My Favorite Places to Shop Small

December 2017
There are 29.7 million small businesses in the U.S. alone. These small businesses are the backbone of our economy and as the owner of a small business I've come to realize how much every dollar counts. Obviously I'd love you to support Ugmonk, but I thought I'd put together a list of other great small businesses that I like and own products from. (Sidenote: I'm not being paid to post these. They are just brands I love and want to support) This isn't an exhaustive list and there are tons of other great companies out there, but here are some of my personal favorites:
Byrd & Belle - Handmade felt laptop and tablet cases. I've have my case for over 8 years and still get comments about it.
Jeni's Ice Cream - The best ice cream I've ever had. They even ship it all across the US. The Salted Peanut Butter with Chocolate Flecks is my new favorite flavor.
Present & Correct - They curate beautifully designed stationary and office supplies (many of which I use with Gather). I'm slightly obsessed :)
Misc Co Goods - Awesome company run by my friend Tyler. I love these beautiful playing cards that he designed from scratch.
Studio Neat - Simple, functional products designed by my friends Dan & Tom. I have the Glif and Panobook and love them.
Cotton Bureau - Still need more tees after shopping at Ugmonk? Cotton Bureau makes awesome tees and supports independent designers. Win win.
Joey Roth - I get asked about the speakers on my desk at least once a week. They look and sound amazing and I'm a huge fan of everything Joey creates.
Quoddy - Made-to-order shoes handmade in Maine. I've been wearing a pair for almost 4 years and they are still my favorite shoes I've ever owned.
Slimfold - Super thin, minimalist wallets designed by my friend Dave. Lots of thoughtful details throughout all of his products.
Leader Bag Co. - Almost all diaper bags are hideous. My wife and I wanted a high-quality bag that didn't look like a diaper bag and would hold up for many years. We love our Leader Bag and get asked about it all the time.
Taylor Stitch - Love almost every product these guys make. I especially like their button down shirts. The quality and fit is on point.
Blunt Umbrellas - Most umbrellas are such a pain to use, but Blunt Umbrellas are thoughtfully designed and can even withstand winds up to 70mph. I've had this one for several years and it's come in handy so many times.
Nomad - A Scottish watch brand that makes beautiful minimalist watches. I own this one and get compliments quite frequently.
And some of my favorite coffee roasters:
And if physical gifts aren't your thing, donating to a charity that you know the recipient loves is always a great option. Comment below with some of your favorite small businesses. Maybe I'll put together a giant list with everyone's suggestions :) And thanks for supporting our small family business! Every Ugmonk purchase helps us to keep creating new products. - Jeff