The little things are important when shopping too. Shop small and support these businesses by spending your dollars with them.
This list features my favorite small businesses from around the world whose products/services are perfect for travelers whether they are at home or adventuring around the globe.
Local Community: Azerbaijan
These socks, called jorab, have been a part of Azerbaijani culture for centuries. Azerbaijani Socks provides employment for women in rural Azerbaijan, where they hand knit each item from their homes, allowing them to earn income for their families.
What to Shop For:
- Adult socks
- Children socks
- Mother and child matching sets
- Knitted gifts
Local Community: Minnesota
Started by a Somali-American entrepreneur and former refugee from Kenya, each bracelet is handmade by refugees and made with recycled refugee life-vests from their dangerous journey across the Mediterranean Sea.
What to Shop For:
- Embracelets
Bring Costa Rica to you and support local artisans at the same time with curated items from Local Keeps. Their makers are small companies and artisans in Costa Rica who also give back to their communities and use eco-friendly production and packaging processes.
What to Shop For:
- Health and beauty products
- Books
- Food
- Gift sets
Local Purse – Cultural Live Video Shopping Experiences
With Local Purse you can travel virtually from wherever you are to meet travel operators, professional guides, and local artisans from all over the world through live video shopping experiences.
What to Shop For:
- A variety of goods are available for purchase from local communities around the world
Local Community: Lenexa, Kansas
Small batch coffee roasters and handmade chocolate makers. They make small 4-pound batches of chocolate at time!
What to Shop For:
- Fresh roasted coffee (single origins or worldwide blends)
- Homemade chocolate
- βloc (a micro-ground coffee bar, basically the baby of their coffee + chocolate in one)
Local Community: Park City, Utah
Over 40 gourmet olive oils and balsamic vinegars from around the world, plus other premier gourmet foods perfect to gift or enjoy.
What to Shop For:
- Olive oil
- Vinegar
- Herbs and spices
Local Community: Denver, Colorado
After unsuccessfully trying to find a push pin map they could use to track their travels on together and plan future adventures, Brenda and Mike decided to create their own.
What to Shop For:
- Framed canvas push pin travel maps
- Family map art
The team at women-founded Sustainable Travel & Living is passionate about travel – be it adventures at home, out on an errand, or off to see the world – and leaving a positive impact. With over 400 recycled, non-toxic, low-waste, social impact, and other sustainable products, you’ll be good to go for every day, every journey.
What to Shop For:
- Personal care
- Travel accessories
- Home goods
- Gift box sets
A global community and lifestyle brand that specializes in helping all women travel the world by connecting their diverse community members each year through a thriving online membership network, local chapter events in 50 cities, global summits, and small group trips.
What to Shop For:
- Traveler or Creator membership
Local Community: Salt Lake City, Utah
Unique fashion-forward travel and lifestyle accessories for women that are passionate about discovering the world around them. Each color and pattern used to create a Waypoint Goods Travel Scarf has a story behind it.
What to Shop For:
- Infinity travel scarf with hidden pocket
- Destination inspired candles
- Laser-cut city maps
Please note that some of the links on this page are affiliate links, and at no additional cost to you, I earn a small commission that will help support this site and the small business if you make a purchase. Every little bit goes a long way! All opinions are my own. If you have any questions about the companies or products mentioned on this page, please reach out to me and I will happily answer them.
