Over the years we've shared links to hundreds of small businesses and creative pursuits in our newsletter via our Lucky Links, or the lengthier lists we compile full of makers, designers, artists, creators of experiences, homewares, publishers, food and drinks, making kits and so many more. Like this one from last year.
Before we started Paynter, we looked way beyond our own industry for creative inspiration, and these kinds of lists always got our ideas flowing. They're a reminder to keep thinking differently, and they are the businesses we like to buy from, especially at this time of year.
This year we wanted to try something new.
If you keep looking in the same places, you won't find anything new, so you'll miss out on interesting new discoveries.
So we asked our friend Danny Giacopelli to curate a list of interesting small businesses for us. He was formerly editor of Courier magazine and the host of Monocle's The Entrepreneurs podcast (which we devoured when starting Paynter). New York-born, London-based since 2010. Now, he's the founder of For Starters, a newsletter community for the next generation of small business owners.
Over his career, he's met thousands of small business owners from all corners of the globe, and below, he shares his selection of small businesses who might not yet be on your radar and who'd appreciate your support over the holiday season and beyond.
You can check out Danny's list of small businesses below.
DILLI HOUSE
In 2022, Delhi-born, London-based Arpit Kaushik survived a cycling accident that left him unable to wear traditional alcohol-based fragrances. He channelled that experience into a beautiful, creative business.
GINEW
Erik Brodt and Amanda Bruegl – a married couple in Oregon who are both doctors – also find time to run this brilliant clothing company. The first Native American-owned denim brand in the US. A business with soul.
DOLLIS
London-based artisan Emily Leonard makes hand-crafted bags and accessories, recently collaborating with Pophams bakery to create oven gloves and with food magazine FatBoy Zine on a gorgeous blue apron.
YOYO
Delicious hot sauce from Laos-born, UK-based founder Hatsadee (aka Yoyo). I recently went through a bottle of their extra spicy Luang Prabang sauce in, like, a week. Buy a gift bundle and pour it on everything.
ATLANTIC COASTAL SUPPLIES
Florida native Shawn Lowry was once the concept designer for Double RL in NYC, but now lives in Cornwall and runs this fantastic aquatic-influenced clothing brand. Just look at that logo. Phew.
ARIZONA SAKE
Atsuo Sakurai spent a decade in the sake industry in Japan, before moving to Holbrook, Arizona – we’re talking literal desert vibes – and launching his own sake brand. Inspirational to say the least.
DANNY D’S MUD SHOP
Daniel Dooreck started this LA-based pottery business in his garage after years working in the restaurant and wine industry. Now he’s got a brick and mortar shop and loyal customers. I’m a huge fan of his work.
SADAK
Art director and filmmaker Aradhana Seth’s huge archive of small business signs in India are curated in this book, ‘SADAK: Hand Painted Street Signs in India’. A real delight to flip through.
GIFT SHOP
I want to collect all of these souvenirs from some of Paris’s most iconic restaurants and bars. Make small biz merch a thing in every city, please!
TIIPOI
Spandana Gopal runs this online artisan homeware shop, plus General Items, a store in Bangalore. She also recently launched x Tiipoi, a B2B service which helps brands manufacture artisanal objects at scale.
REVOLVING BOOKS
Why not browse the online shop of Nebraska bookseller Austen Baack, who’s built an audience of 200K on Instagram and sells all sorts of secondhand books, including some rare titles.
KAÏA
In Paris, ex-journalist Sarah Ben Romdane was inspired by childhood summers in Tunisia, where her family produced olive oil for generations, to create this next-gen olive oil brand.
YI CRAFTS
Quality handcrafts from East and Southeast Asia. The brand is run by founder Yiran Duan, a member of southern China’s Bai minority ethnicity, who also runs craft workshops in London and tours in China.
FALLEN & FELLED
This London business gives the city’s fallen trees a second life, milling them into gorgeous hardwood timber for furniture, designers and architects. A lovely, sustainable business model.
KISSA BY KISSA
Craig Mod’s gorgeous book about walking a thousand kilometers in the Japanese countryside, the culture of pizza toast, and mid-century cafes (kissaten).
TAST
Check out the good vibes of this Washington D.C.-based coffee brand, founded by three creative friends. It’s half design platform, half coffee biz.
GOOD BAKLAVA
Roy Donk was once dared by friends to sell baklava at a Phish concert. After succeeding, he turned it into a business. Now the New Yorker sells next-level baklava for a living. A stocking stuffer with a story!
PREST
Manchester-based graphic designer Callum Dawes has built a new brand that’s an ode to the classic utilitarian school exercise book. Follow every step of the product journey in his newsletter.
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If there's a maker or business you think we should include in our next list you can leave your recommendation here.
