Allison's Ultimate Shop Smoll Holiday Gift Guide

A list of creators, publishers, and small businesses to check out for unique gifts!

Hi hello and Happy Holidays!

The last thing I want to do is turn this post into one of those recipe blogs — you know, the ones where you have to scroll down ten minutes past the author’s novel-length life story just to get to the point of the article.

So with that said, I’ll say three things before I get into the gift guide:

1) This is a collection of small businesses, creators, indie publishers, artists, and ethical companies that I have purchased from in the past and vouch for. You will not find any links to Amazon or big-box stores.

2) None of these recommendations are sponsored. This is just a list of unique items and brands that I think deserve attention and love this holiday season (and beyond)!

3) The first half of this guide is a list of specific books, clothes, games, items, etc. that I think would make great gifts for anyone. The second half is a list of brands, creators, and small businesses I love that you can check out in your own time if none of my recommendations catch your eye.

Cool! Amazing! Now that that’s squared away, let’s get into it.

Holiday Gift Ideas That Will Impress Your Gift Receiver Big Time

Jumbo Press’ Cookbook

This risograph cookbook is a showcase of the incredible talent of 36 emerging illustrators. Inside, you'll find their unique artwork and mouthwatering recipes, offering a glimpse into their creative process both in and out of the kitchen.

Price: $39

Goodbye Press’ Pond Water Nalgene

I get so many compliments on this water bottle. Plus, hydration is really cool!

Price: $40

Natali Koromoto’s QUACK/DUCK Cap

You can’t go wrong with anything on Natali Koromoto’s site. From adorable throw pillows to fun hats like this QUACK/DUCK Cap, it’s easy to shop gifts here.

Price: $50

Favorite Vegetable’s X-Mas Sweater

I’m slowly building my Favorite Vegetable t-shirt collection because everything they drop is pure fire. Like many, I grew up with the Carpenter’s Christmas album. If I saw someone wearing this sweater in public I’d gasp.

Price: $65

Bubblewrapp Toys’ Christmas Charmy-Chan Toy

Charmy-Chans are the new Sonny Angels, fyi. Bubblewrapp has an incredible collection of vinyl toys, blind boxes, and more! If you’re ever in Kansas City, check out their brick & mortar.

Price: Ranges from $30-$70

Play Nice Press’ Risograph Zines

This is a self-plug, but if you’re a zine collector, I promise you won’t be disappointed. All of our zines are risograph printed and hand assembled in our studio.

W0nkk0 Sticker Sheet

W0nkk0 has a zillion amazing sticker sheets all featuring your favorite characters. The ‘Roll Em Up, Cousin!’ sheet is my personal favorite, but you’d be doing yourself a disservice if you didn’t check them all out.

Price: Ranges from $2 - $7

Lorien Stern Throw Blanket

Lorien Stern makes the most whimsical, magical home goods. I have her snake rug and a throw bucket, and I consider both forever “heirlooms” in my house.

Price: $130 (AfterPay available)

Video Game Lofi Vinyl

From Kirby to Zelda, Skyrim to Undertale, Curaga Records has some of the best chill, lo-fi hip-hop, lo-fi house, and cozy jazz video game music covers. Shop them all through Materia Store.

Price: Ranges from $20-$30

iam8bit’s Donut County OST Vinyl

Easily one of my most played vinyl soundtracks. iam8bit has a bunch of OSTs on vinyl, video game bundles, and more. Perfect shopping spot for physical media enthusiasts.

Price: $43

‘Soft’ by Jane Mai

I love all of Jane Mai’s comics. This is one of her latest works - a retelling of Carmilla, one of the earliest pieces of vampire literature ever written.

Price: $15

Plastiboo’s Vermis I

Plastiboo is one of my favorite artists of all time. Their art is reminiscent of old dungeon crawler games and PS1 horror games. Vermis I is the first of their artbook series and it’s laid out like an official game guide. A must-have on the bookshelf.

Price: $19

Paloma the Peach’s Sticker Collecting Notebook

B5 spiral notebook with sticker backing paper for you to collect and store your stickers all in one place! Stickers can be safely peeled off this notebook’s paper when you’re ready to use them.

Price: $20

Mini VanVan’s Greasy Gremlin Shirt

Hand screenprinted shirt of our favorite boy. Van Van has a number of incredible shirts, prints, stickers, and other goods in her shop - be sure to check it all out!

Price: $35

Boxerbun’s Hell T-Shirt

I dunno if you heard…but there’s a lil movie coming out soon…and this shirt would be perfect to wear to the premiere…

For real though, Boxerbun’s art is incredible, and the blanks they use for their shirts are insanely great quality. They also have prints, stickers, pins, books, and more on their site if you’re looking for gifts outside of apparel!

Price: $55

Leeeeee Sofubi Toys

SOFUBI LOVERS! This one is for you! Leeeeee is an amazing toy designer, specializing in Sofubi - a special Japanese soft-vinyl. Perfect for one’s collection of cool toys and little guys.

Price: From $30

Fuzzz Dream

Fuzzz Dream has one of the most unique & beautiful art styles. Everything she makes is a feast to the eyes! Grab her Levi print and gift it to your friend who’s always urging you to watch Attack on Titan.

Price: $25

A List of Cool Brands, Creators, Publishers, & Small Businesses to Support

Didn’t find what you were looking for above? Below is a small but mighty list of brands, creators, and presses that I’ve shopped at in the last year and/or that I know have open online stores at this time!

Small Presses & Indie Publishers

⟡ Goodbye Press
⟡ Jumbo Press
⟡ Mystic Multiples
⟡ Read-Only Memory
⟡ Paragon Books
⟡ Peow 2
⟡ Play Nice Press
⟡ Pommo Press
⟡ Silver Sprocket

Music & Vinyl

⟡ iam8bit
⟡ Light in the Attic
⟡ Materia Collective
⟡ Devolver
⟡ Varese Sarabande

Artists & Creators

⟡ Bottling Sunshine
⟡ Boxer Bun
⟡ Danny Brito
⟡ Favorite Vegetable
⟡ Fuzzdream
⟡ Happy Fishhead
⟡ Lorien Stern
⟡ Liunic On Things
⟡ Mini Van Van
⟡ MoldyWorld
⟡ Natali Koromoto
⟡ Paloma the Peach
⟡ Pikarar
⟡ Pixlotl
⟡ SM Sanz
⟡ Sophie Page
⟡ W0nk00

A Mixture of Toys, Books, Clothes, Vinyl & More

⟡ Bubble Wrapp Toys
⟡ Feels So Good
⟡ Giant Robot
⟡ Monkey Pants
⟡ Super 7

I hope this gift guide was a helpful resource for your holiday shopping shop & in helping you discover new creators, brands, and small businesses! If you liked what you read, please consider subscribing to this Substack, Scribble Scrabble (for free!). My new posts will deliver right to your inbox, giving you a nice breather from the bills, news, and ads you may get bombarded with.

Happy holidays and thanks for supporting small!