together. For foodie friends, splurge on the gift of a tasting menu at Uccellino or RGE RD, a kitchen party, or get a gift card for somewhere cozy like The Next Act or Cafe Linnea.
Consignment, second hand or vintage stores are a great way to find affordable gifts that are kind to the environment. For book lovers, the Wee Book Inn is a treasure trove of unusual books. The Junque Cellar is a classic for one-of-a-kind stocking stuffers, and clothing stores like Red Pony or Plato’s Closet are favourites for vintage clothes and accessories.
Avoid the wrapping and gift bags. Most of the fancy, shiny wrapping can’t be recycled! Make your present stand out by packaging it in a reusable tin, basket or tote bag from a local print shop like Salgado Fenwick or SNAP Gallery.
Check out the many holiday markets and stores that carry products by local makers, or flip through the Edmonton Made gift catalogue to see a range of products in categories from toys, home furnishings, apparel and more.