2018 Holiday Gift Guide: Shop ‘Small’ This Season with CDC Small Business Finance borrowers

This holiday season, don’t settle for the usual big-box stores and run-of-the-mill gift ideas. Instead, surprise your loved ones with novel, locally made goods and services from independent shops. To get you into the ‘shop small’ spirit, here are a dozen products and services made, provided or sourced by our very own talented borrower clients across California. CDC Small Business Finance’s annual gift guide has something for everyone, from the sweet-tooth foodie to high-adrenaline adventure seekers. Bonus: You may find some of these small businesses right in your neighborhood. If not, many offer shipping so you can still support our borrowers from near or far. Enjoy the selection — and happy holidays from everyone at leading lender and nonprofit CDC Small Business Finance!

FOOD & DRINK

Do Good Donuts & Treats Made-to-order, scratch-made mini cake donuts topped with gourmet, housemade seasonal glazes. Other offerings: vegan and regular soft-serve ice cream. DoGoodDonuts.com

For the foodie social butterfly: Mini donuts are great for feeding a crowd, office events and parties, $13 per dozen. Bonus: Festive sprinkles come at no extra charge. Shipping: None. Connect: 2707 E 4th St. Long Beach CA 90814; (562) 588-9328 Website: DoGoodDonuts.com

SoCal Brew Bus All-inclusive tour of Los Angeles-area breweries to sample local beers and learn from expert beer guides. Transportation and tastings included. Public, private and corporate tours available. socalbrewbus.com For the craft-beer buff: Gift certificates, $178 for a two-person bus tour. Shipping: Gift certificates are sent digitally. Connect: (424) 571-9542 Website: socalbrewbus.com

Art of Tea Los Angeles-based tea importer and wholesaler that hand-blends and custom-crafts the world’s finest organic teas and botanicals. Touching as many lives as possible through tea. artoftea.com For the mellow caffeine-seeker : Matchasticks; $22. Special discounts or products: Stunning wooden gift-box sets and holiday tea offerings. Also, 12 Days of Deeds special from Dec. 3-14 where 12 percent of retail profits during this time will be donated to Feeding America. Shipping: Free with orders over $75. Connect: 748 Monterey Pass Rd, Monterey Park, CA 91754; 213-493-6518 Website: artoftea.com

Blackmarket Bakery Enjoy a conscious moment of indulgence at this neighborhood bakery. Blackmarket Bakery produces made-from-scratch pastries, from breads to delectable desserts, with locations in Costa Mesa, Santa Ana and San Diego. blackmarketbakery.com For the idolizer of indulgent sweets: Cookie Love assortment, $58. Shipping: None. Connect: 2937 Bristol Street, #D-100A, Costa Mesa, CA; (714) 662-3095 | 211 N Broadway, Santa Ana, CA; (714) 571-0801 | 4686 30th St, San Diego, CA; (619) 641-0081 Website: blackmarketbakery.com

My Chocolate Soul Specializes in all-natural, great tasting chocolate, including truffles, turtles candy and candy bars. Chocolates contain natural ingredients and carry a ‘clean’ label. Cocoa imported from Mexico, Guinea and other areas of the world. For the specialty-chocolate explorer: The 20-piece box, $40. Offers a variety of chocolates that are nice to share and just enough to polish off on your own without feeling guilty. Shipping: Standard, priority and next-day shipping available. Calculated at checkout. Connect: 4442 N Broadway, Chicago, IL 60640; (773) 234-7141

SPORTS & OUTDOORS

San Diego Parasailing Adventures Come for a high-flying experience of a lifetime riding the latest in parasailing flight technology. You get two tours for the price of one — a boat-tour with an epic sky-tour. One to three passengers can take flight together seated side-by-side (some restrictions apply.)

For the high-octane thrill seeker: Parasailing gift-pass online and save $20 on the CloudHopper 600-foot flight for two. (Cost before discount: $99/person plus fees.) Ask about our new 800-foot SkyRider flight and GoPro video and photo package.

Shipping: Gift pass sent digitally.

Connect: 1842 Quivira Way San Diego, CA 92109; (619) 223-4386

Website: goparasailing.com

Bike Vault Bike Shop North County San Diego’s favorite family ride shop, selling and servicing all your cycling needs including mountain bikes, commuter bikes, BMX and more. Now offering pro scooters and skateboards. shopbikevault.com For the weekend warrior:

• For kids: Phoenix Pilot Pro Scooter, $149.99 (subject to change due to tariff changes)
• For adults: Offering a wide variety of cycling gift ideas & gift certificates.

Shipping: Local delivery, if needed, subject to a delivery fee. Connect: 1322 E. Mission Road, San Marcos, CA 92069; (760) 489-8083 Website: shopbikevault.com

APPAREL

Kindred Bravely Specializes in comfortable, functional and stylish nursing and maternity clothing that carries moms from the bump, to the breast and beyond. kindredbravely.com For stylish moms & moms-to-be: The Amelia Nursing and Maternity Pajamas. They’re designed with comfort, style and function in mind, $44.99. Shipping: $5. Special discounts or products: Offering special gift bundles for all our moms out there. Multiple options based on the stage of motherhood. Stay tuned to the website, or visit the website to get on the email list. Connect: 4015 Avenida De La Plata, Suite 401, Oceanside, CA 92056; (888) 850-3756 Website: kindredbravely.com

Nicora Shoes Beautifully made shoes that don’t compromise your ethics. Sustainably made in Ojai, Calif., cruelty-free and made by living-wage workers. nicorashoes.com For the sustainably minded fashionista: Eugenie’s Easy Boot. This is a bestseller because of its low, comfy and flattering heel; water-resistant suede and double-sided zippers. It’s an easy throw-on-and-go boot whether you’re going to the office or in yoga pants, $278. Shipping: $9 or free with promotion. Sales are online only, with free exchanges. Connect: info@nicorashoes.com Website: nicorashoes.com

Burke Mercantile Unique lifestyle shop providing original, ethical and sustainable products that blur the lines of gender and age. Things for people, simple as that. burkemercantile.com For the eco-friendly creature of comfort: Scented candles by Standard Wax. They all come in beautiful ceramic vessels with different colored glaze on the inside and matte white smooth clay on the outside. They come in wonderful earthy, unisex scents and vessels can be reused once candles are used up, starting at $15. Shipping: Most U.S. shipping costs are below $10. Shipping on all domestic orders more than $200 is free. International shipping is based on weight and shipping destination. Connect: 272 Redondo Ave Unit B, Long Beach, CA 90803; maggie@burkemercantile.com Website: burkemercantile.com

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