As the holiday season approaches, small businesses start to prepare for the festivities. Shopping locally can be a great way to support BG’s small businesses, while giving someone a gift that you know is made with care. 

Stores like For Keeps, JoyFul Creations, Eden Fashion Boutique and Mode Elle Boutique provide shoppers with a welcoming experience along with cute gifts. Whether that be a Santa gnome for your friend, handmade jewelry for your special someone, or a scarf for your grandma, shopping locally is the thing to do. 

For Keeps: 

For Keeps is a local shop that sells a lot of knick-knacks, jewelry, mini figurines, holiday-themed cooking utensils, candles and so much more. Right when you walk in the door, you are greeted with an aroma that smells like Christmas, along with workers who are kind and willing to assist you whenever you ask. 

It is easy to spend hours in this store just looking at the decorations and gifts being sold. The store also sells an assortment of Christmas decorations ranging from cute little gnomes to ornaments. One thing that stood out was the mini pickle ornament, which families can hide on their tree, and whoever finds the pickle first gets to open their gifts first. 

Items, such as the pickle ornament, can be found all around the store and make For Keeps an interesting place to shop. For Keeps supports local food pantries and if you donate three or more food items to For Keeps, you can receive a 25% discount on any purchase. For Keeps is located at 144 S Main St, Bowling Green.

JoyFul Creations: 

JoyFul Creations has a variety of handmade holiday-related gifts on-sale for the upcoming season. Along with the handmade items, the store is decorated with many antiques that the owners find. 

They have a, ‘Do you know me’ box, which is full of old pictures that were found at different auctions. Between the DIY junk journal station and the mini Christmas tree made from seashells picked up from the shores of Outer Banks, you will find a unique assortment of items. 

“My stuff I get from the Outer Banks of North Carolina, I did a couple of trees that I hadn’t done this year. Every shell that is in here is picked up by me,” store owner Laura Miller said

Customers can tell that a lot of love and work has gone into every item atJoyFul Creations. This small business has the perfect thing for that person on your shopping list that loves handmade jewelry, cards, night lights and more. JoyFul Creations is located at 192 S. Main St., Bowling Green. 

Eden Fashion Boutique: 

Eden Fashion Boutique has a cute variety of clothing, jewelry, bath bombs, lip balms and stickers. All of the accessories such as leather products, scrunchies and jewelry are made locally. 

This small business supports local artists by selling their products accompanied by the creator’s business card. For the Holidays, Eden is participating in the Holiday Bingo event that most small businesses in BG are in. 

The store sells lip balms and earrings that make for the perfect holiday gifts. Eden is located at 186 S. Main St., Bowling Green. 

Mode Elle Boutique: 

Mode Elle Boutique has various trending clothing and accessories. Between adorable sherpa fanny packs, shackets, which is a jacket that looks like a shirt mixed with flannel, cosmetic bags, hats and gloves, customers will not have trouble finding something they enjoy. 

Those who work at Mode Elle handpick the clothes based on what they would like to wear. They try not to pick clothes that are too hyper-trendy, instead, items that they know will appeal to their audience. Mode Elle will have Black Friday Sales and deals for the Holiday season, which means it is a great place to get a gift for someone you know who likes to keep up on the different trends. Mode Elle Boutique is located at 101 N. Main St., Bowling Green