Fashionably Shop Toledo: A Holiday Gift Guide

While I guiltily enjoyed shopping on Cyber Monday at national chain stores, some of my favorite places to shop are locally owned in my hometown.  I’m an advocate for shopping local and I try to whenever I can.  It’s as simple as replacing the goods you normally purchase (or gifts!) with locally made products or shopping at locally owned businesses.  Why shop local?  Here are my top 5 reasons:

  1.  Shopping local creates jobs
  2.  When you shop local, more of your money stays in our community and strengthens our
        economy
  3.  Local shops invest more in our communities
  4.  Shopping local reduces the environmental impact
  5.  Local shops keep our city unique and attracts out-of-towners

I say it time and time again, Toledo has a lot to offer.  You just have to know where to look, because our businesses have sleighs full of gift ideas!  So until Christmas, I'd like to share some gift ideas from local businesses or places to shop that are locally owned.  To see all of the Holiday Gift Guide posts once they're shared, click on the label to the right, 2013 Holiday Gift Guide. Happy shopping, locally!


Today’s Fashionably Shop Toledo Idea: Swan Creek Candle Company

Have you ever been in this place?  It smells delightful.  Who doesn’t love candles that make a home smell like Christmas morning or a walk along the beach or clean laundry?  Swan Creek Candle Company has a huge variety of fragrances.  Plus, they are made with 100% cotton wicks and all natural American soybean wax, which mean they burn clean and come from sustainable and renewable resources.     

Most candles from large national chains, like Yankee Candles, are made of paraffin, which is a petroleum based product and possibly not so good for you.  Ever notice the black ring they can leave?  My parents used to burn Yankee Candles on their fire mantle and eventually they left a black ring on the ceiling above.  They, and I, have both switched to Swan Creek Candles since then.

Another way this local candle company strives to be eco-friendly is by selling 24 oz. containers of candle refill wax so you can refill candle containers when the wax is all burned.  In addition to all types of candles, they sell tarts, wax warmers, fragrance warmers and home décor. 

The Swan Creek Candle factory is located in Swanton, Ohio, along with their original outlet store.  Shopping here supports the American farming community.  They also have locations in downtown Toledo, across from the Mud Hens stadium; Dundee, Mich.; Vermillion, Ohio; Perry, Mich.; Jackson, Mich. and Leesburg, Fla. 

A few of my favorite scents are Pumpkin Vanilla, Citrus & Sage and Crisp Cotton.  What are yours?