This is the gift guide that all Chicagoans have been waiting for! If you’re from Chicago or live in the area, you know we are a city that loves and supports its small businesses. We pride ourselves on being a tight-knit community, which is why we’ve created a Chicago-based local gift guide for you!

Also, if you missed our general holiday gift guide, you can find it here.

Local and Sustainable Gift-Giving

From experiences to sweet treats to local restaurants and salons, we’ve got quite an extensive list of Chicago businesses that you can support this holiday season. On top of supporting local businesses, this gift guide is also focused on eliminating clutter by offering gifts that are thoughtful, sustainable, and won't take up unnecessary space in your home. 

1. Experience & activity gifts

Have loved ones that are more into making memories, traveling, attending events, and trying new things? You’ll nail their gifts with these fun experiences and activities. Chicago has a plethora of local businesses offering the below activities.

• A lesson or class 

• Pottery

• Painting

• Drawing class

• Tennis lessons

• Horseback riding

• Freedom Woods 

• Indoor rock climbing

• Cooking class

• Writer’s Theatre

2. consumable gifts

Chicago is known for their multitude of local bakeries, florists, and cafes. Here are just a few options to choose from when holiday shopping. This list will help you buy with the intention of sustaining a clutter-free home.

• Sweet and savory treats

  • Three Tarts Bakery (Northfield, IL)

  • Misericordia Sweet Shoppee (Glenview, IL)

  • Foodstuffs

• Flowers

  • Flowers by Katie Ford (Lake Bluff, IL)

  • Edwards Florist (Northbrook, IL) 

  • The Flower Shop (Glencoe, IL)

3. GIFT CARDS

Let’s face it — everyone loves some extra money in their pocket. Especially when it’s also supporting a small business!

• Restaurant or Coffee Shop

  • Hometown Coffee (Winnetka & Glencoe, IL) 

  • Towne & Oak (Winnetka, IL) 

  • Three Tarts Bakery (Northfield, IL) 

  • Mino’s (Winnetka, IL)

  • Spirit Elephant (Winnetka, IL) 

  • Oliverii’s (Northbrook, IL)

  • The Happ Inn (Northfield, IL) 

  • The Glenview Grind

• Spa, Salon & Wellness

  • Soul & Luna (Winnetka, IL)

  • Reach Yoga (Glencoe, IL) 

  • Sandy Greiner Pilates (Northfield, IL) 

  • Allure Spa & Spray Tanning (Winnetka, IL) 

  • CryoPure Spa (Lake Forest, IL) 

  • Spiritual Medium - Revealing Soul 

4. SUBSCRIPTIONS & MEMBERSHIPS

Monthly memberships are the gift that keeps on giving! Below are some local businesses that offer memberships:

• Children’s Museum

• Funtopia

5. OTHER IDEAS

This one is a miscellaneous gift section that might even spark some other gift-giving ideas!

P.S. If you’re wanting to gift organization services to someone, inquire here and I’d be more than happy to provide services!

• Gift a family photo session

  • Ashley Summers Photography

  • Alisa & Brad Hart

  • Nicole Jones Photography

• Donate to a charity in the person’s name

  • March Fourth

  • Connections for the Homeless

• Gifting organizing services

  • HINT HINT - reach out to info@unfuss.com for inquiries!

Clutter-Free Local Gift Guide

Remember, this gift guide is meant to support small businesses while also de-cluttering one’s home and not adding to the plethora of things stuffed in one’s storage bins. Gift-giving is meant to be personal, thoughtful, and useful. Browse the local holiday gift guide and start buying intentionally, not randomly.

Happy holiday shopping!

Ready to unfuss your home? There’s no time like the present.

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