5 Local Gifts That Won’t Miss

Northwest Arkansas is bustling with entrepreneurs and small businesses, and many a savvy NWA shopper wants their Holiday dollars to do double-duty during the season.

Here are some cherry-picked (or shall we say, Cureated?) selections from some of our favorite local entrepreneurs and small businesses with their fingers on the pulse. We recommend the following local goods to help you gift with love and support local!  ❄️

One

Lump of Coal Tins by Loblolly Creamery

📍1423 Main St suite c, Little Rock, AR 72202

Okay, I know we said gift with love…. But the thing is, you’ve gotta love someone to give them THIS lump of coal. The Little Rock-based Loblolly Creamery is most known for its ice creams but specializes in all sorts of confections. And they’re doing it with creativity, attention to detail, and immense pride in their made-from-scratch and small-batch treats. Each tin comes with rich, fluffy, dark chocolate marshmallows coated in black cocoa powder. Perfect to slip into a stocking, plop on top of your cocoa, or torch for a twist on s’mores. 

Shop Lump of Coal Tins at Loblolly’s scoop shop in Little Rock, or on their website, and follow Loblolly Creamery on Instagram!

Two

Northwest Arkansas Candle by The Little Candle of NWA

📍112 N 3rd St, Rogers, AR 72756

Stepping into The Little Candles’ shop in Rogers or one of their farmers market booths, you leave differently than you came. You leave straight-up intoxicated by the otherworldly blends of scents on offer. Everything from earthy musks, desserty gourmandes, elegant florals, and so much more is evoked from one candle to the next. Topped off with thoughtful packaging and sleek design, take it from us– this candle (and all of their candles) are good enough for That Candle Person in your life. 

Shop Northwest Arkansas candles here, and follow The Little Candle of NWA on Instagram!

Three

Ramirez Whole Bean Coffee Bag by Montay Coffee

📍380 N College Ave, Fayetteville, AR 72701

One of life’s simple pleasures is a freshly brewed cup of coffee on Christmas afternoon. The gifts have all been unwrapped, the excitement of the morning is lulling to a calm contentedness, and the extra wrapping paper is being gathered for recycling. That’s the perfect time to bust this baby out. Founded in 2021 by a group of UARK MBA students, a bag of Montay Coffee is both a thoughtful and principled gift for the caffeine-wired. With beans sourced in Haiti and roasted in NWA, every bag supports women-owned business and Haitian family-owned coffee farms.  

Shop Ramirez roast here, and follow Montay Coffee on Instagram!

Four

Holiday Tea Towel Set by Gingiber

📍221 S. Block Avenue 6, Fayetteville, Arkansas, 72701

Add a dash of merry & bright to your habitat with this adorably whimsical and festive gift set from Gingiber. And if you’re not yet familiar, Ginger is a proud Arkansan woman-owned and operated business known for its hand-illustrated gifts, and mission to encourage us to add a little zest to our nest. Their tea towels are their bread and butter, with their Tea Towel Club highlighted in Wirecutter and The Pioneer Woman! Bonus: each set comes beautifully packaged in a food-safe keepsake tin– gift and wrapping, done and done.

Shop Holiday Tea Towels here, and follow Gingiber on Instagram!

Five

Jam Gift Box by JAML Jams

📍406 SE 5th St Suite 4, Bentonville, AR 72712

Hostess with the Mostest, meet your match. This ULTIMATE Holiday Jam Gift Box by JAML Jams is a gamechanger for any hostess gift or holiday party white elephant gift. Each box includes a wooden ornament, a handmade Christmas card, a gold spoon, and four 2-oz jars of unique jam! With flavors like Pink Pineapple, Pepper, Blueberry Champagne, and Cinnamon Peach, you’ll have a hard time not immediately opening this box of goodies to spread on some crackers in the corner of the party. Socially, this may be weird, but we at Cureate support and understand your jam-snacking decisions. 

Shop JAML’s Holiday Jam Gift Box here, and follow JAML Jams on Instagram!

That’s a wrap! Now get out there and enjoy some seasonal flavors 🤶 🎄 🎁 

About Cureate
Cureate is a woman-owned food-tech company and business development consulting firm dedicated to strengthening local food systems. It offers educational programs for food and beverage entrepreneurs, connects local businesses with institutional buyers, and provides strategic counsel to help businesses navigate changing consumer preferences. Cureate's mission is to empower local food businesses and shift the dollar back into communities.