Shop Locally This Holiday Season!

The holidays are fast approaching in Waterloo Region! While it’s easy to get overwhelmed by a large shopping list, we’d like to take the chance to remind you of the advantages of shopping locally! Not only is it a great way to support your local economy and help keep your community’s small businesses afloat, but it also makes for a better shopping experience. No jostling with others to scramble for the best deals, and no wandering through massive parking lots looking for your car. Instead enjoy the experience of chatting with a neighbour and receiving a personally-recommended item that you might not have thought of otherwise.

The only problem can be knowing where to start – that’s where we come in! Read on to learn more about our favourite local businesses that offer gifts for every kind of person in your life.

Let’s explore local shops in Waterloo Region:

For the home décor lover:

Explore the Waterloo Region’s local home décor shops for a curated selection of pieces that can help reflect your style.

• Tepperman’s – find something for every room at Tepperman’s! 
• St. Jacobs Furnishings – Canadian Company that provides local, handcrafted Canadian furniture
• Hauser – contemporary outdoor and indoor furniture and home décor
• The Art of Home – a home-lifestyle boutique
• Sweet & Spice Candles – 100% soy wax candles hand-poured in Waterloo
• Gifted Waterloo – specializing in gifts, home décor and paper goods
• Devitt House – curated goods for you and your home
• Cornerstone Home Interior – eclectic and classical home furnishings
• Krajewski Gallery – gallery and picture framing
• Not Just for the Garden – home décor, garden planters and furniture store
• St. Jacobs Furniture House – locally owned and family-operated furniture warehouse
• Linen + Lore Home – new classics and timeless finds located in a “modern barn”

For the hobbyist:

Whether you’re a gamer, collector, or comic aficionado, support these spots to promote your passions on a community level!

• J & J Cards and Collectibles – collectables, games and puzzles
• Good Time Games – video gaming store
• Carry-On Comics and Books – a one-stop-shop for vintage and new comics
• Lookin’ for Heroes – comics, action figures, trading cards, and other collectibles
• RetroReplay – video game store with a specialization in retro items
• Cooper’s Hobbies – family-run hobby and art supply shop
• Atlas Collectables – large-supply collectable store and event shop

For the foodie:

You can never go wrong when buying someone in your life a delicious meal. Here’s a few of our favourite restaurants, stores, and food experiences in the area:

• Willibald Farm Distillery & Brewery – distillery, brewery and restaurant (check out their gingerbread gin)
• Block Three Brewing Co. – locally crafted beers
• Dana Shortt Gourmet and Gifts – gourmet food shop 
• Aura-la Pastries and Provisions – craft bean-to-bar chocolate & gourmet food store
• Reid’s Chocolates – a variety of chocolates & nuts
• Vincenzo’s – specialty gourmet food store
• La Fromagerie on Lex – a one-of-a-kind cheese boutique
• Relish Cooking Studio – a cooking school and retail store located in Kitchener
• Fore Quarter Butcher Shop – butcher shop, serving local, hormone and antibiotic-free meats
• The Culinary Studio – Waterloo Region recreational cooking school
• Bloom – student-run restaurant at Conestoga College by aspiring chefs and restaurant managers
• Trio – a fine-dining fixture in downtown Waterloo

For the music-lover:

Swap your Spotify playlist for some vinyl and support local music stores at the same time.

• Sherwood Music – offers a variety of instruments, music accessories, and lessons
• Folkway Music – specializing in guitar sales and repair
• Orange Monkey Music – record store with an impressive amount of vinyl
• Encore Records – everything from CDs and vinyl to even cassettes

For the one with too many house plants:

Let your indoor garden thrive, and support Kitchener-Waterloo’s green scene!

• Living Fresh – floral art to celebrate life’s moments
• The Witty and Co – products that are well designed and celebrate the maker
• Charmed Flowers – modern flowers with delivery in the KW Region
• Colour Paradise Greenhouses – an impressive selection of plants
• Gold Leaf Botanicals – tropical house plant boutique
• Belgian Nursery – a specialized greenhouse destination for the community 

For your eco-warrior:

Step into sustainable style at local vintage, zero-waste, and consignment stores!

• Molloy’s – eco-friendly soaps, detergents, cleaning products and bath and body products
• House of Bamboo – sustainable lifestyle brand
• Carousel Clothing – consignment store and fashion boutique
• Hello Again – designer fashion at consignment prices
• White Tiger Vintage – vintage clothing boutique
• Le Prix – curated sustainable fashion and lifestyle boutique 
• Habitat for Humanity Restore Waterloo – new and used homegoods resold at affordable prices

For someone special:

Get that special someone in your life something extraordinary! There’s many Waterloo Region shops to choose from when shopping for a significant other.

• Harmony – meaningful products for special memories
• F.J. Brown & Son – jewelry and giftware store
• Frank’s Jeweler’s – jewelry and diamond shop
• The Truth Beauty Company – natural and organic beauty products

For the fitness lover:

Whether you’re into classes, gym sessions, or quality gear, these places have what you need!

• Proactive Training and Nutrition – a high-intensity interval training workout
• The Fit Club by Price Health –  fun and unique blend of personal training and group fitness classes
• SPINCO Waterloo – full-body spin classes
• Elite Training Facility – fitness classes and registered massage therapy 
• The Sweat Box – group fitness boot camp
• Big Bliss Yoga – a community of people who step up for one another and champion each other
• Elite Training Facility – a Kitchener training facility offering classes for ALL levels of fitness from beginner to elite 
• Grand River Rocks – a 14,000-square-foot indoor rock-climbing facility
• Hustle + Flow – experience the magic of movement and connection 
• Fitness Depot – large selection of fitness equipment and weights

For the movie buffs:

Local cinema – it’s like Netflix, but with better snacks and no connectivity issues.

• Apollo Cinema – the best in contemporary, classic, and cult films
• Princess Cinemas – a Canadian cinema, owner-operated and programmed

For the bookworms:

Ever walked into a bookstore “just browsing” and lost an hour before you know it? Here’s our favourite places to get lost in this holiday season.

• KW Bookstore – a used bookstore
• Words Worth Books Ltd – a valuable resource for procuring unique, quality books and magazines of all descriptions
• Old Goat Books – amazing selection of old and new books

Get social with us

Do you plan on supporting one of these small businesses during the holidays? Or did we miss one of your favourites? We want to hear from you! Follow and tag @builtbyactiva on Instagram or Facebook for a chance to be featured on our social pages!

Happy Shopping!