It’s the most wonderful time of year! Time for the holiday shopping rush, that is, and Team Minot is hard at work, checking off their Christmas lists. But plumbing the endless depths of the internet for that perfect gift can be time consuming and stressful. Certain popular retailers have a reputation for not merely crowding out brick-and-mortar stores but have been implicated in various other ethical concerns. In short, using online retailers may have impacts beyond giving away your personal information to yet another company. While it’s impossible to completely avoid the internet or big box retailers, readers wishing to adjust how they spend their hard-earned paychecks need only remember to ‘start small.’ By supporting small, locally-owned businesses.
For those unsure of where or how to start, a great way is by supporting some of the many spouse run businesses on base. One place that strives to bring many of these together in one place is “The Best of Minot Air Force Base Neighborhood Vendor Market,” led by Carrie Driver, a military spouse in the 91st Missile Wing. The market is a space for creatives who are trying to grow their businesses to share their goods and services in person, and not just through social media.
“The coolest thing about the vendor market on base is that it is all [active duty] military or spouses,” shared Carrie, who said she was concerned about the entry barriers faced by fellow mil spouses at vendor fairs in town, such as entry fees and lack of childcare. The final “Neighborhood Vendor Market” for the year will be held on 14 December at the Turf from 10:00-3:00. Whether you are interested in food, fiber arts, watercolor paintings, or something else, be sure to come out and see what your local maker community has prepared, to round out your holiday gifting and help a military family just like you!
Everyone loves a customized gift, but not the potential impacts on one’s wallet. Fortunately, the Minot Air Force Base Arts and Crafts Center can provide a wide variety of customization services, similar to vendors found on sites like Etsy at a fraction of the cost. They have more than just going away plaques and unit swag. With an eight-business day turnaround time, or in as little as 48 hours with a rush fee (think of it as the equivalent of the cost of shipping) you can give the gift of personalization. And while there are plenty of items available in the store to choose from, Faith Labrada, a veteran Arts and Crafts Center employee and fellow spouse, advised that if you have something more particular in mind “the rule of thumb is to bring it in” and they will work with you. From the more popular such as polar mugs and decanter sets to the unique (custom hockey sticks and even gun parts have been brought in), the Arts and Crafts Center has you covered this holiday season.
When it comes to shopping in the Magic City, downtown Main Street boasts many reliable favorites such as Gourmet Chef and Main Street Books. Want to browse a highly curated selection of North Dakota made or re-purposed products that you can’t find at your local big box store? The Foundry, The Market on 4th, Koselig: the Cozy Shop and the many local thrift and antique shops are a fun way to spend an afternoon out while supporting the local economy and business owners.
This reporter’s favorite locally operated discovery of the season, is a brand new Christmas themed pop-up shop called “It’s the Season.” The holiday shop is managed and owned by Annie Kallias and her mother Lori Lauer. “I love Christmas and always wanted a “store” with new, used, vintage and crafted decor at reasonable prices,” shared Annie. She added, “We both love Christmas and have different decor ideas. So if we like it….someone else will too!” They also boast an assortment of gift baskets and Hallmark collectibles. Located in front of Ascend Wellness, their hours are Monday-Friday from 9-5 and Saturdays from 10-4, but only for a few weeks longer.
Shopping small and supporting local businesses is important for keeping money and jobs in the community and for helping ensure that creativity survives in the modern marketplace. Whether supporting a military spouse, base-run organizations, or the many local businesses in the Magic City – there are many ways to shop local this holiday season.
