shop local
Your Guide to Shopping Locally This Holiday Season
The holiday season is fast approaching, and you know what that means – Santa is checking his list for who is naughty or nice. Shop locally this holiday season and support the local businesses and artisans who call the western White Mountains home. Who doesn’t want a piece of the White Mountains?
Lincoln Sign Company
For a truly unique gift for a business owner in your family or a fun sign for your home, visit Lincoln Sign Company for a beautiful custom sign. From business signs to house numbers to ski chalet and vacation home names, Lincoln Sign Company can do it all. The full-service shop does it all from design to production to installation and maintenance.
Call or email the shop to schedule an appointment to create the ultimate custom holiday gift for your favorite loved ones or even yourself.
Polly’s Pancake Parlor
For over 75 years, Polly’s Pancake Parlor in Sugar Hill has been serving up world-famous pancakes smothered in real New Hampshire maple syrup. Did you know you can actually take home many of the delicious food products to recreate your favorite Polly’s breakfast at home? You can shop at the restaurant or at home!
While Polly’s can’t sell you your favorite server/pancake maker, you can buy one or all of their famous pancake mixes from original to gingerbread to oatmeal buttermilk. All you need to do is add the eggs, milk, and butter. Of course, a pancake breakfast isn’t complete without maple syrup! You can purchase the liquid gold right at Polly’s too! Choose from a variety of sizes, including up to one gallon. Don’t forget to pair the maple syrup with the pure maple spread for the perfect bite of maple sweetness. Polly’s maple syrup is personally selected for color and flavor from Fuller’s Maple in Lancaster.
Pick up holiday gifts for all your friends and family at Polly’s Pancake Parlor in Sugar Hill or shop online at https://pollyspancakeparlor.com/shop/.
Harman’s Cheese & Country Store
No holiday party is complete without a charcuterie board and there is no better place to shop for the essentials than Harman’s Cheese & Country Store. Famous for their cheddar cheese, you can choose from a variety of their famous natural premium grade, cheddar made in update New York. The smoked cheese with either habanero or horseradish is always a crowd pleaser.
While cheese can certainly be its own food group, fill your stockings with other Harman’s favorites like locally made jams, jellies, pickles, and more. The Wozz Sour Cheery Spiced Wine Spread is always a great choice for a holiday party. Not sure where to start or to get for that person who has everything, choose any of the gift combinations and take credit for the wonderful gift! You can purchase items in their Sugar Hill store or online at https://webstore.harmanscheese.com/.
Beverages
The Lincoln/North Woodstock is home to quite a few breweries, wineries, and cideries so there is no excuse not to find the perfect liquid holiday gift. For over 25 years, Woodstock Inn Brewery has been one of New Hampshire’s premier craft breweries. With about 25 beers on tap throughout the year, there are a lot of options to choose from in the brewery or locally at many of the grocery stores across the state.
One Love Brewery in the Lincoln Village Shops also sells their beer and a variety of hoodies, t-shirts, and more. Beer on tap can be purchased as a 64 oz Growler and makes that perfect holiday gift for your favorite beer lover. Just down the hallway from One Love Brewery is Rhythm Handcrafted Beverages with all your favorite hard ciders, meads, and hard seltzers. Shop in the Rhythm Studio or purchase your favorites and have them shipped to 37 states.
With all the holiday parties coming up, don’t forget to purchase a hostess gift. Wine makes the perfect gift, and you’ll find a variety of options at Seven Birches Winery in Lincoln. Made locally in New Hampshire, Seven Birches makes a variety of red, white, and even fruit wine like strawberry and apple. Shop at the winery (after taste testing first, of course!) or purchase online and have the bottles shipped.
Burgeon Outdoors
Proudly made in New Hampshire, Burgeon Outdoors offers a collection of men’s, women’s, and youth base layers and outerwear to get you warm and dry in all your adventures from shoveling your driveway to summiting Mount Washington on a bluebird day. Made in their studio in the Lincoln Village Shops, all products are handmade by local White Mountain residents. Products are designed and tested on some of the toughest terrains in the Whites so you know they will last for years to come. The Highlander Hoodie is a favorite that can be worn on the trail or around town. And you can’t go wrong with the Flume base layer perfect for every adventure in and out of the mountains.
Stop by the Studio in the Lincoln Village Shops and shop in person and meet a few of the stitchers who make the garments or shop online at https://www.burgeonoutdoor.com/.
Experiences
Give the gift of experiences this year and make memories that will last a lifetime with your friends and family. If the pandemic has taught us anything over the past few years, it’s that life is short and precious. The western White Mountains have no shortage of fun things to do. Into adventure sports? Purchase a gift card for ziplining at Alpine Adventures or a day of skiing at Cannon Mountain. Need a family-friendly activity for the young grandkids? Splash in the pools at Whale’s Tale Waterpark or go mining for treasures at Lost River Gorge.
Maybe your favorite loved one had a hard year and needs a weekend away to recharge or perhaps they are celebrating a life milestone? Book a weekend away with a spa day at the RiverWalk Resort at Loon Mountain and Solstice North Day Spa. The options are endless in the western White Mountains!
For state-wide information, head to VisitNH.gov
Six Reasons to Shop Local
Imagine this community without any of its small, local businesses. It’s hard to think about what the community would look like. It’s more important than ever to support the local businesses we love. The small shops, hair salons, fitness studio, gas stations, outdoor retails shops, attractions, restaurants, bars, hotels, consignment shops and coffee shops not just during the holiday season but all year long.
Did you know that by shopping locally, $68 for every $100 stays in the community, while only $43 stays in the community when shopping in big box stores. Here are six great ways to connect and support local businesses.
Small businesses give back to the community
When you spend money in your neighborhood, those business are able to give back and donate to local school groups and non-profits
Local store owners create local jobs
The 2019 Small Business Profiles show that small businesses added 1.8 million net new jobs in the United States during the latest year studied. The United States has 30.7 million small businesses, and they employ 47.3 percent of the private workforce.
Local owners buy local themselves
Independent local businesses go into their local community to buy the supporting services they need, including architects, designers, contractors, sign makers, lawyers and bankers.
Local establishments provide great customer service
Business owners rely on great customers and employees to build a loyal customer base, so it’s comforting to know you will be shopping in a store that is genuinely happy to help you find the item you need.
Small business create a sense of community
We all seek a feeling of belonging to the towns we live in. It’s only natural to seek those connections with those that share our neighborhoods with. We love to see fundraisers flyers, youth sports photos, and local support systems flyers hung in business windows. It makes us feel good to know that local businesses supporting the community.
It feels good to help neighbors and friends succeed
There’s something special about knowing the owner and employees of a local store when you walk in. You can ask about family, congratulate them on their anniversary and feel the comfort of familiarity.
How to get more involved in supporting local small businesses?
- Get vocal on social media. Post photos of your purchase, share their posts and status updates with your friends.
- Sign up for local business loyalty programs. Earn special bonus when you shop repeatedly.
- Shop locally year-round and when you’re visiting local businesses, make sure to thank the owner for keeping his or her doors open. Join us in supporting local businesses this holiday season. Click here to view special deals and promotions.
After all, small businesses are what built this community. Let’s keep our community thriving.
For state-wide information, head to VisitNH.gov
