Get the latest Syracuse news delivered right to your inbox.
Subscribe to our newsletter here.

Every year, holiday shopping presents a distinct struggle for last-minute shoppers. Larger stores are often packed with more people than merchandise, making it even more difficult to choose gifts for relatives and friends. Instead of turning to Amazon or Walmart, explore these local businesses to add a special touch to your gifts.

Mixed Methods

“Each artist has their own method and process for their work,” Mixed Methods owner Amy Wilson said, explaining the meaning behind the shop’s name.

Located in Hanover Square, Mixed Methods carries a variety of products created by over 60 different artists and small businesses throughout the United States, including pottery, jewelry, candles, cards, lotions, soaps and textiles. Wilson called it a “one-stop shop” because the store showcases gifts and products for all kinds of people.

For each artist featured, Mixed Methods also provides general information and a fun fact about the creator with each purchase. Wilson said an added benefit of buying or gifting artwork is that each piece has its own character and style.

“When you buy something from the shop, it’s someone’s original designs and completely unique,” Wilson said.

The store has recently added a few seasonal products to their inventory, including holiday cards, ornaments, candles and “some really fun Christmas socks,” Wilson said. Mixed Methods also provides complimentary holiday gift packaging specifically for Christmas and Hanukkah.

Among its seasonal festivities, Mixed Methods loves decorating for Christmas. Each year the store participates in the Downtown Committee of Syracuse’s Window Wonderland event, where businesses can show their holiday spirit and, as a result, inspire bypassers to check out the festive displays.

Chillin: Sunday Snowmies Holiday Market

On Sunday Dec. 12, the Black Artist Collective hosted “Chillin: Sunday Snowmies Holiday Market.” The event, which was free to attend, took place at Salt City Market from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. and featured around 27 vendors.

Sunday’s event showcased visual artists, illustrators, craftspeople and digital artists, all local to Onondaga County. Customers could find hand-dyed yarns, jewelry, soaps and clothing for both people and pets. “Chillin: Sunday Snowmies Holiday Market” also hosted food vendors, contributing to a holistic holiday shopping experience.

If you missed Sunday’s market, the Instagram pages of Black Citizens Brigade, Jaleel Campbell, Horton Daniel Furnishings, Cocoas Candles, Crave Dessert Studio and other vendors are listed under the BAC’s most recent Instagram post at @bac_cny. From there, customers can contact individual vendors through direct message or other information displayed on their pages.

“Offering the opportunity for people to gather, have some holiday cheer, spend dollars with local vendors and local people in the community — I think that’s really important and powerful,” said Cjala Surratt, a co-founding member of BAC.

BAC was founded in 2020 during the pandemic as a way of bringing together people who seek to support Black artists and other artists of color in Syracuse. The organization supports its members through programs like Sunday’s market and community events, and it assists in professional development by allowing members to network and showcase their work to the public.

Surratt recognizes the power in shopping locally from Black artists and businesses.

“There are many ways to fight systemic racial inequalities,” Surratt said. “One of which is committing to support Black-owned businesses in your area. By focusing your purchasing power, you’re helping strengthen local Black economies and celebrate Black culture.”

Metro Home Style

Founded by Syracuse native Linda O’Boyle in 2006, Metro Home Style is a local gift shop on North Clinton Street that features accessories, bath and body products, candles, gourmet items and an extensive selection of greeting cards and paper-related products from its stationery room.

“We target people who are looking for stylish, well-made products for themselves or to gift,” O’Boyle said.

Last month Metro Home Style hosted “Gift Week,” a nine-day event where customers could reserve a one-hour window to shop in-person, free of crowds and chaos. Max Mimaroglu | Asst. Photo Editor

Metro Home Style sells products from all over. While some showcased brands, such as Syracuse Salt Company, Salt City Coffee, In My Father’s Kitchen and Stacy Kate, are native to the Syracuse area, the shop also sells items from across the United States and international sources.

The store carries a range of core products that are sold consistently and introduces seasonal items throughout the year. While larger businesses often cannot be this flexible with their inventory, Metro Home Style “can easily adjust our plan to the current, and ever-changing, environment and needs of our customers,” O’Boyle said.

For the upcoming holiday, Metro Home Style has introduced a wide variety of seasonal gift baskets and boxes of gourmet items. Each package follows a theme and is neatly wrapped, ready to be gifted. With every purchase, whether it is in-store or online, the store offers complimentary gift wrapping.

“Depending on the occasion, it could be as simple as a box with a bow, or more elaborate, with a custom-made fabric bag in a cellophane outer bag and a bow,” O’Boyle said.

Metro Home Style hosts “Gift Week,” a nine-day event that personalizes the holiday shopping experience. The store allows customers to register for a one-hour window to shop in person, which minimizes crowds. Metro Home Style also provides customers with a shopping tote and thank you swag. This event occurred from Nov. 6 to 14 this year.

“The concept is the opposite of the mobbed, chaotic open house that a lot of stores do,” O’Boyle said. “Some customers book a group of friends and family. Others come solo so they can focus on their list, or to get an hour of ‘me time.’”

Metro Home Style regularly participates in events that give back to the Syracuse community. Each February, the store hosts a food drive for the pantry at Francis House, and in August, it collects and delivers school supplies to Delaware Primary School.

“We love Syracuse and are very community-oriented,” O’Boyle said.

Published on December 12, 2021 at 9:16 pm