Here at RED Collective, we are all about our local communities. And there is no better day to celebrate all of the amazing local businesses in the communities that make up the Triangle than Small Business Saturday. We are excited to share this year’s roundup of our favorite small businesses to shop in the Triangle.
All of the Triangle
Taste Carolina is a Triangle-based restaurant tour and food experience business. Offering both in-person and virtual options, they provide a wonderful opportunity for Triangle residents new and old to learn about the plethora of amazing restaurants and foodie options we have in the Triangle and beyond.
Carrboro & Chapel Hill
This little coffee shop is run by former professional ballet dancer Shaw Sturton, who began his life in the coffee biz as a buyer for Blue Bottle Coffee in Oakland, CA. Building on that rich experience, Shaw and his team roast coffee in small batches right in the heart of Carrboro. In addition to beans, Gray Squirrel offers a full-service espresso bar, fresh, in-house baked goods, and an intimate community feels. Don’t miss their Maple Latte; it’s love at first sip!
Whether you are looking for handcrafted jewelry, a unique greeting card, a funny pair of socks, or a beautiful limited-edition print, this little gift boutique truly has something for everyone! Better still, their hyper-local ethos means that not only is This and That locally owned, they also prioritize local artists, craftspeople, and makers when stocking their store. If you’re looking to truly shop local, this is the place to start.
Durham
Though Tiny in size, Tiny the shop goes big on both style and service. This children’s boutique is located in the heart of Durham, where they provide everything from newborn registries to a wide selection of children’s books for the older kids in your life. And once you’ve made your gift selection, the staff at Tiny will wrap it all up and send you on your way. During the busy holiday season, is there anything better than a full-service shop?
Consistently ranked one of the best local running stores in the country, this family-owned shop has two Durham locations that not only offer shoes and running apparel but also provide the running community with a place to call home. They have training groups that serve everyone from the littlest kids (Kids Run Durham) to beginning marathoners to the competitive athletes who participate in their Track Club. They also host a series of races throughout the year, including the annual Running of the Bulls in downtown Durham.
Owned by best friends Paul and Ian (who met at the Culinary Institute of America), Ideals has burst onto the Durham food scene this year with their mouth-watering deli sandwiches. Whether you’re angling for a freshly made English Muffin or an Uncle Primo’s Chicken Cutlet hoagie, make sure you bring your appetite and plan to leave with a full, happy belly.
This gem of a gift boutique, located in Brightleaf Square, is a gorgeous, serene gift boutique that provides an exquisite setting in which to search for a gift this holiday season. They curate a lovely selection ranging from elegant jewelry, accessories, and home goods, to cards, paper goods, and holiday wares, all designed to meet gift-giving needs throughout the year.
A multigenerational staple in Durham, Barnes began as an agricultural supply store and has evolved (as Durham has changed) into a shop focused on providing the best options in domestic pet nutrition, supplies, and health care products. But fear not - you can take the country out of Downtown Durham, but you can’t completely take it out of Barnes supply. In addition to meeting the needs of your cats and dogs they also are ready to support your chickens, horses, and pigs too, all with educated, experienced service.
Located in the heart of downtown Durham, Louella is a local bottle shop, bar, and event space that brings a wealth of wine knowledge to the Durham community. Not only do they host regular tastings, highlighting various winemaking regions and varieties, but they also deliver both across the Triangle and to 43 states. Relatively new on the scene in Durham, Louella not only survived these past few years but thrived, emerging as a wonderful destination for those looking for the perfect bottle of wine to gift to family and friends.
Durham & Raleigh
This nationally-renowned, locally-owned shop has storefronts in both downtown Durham and downtown Raleigh. Founder Megan George combined her experience in urban farming and small-scale succulent propagation with a keen design eye to launch Zen Succulent in 2012. Working alongside her mother, Margaret, Megan continues to oversee all design aspects of the business, where they offer locally sourced plants, hand-mixed soils, custom-created terrariums, and complementary plant-related gifts.
Raleigh
If you’re looking for a European-style bakery with bread and pastries then Boulted Bread is your spot. The bakers at Boulted mill their own flour daily and then transform the flour into gorgeous and delicious baguettes, levains, croissants, and pastries that will transport you right on over to France. Don’t miss their delectable Morning Buns and their famous Everything Croissants!
Hartwell is a new retail and community space in Raleigh; it hosts workshops, events, artist talks, markets, and private events. The building that houses Hartwell has served the Raleigh community for decades as a grocery store and neighborhood grill and was recently purchased by Caitlin Ward, the granddaughter of the original owner. Hartwell is an amazing example of the dedication to the community that is present throughout the Triangle.
Owned by Kathleen Mattingly Dautel, Spark Metal Studio is a jewelry and metalsmithing line created by Kathleen Mattingly Dautel, a designer trained in fine art and architecture. The clean lines of her stainless steel and epoxy resin jewelry are reflective of both her professional training and her love of nature, and they are all uniquely beautiful.
Aptly named, Pocket Gallery is a small gallery in Raleigh run by local artists Caitlin Cary and Skillet Gilmore. In addition to their own work, Pocket features additional artists across many media throughout the year. They sell art prints, three-dimensional works, jewelry, and more at multiple price points, making it easy for the local community to introduce original artwork into their homes and lives.
