In this holiday season, buying local goods presents a new urgency, and Alabama's artisans, manufacturers, and other local businesses provide plenty of options to help you check your shopping list.
Whether your loved one is a fashionista, budding gardener, avid athlete, or sweet tooth, the "Making Holiday Gifts in Alabama 2021 Guide" can meet everyone's needs.
Some of the companies in this year’s gift guide have recently expanded their national operations with new jobs and investments, ready to meet demand for their popular products.
Alabama Secretary of Commerce Greg Canfield said: "Alabama people are creative, innovative, and enterprising. This is especially true when you consider the various holiday gift options produced locally."
"Supporting national companies this season is a great way to invest in our neighbors and communities."
SARAH CAVENDER METALWORKS Mesh Accessories (Oxford)
Artist Sarah Cavender created eye-catching metal mesh jewelry in her studio in Oxford, and her work has been featured in fashion magazines and fashion shows around the world.
She designs and produces several seasonal collections each year, including belts and handbags. The price of each piece is different, from classic hoop earrings to eye-catching personalized necklaces. Many of her works have been shaped into expressions of flowers, leaves and insects, as well as other abstract forms.
Cavender majored in sculpture at the Philadelphia College of Art and developed her craft during years of extensive travel and research on art history and other design influences. She uses materials mainly made in the United States, as well as stones imported from Europe.
For the angler in life, check out the leading manufacturer of marine electronics operating in Eufaula.
Humminbird produces a wide range of fish finder, providing the latest sonar and navigation technology, and its high-definition display is designed to help spot fish and underwater terrain and hazards.
Prices vary from function to function, ranging from US$100 to US$5,000. Many of Humminbird's fish finder are temporarily sold out online, but there is a list of authorized dealers.
The company cited the popularity of its fish finder when it announced its expansion in Eufaula earlier this year. The project includes 77 new jobs, installation of new equipment, and additional space in the factory's production and assembly areas.
Is this candy or art? Chocolatá in Birmingham has created a series of exquisite candies, perfect for gifts.
Bonbon gift boxes are priced at $11 and above. Other products include chocolate bars, lollipops, hot cocoa bombs, homemade granola and sip chocolate.
Chocolatá uses ethical 100% Latin American cocoa beans to make seasonal chocolate snacks in its store on Second Avenue North in the heart of Birmingham.
Bonnie Botanical Herb Garden Bundle (Union Springs)
The largest home garden vegetable and herb grower in the United States is located in Block County and offers many gift options for aspiring gardeners or chefs.
Bonnie Plants sells individual plants and themed bundles online and in regional stores. For example, Grillers Herb Plant Garden includes Greek oregano, lemon thyme, rosemary, and garden sage plants for $32.
In April, the company announced plans to upgrade and expand its greenhouse facility in Union Springs. The project also aims to increase Bonnie Plant's e-commerce sales, which have achieved triple-digit growth in the past two years.
SUNSHINE BATH CO. Goat Milk Soap (Fairhope)
Audi Balcom travels the world as a military spouse, learning from craftsmen in all the remote areas she calls home. Today, her home is Fairhope, and her Sunshine Bath Co. has developed into a farm and a family business.
As a licensed massage therapist, Balcom combined her skills with a passion for aromatherapy, using all natural ingredients to create a series of hand-made small batch bath and beauty products.
She makes goat milk soap, using fresh goat milk from local farms produced by Fairhope Farm. The fragrance includes Sleigh Bells, Pumpkin Chai Latte and Summer in Sedona.
Balcom also produces body butters, lip balm, and whimsical bath bombs shaped like doughnuts, cupcakes and waffles, most of which cost $8 to $10.
HYUNDAI Santa Cruz (Montgomery) or TOYOTA Corolla Cross (Huntsville)
Two automakers in Alabama—one is a veteran of the state-owned industry and the other has just started operations here—have launched brand new models this year.
Hyundai Motor Manufacturing Alabama started mass production of the 2022 Santa Cruz sport utility vehicle in June. Santa Cruz is actually a hybrid of SUV and truck, with a safe, open bed area, including a lockable trunk lid and hidden beds for easy carrying of gears. The starting price is slightly less than $24,000.
At the same time, Mazda Toyota Manufacturing, Alabama's newest car manufacturer, launched its first dealer-available car in September, the 2022 Toyota Corolla Cross. Based on the popular Corolla sedan, Cross combines the driving experience of a small car with the functions of a large crossover. It starts at $22,200.
Putting it under a tree may not be a traditional gift, but the gift of higher education is unparalleled. The CollegeCounts 529 Fund in Alabama offers tax incentives, account flexibility and high-quality investment options to save money for children’s education.
Funds can cover the costs of traditional 2-year or 4-year universities, as well as trade, technical and vocational schools, graduate or professional schools, and even apprenticeship programs.
Visit the CollegeCounts website to learn more about setting up an account. After setting up your account, be sure to send email invitations to your family and friends to use CollegeCounts GiftEd to contribute. This online gift-giving tool allows them to contribute quickly and easily. Log in to CollegeCounts529.com to send an invitation
(Provided by Alabama Manufacturing)
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