In the lead-up to the provincial election in October, The Wren surveyed readers about what mattered most. Fifty-one percent of respondents said affordability was the most important issue on their minds. That response was a reflection of high costs of housing, steep grocery bills and wages that have not increased in tandem. While the holidays offer a great chance to connect with friends and family to share gifts, food and stories, it can also create stress for those already on a tight budget. The Wren made a Kamloops gift guide with varied items and stores.
This year, The Wren explored Kamloops (Tk’emlúps) to source some locally-made gifts that won’t break the budget. This Kamloops gift guide includes local gems such as Crooked Crown, Far & Wide, Castles and Cottages, Soul Stones and the Golden Buddha. There are many more items available in each store, but here are some ideas for you to spark inspiration for thoughtful gifts.
Crooked Crown Boutique
Owner of the Crooked Crown Boutique Brianna Shelton. Crooked Crown, located in Downtown Kamloops, features Canadian-made products. Photo by Macarena Mantilla / The Wren
The Crooked Crown Boutique is a local, female-led business, offering a selection of Canadian brands. Brianna Shelton, owner of Crooked Crown, offers inclusive sizes, shipping and gift guides for this holiday season.
The store carries the brand Epic Blend based in West Kelowna, offering a variety of skin care, bath and body care products. They are 100 per cent vegetarian, handmade in Canada, cruelty-free and have clean ingredients.
Crooked Crowns selection of lip balms top this Kamloops gift guide at just $4, followed by salt soaks in a variety of scents for $7. Still under $20, there are scrubs and facial masks available. Photo by Macarena Mantilla /The Wren
The store also carries candles from B.C. based Canvas Candle Company. The candles are made out of 100 per cent North American grown soy wax with phthalate free and paraben free fragrance, natural essential oil and lead-free cotton wick.
The gold travel tin candles like Sister, Sister is a blend of rum, lavender and berry musk for $18 or Nightfall for the same price. Photo by Macarena Mantilla / The Wren
If you want to give some extra skin care the brand Patchology, offers several face, eyes, foot and hand masks.
There are foot and hand masks for $14, eye gels for $5 and lip balms for $12. Photo by Macarena Mantilla / The Wren
If you are still looking for more self-care products the store has the brand Apt. 6 Skin Co. based in Stratford, Ontario. They offer natural and non-toxic products with no harsh parabens, harmful fragrances, SLS, sulphates or phthalates.
There are shower steamers for $26 with different scents like lemongrass orange. In addition, linen and room sprays, for $24 with scents like red currant and thyme.
The store also has many options for bath bombs for those who love different scents.
Happy Hippo, a brand which started in Sylvan Lake, Alberta, offers mini bath bombs for $13 or big bath bombs for $16. Photo by Macarena Mantilla / The Wren
Finally, if you know someone who enjoys fruit syrups, the store carries the brand Frostbites based in Squamish, B.C. their syrups can be used in cocktails, mocktails, tea cakes, popsicles, ice cream and other things.
Each syrup has different flavours like elderflower, pineapple habanero, hibiscus lemon, rhubarb strawberry and mango passionfruit for $7.50 per bottle. These can be used in different recipes. Photo by Macarena Mantilla / The Wren
There are many more items available at the Crooked Crown like stickers, jewelry, cards, clothes, claw clips and others that can complete your presents. These are some unique items that you can bundle up together to make an affordable gift for less than $25. Head to downtown Kamloops to check them out. Crooked Crown is open from Monday to Sunday.
Far & Wide
Enhica Young, a sales associate at Far and Wide. Photo by Macarena Mantilla / The Wren
Far & Wide is locally-owned by Calli Duncan, who also has a role in the board of directors of Downtown Kamloops Business Improvement Association. The store carries plants, handmade products, jewelry, accessories, home decor and other items. It had over a 100 brands including local, small businesses and Canadian-made products.
Recently the store started featuring food-themed items along with some snacks too. Young suggested one gift could be pasta for $6 combined with a sauce for $12.50. Big Lake Pasta is based in Thunder Bay, Ont. and it is made with traditional ingredients. Famiglia Crispino makes sauces in Calabria, Italy and offers different flavors and options. Photo by Macarena Mantilla / The Wren
Another option is chocolates by the brand Schoki from Squamish, B.C. which are handcrafted with premium beans. Some flavours include milk-hazelnut, espresso and dark raspberry sold for $11.
For those who are looking for a unique candle option the store has an orange candle for $23.75 along with a nine-pack of pine cone candles for $28. Photo by Macarena Mantilla / The WrenIf you are interested in socks with creative designs they start at $12.50, which can be a stocking stuffer or could be combined with another item for those who love them. Photo by Macarena Mantilla / The WrenHot sauce and gumball machine ornaments add a fun touch to any ornament-lover’s tree. The price for the ornaments vary, starting at $6.50 up to $21.50 per unit. Photo by Macarena Mantilla / The WrenYou can also support Pretty Little Things Kamloops, a small business that makes glass designs. These Christmas trees start at $18. Photo by Macarena Mantilla / The WrenThe store also carries plants. During this winter season there is a smaller selection. This small grinch tree is $24.99. Photo by Macarena Mantilla / The WrenThe store carries products from Baggu, which offers these reusable bags which can be attached to a keychain and fold easily so you do not have to buy them at the store. The baby Baggu bags are $19.75 and the large Baggu bags are $21.75. Photo by Macarena Mantilla / The WrenDisplay of various Christmas decorations featuring some Christmas trees at Far & Wide. Photo by Macarena Mantilla / The Wren
Along with all of these items the store has some sales going on for the season varying from 20 per cent off on holiday home decor. The store is open from Monday to Friday from 10 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. and Saturday to Sunday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Castles and Cottages
From left to right, Easton Farnsworth, Leah Fraser and Natalie Jonasson sales associates at local store Castles and Cottages. Photo by Macarena Mantilla / The Wren
Castles and Cottages is a local store that offers products like bedding, kitchenware, home decor, jewelry, clothing, footwear and other items. Owner Rosie Johasson is the one behind this family-run business which offers great gifts for this holiday season.
If you know creative individuals who love very colourful and unique socks there are various designs to choose from in the store. The price varies depending on the design and they start at $19. Photo by Macarena Mantilla / The Wren
A great idea for those who love tea is to get them from the Improper Co. brand which features funny and irreverent messages for $13. There are options of black, green, rooibos and herbal tea. Photo by Macarena Mantilla / The WrenHowever, if someone does not like tea and prefers hot chocolate you can get them a mix for $2.50. The flavours vary, including cider, pumpkin spice, cappuccino, burnt caramel and many more.Photo by Macarena Mantilla / The WrenPair tea and hot cocoa mixes with a unique mug. There are several options to choose from in the store starting at $15. Photo by Macarena Mantilla / The WrenThe store carries a variety of soaps and body products, like the brand Pre de Provence which has bar soaps for $13.50 with various scents like lemon mojito, lavender, grapefruit, cucumber and others. Photo by Macarena Mantilla / The WrenThe store offers many designs and types of jewelry, including Glee Jewelry which is made in Victoria, B.C., with a brass/alloy base along with high quality electro plating. This jewelry is safe for sensitive skin (hypoallergenic), free of lead and nickel and plated in real gold, rose gold or silver. The prices depend on the item you are purchasing, studs start at $17.50 and necklaces start at $20. Photo by Macarena Mantilla / The WrenIf you want another option for reusable bags the store carries the brand Loqi which features designs from famous painters like Frida Kahlo, Johannes Vermeer and Vincent Van Gogh. The reusable bags retail for $20. Photo by Macarena Mantilla / The Wren
The store offers many more options, especially for those who love kitchen items and home decor. Castles and Cottages is open Monday to Saturday from 9:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Sundays from 12 p.m. to 4 p.m.
Soul Stones
Co-owners of Soul Stones mother and daughter Mandy Hall and Jaimi Hall. Photo submission by Soul Stones
Soul Stones is a local store, co-owned by mother Many Hall and daughter Jaimi Hall, offering options for those who love crystals, tarot, oracles and spiritual items.
The store is known for these necklaces, which are made out of a combination of crystals to help with particular things like mental health, love, grief and prosperity. They are made in two sizes, a small which is $12 and a large is $17. This could be the perfect gift for someone who loves crystals and is trying to focus on certain aspects of their life in the new year. Photo by Macarena Mantilla / The WrenMandy Hill and Jaimi Hill make these homemade candles which have not only crystals, herbs and scents, but also have particular intentions in mind. The candles are paraffin free, their prices are varied starting from $8 depending on the size. Photo by Macarena Mantilla / The WrenThe store has a wide selection of crystals starting at $3.50. They also have crystals with carvings in specific shapes like owls, turtles, elephants and other shapes. Photo by Macarena Mantilla / The WrenThe store has a wide variety of tarot, oracle and affirmation cards. The price starts at $25. Photo by Macarena Mantilla / The Wren
Soul Stones is open from Tuesday to Sunday varying times depending on the day.
The Golden Buddha
Montana Sandry, a sales associate at the Golden Buddha small business in Kamloops. Photo by Macarena Mantilla / The Wren
The Golden Buddha is a metaphysical store which carries a variety of products from all over the world. Some products feature deities, incense, prayer flags, books, decks, candles, clothing and more. The store also supports local artists and has a wide range of affordable items.
There are deities like Ganesha, the figure which looks like an elephant,is a Hindu god that symbolizes wisdom, prosperity and a remover of obstacles. Deities like this one vary in price from $9 to $50 depending on the size. There is a wide variety of statues that you can find. Photo by Macarena Mantilla / The WrenThe store has these angel charms made by a local artist which vary in price from $15 to $18 which can be used as a decoration. Photo by Macarena Mantilla / The WrenIncense is one of the items you can find at The Golden Buddha. Their selection offers different scents and types for those who enjoy it. These incense burners are made by a local artist and they vary in price starting at $11 to $30 depending on the design and size. Photo by Macarena Mantilla / The WrenCrystals are also some items you can find there with a wide variety and guide on what they do. The prices range from $0.99 to more depending on the type of crystal and size. Photo by Macarena Mantilla / The WrenFor those who believe in bad or good energy, the store has these pre-made herb bundles so you can burn them and cleanse a space, person or item. The price of the herb bundles vary starting at $7.99. Photo by Macarena Mantilla / The WrenBracelets start at $11.99 up to $25 depending on the type. Photo by Macarena Mantilla / The Wren
The Golden Buddha is open Tuesday to Saturday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Sunday and Monday from 12 p.m. to 4 p.m.
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Macarena Mantilla moved from Ecuador to pursue her degree in journalism at Thompson Rivers University. She seeks to amplify the stories of people in the Tk’emlúps (Kamloops) territory. Growing up in Quito, Ecuador taught her about different cultures and obtained a rounded knowledge. She is interested in reporting on social issues, mental health and human rights. She has covered stories that have focused on minorities in the community.
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