Still looking for unique and thoughtful gifts to give this holiday season? Well my gift guide for 2022 has arrived! I know I usually do local businesses in Tampa (don’t worry, there are still a couple local favorites on the list) but this year I wanted to do something a little different. Welcome to Annie’s gift guide: woman owned businesses edition. As you may know, it is important for me as a women business owner in a very male dominated field to highlight other amazing women around me who are doing great work. So I figured I could do the same thing with this year’s gift guide, but share some of my personal favorite brands who are woman founded and owned.
Annie, Owner and Lead Designer at Ann Cox Design
There is something on this list for everyone, from skincare, to some of my favorite bags, and even some items for that person in your life who always loves to entertain (like me). So explore the different brands and I hope you enjoy!
Appointed
Looking for some high quality paper goods and desktop essentials for that boss babe in your life? Or are you just looking for beautiful tools to inspire your beautiful work? Appointed has been our go-to place for notebooks, writing tools, and just general gorgeous desktop accessories.
Proudly manufactured in Washington, DC, their purpose is simple: “to create products you’ll use well and hold on to, while prioritizing sustainability in every aspect of their production - from raw materials to packaging.” Suann Song, Founder & CEO of Appointed, was initially a graphic designer by trade with a public relations and marketing background As a longtime paper lover, she was always in search of the perfect notebook—American-made, minimalist-yet-chic, and sustainably-minded. The perfect notebook didn’t exist so Suann set out to create it herself. This Asian-American, female-founded brand launched with their signature product, The Notebook (my absolute favorite notebook). Six years later, Appointed is proud to offer a suite of desktop and paper goods.
Brightly
Here at Ann Cox Design, we love to promote sustainable brands, eco-friendly home tips, and use sustainable materials in our designs. So it probably isn’t a surprise to see Brightly on my list. The perfect place to shop for that person in your life who is always trying out new sustainable products and knows it is the little steps that make a big difference. They have so many cute gifting options from actual gift wrapping, to an Eco-Boba Tea Set, and cute reusable kitchen Items.
Brightly combines content, community, and sustainable product recommendations to provide a positive, judgment-free space for change. Their goal is simple: to help you #LiveBrightly through small daily actions that add up to a huge impact on the world around us. Sometimes living sustainably feels like the ultimate challenge, but Brightly offers a thoughtful selection of products and brands makes conscious consumption simple. They also are proud members of 1% for the Planet and are Climate Neutral Certified, we love to see it.
Dagne Dover
Another personal favorite brand of mine, Dagne Dover. My head of Branding and Marketing, Krista, had a few pieces from Dagne Dover and told me to look into them last year when I was searching for a new backpack and I am now in love. Not only do I have a few products from them now (I use the Ace Fanny Pack everyday) but I also recently got Krista the Indie Diaper Backpack since she is expecting her first baby to arrive any day now!
Dagne Dover was founded in 2013 by three women who come from different backgrounds but have similar drive and passion for making lives easier through empathy and good design. “Dagne Dover creates problem-solving bags - for all the problem-solving humans out there. Bags that keep up, stay organized, and look good doing it.” And of course, they also focus on sustainable products by minimizing waste, use non-toxic and recycled materials, and are recently on a path to make all of their bags vegan.
Every bag is designed for your life, there is a spot for everything. Daily Tote
Estelle Colored Glasses
If you have been to my house, then I have probably served you some wine in an Estelle Colored Glass. This truly is the perfect gift for any entertainer or wine lover in your life. The products are beautiful and now span from wine glasses to rocks glasses, cake stands, and even decanters. I personally have a mix color set of the stem wine glasses, which are not only perfect for my personal style (have we met, I love color), but it also is really nice when entertaining because everyone knows which glass is theirs.
Estelle Colored Glass was founded by Stephanie Summerson Hall, and was inspired by her grandmother, Estelle, who loved antiquing and had a special day of the week where she visited her favorite shops looking for new treasures in small neighboring South Carolina towns. Stephanie built her company around designing vintage-inspired yet refined and modern colored glass collection starts a revival of colored glass that is reminiscent of a past time.
Estelle Colored Glass Decanters and Rocks Glasses
Fly By Jing
Have a food lover in your life? I have quite a few… so I am constantly looking for fun food brands. Fly By Jing first catches your eye because of the amazing branding and fun personality the brand has created, but then hooks you with their actual product. Cult classics are the Zhong Sauce and Sichuan Chili Crisps. But I also love their Salsero Serve Set, because you guys know I love functional table decor for when I entertain.
Jing founded Fly By Jing in 2018, inspired by the amazing flavors of her hometown Chengdu and its famous fly restaurants— soulful hole-in-the-wall eateries so good they attract diners like flies. “Thoughtful food powers meaningful dialogue. Our power lies in creating space for you to ask and discover. We create a seat at the table because we belong there.” — Love it!
Nikki E Designs
Jewelry, I really don’t think you can go wrong with gifting someone a piece of jewelry… Especially something from Nikki E Designs. The style behind the brand is effortless chic. Known best for dainty and unique designs, the pieces are designed for layering, but can also stand alone.
Nikki officially launched the brand in 2015 with a single goal in mind: “to create beautiful quality jewelry that helps enhance the goddess each woman has inside - a daily reminder of your beauty and strength.” She draws inspiration her hometown of Miami and Venezuela where she was born. Each and every piece is handcrafted locally in Miami, FL using only sterling silver dipped in 18k gold.
Rings and Bracelets, Nikki E Designs
Summer Fridays
Summer Fridays is a great place to shop for any of your self-care loving friends. Their first product, the Jet Lag Mask, is now a cult favorite. All of the products are sulfate free, paraben-free, cruelty-free, vegan, and use recycled packaging. But let’s talk about the packaging, its beautiful, and I’m a sucker for good branding and packaging.
Founded by two beauty influencers, Marianna and Lauren wanted a line of products that ticks all the boxes: easy-to-use, clean ingredients, immediately satisfying, and so pretty you'd want them on display. “Today, Summer Fridays is a growing collection of products that continue to give us what we are missing—beauty, efficacy and simplicity—while inviting us into sensorial experiences that are nothing short of dreamy escapes. Like daily mini stay-cations for your skin.”
The Little Market
If you want unique hand crafted items that not only look beautiful but support artisan groups from all around the world, then get your loved ones something from The Little Market. They sell everything from glassware, home decor, personal care products, to kids toys. Everything on the site is hand selected by the founders and sourced from all over the world.
The Little Market is a nonprofit fair trade shop featuring ethically sourced, artisan-made products founded by Lauren Conrad and Hannah Skvarla. “At The Little Market, we ethically source from artisan groups and social enterprises in underserved communities including refugees and resettled individuals, people with disabilities, young mothers, survivors of sex trafficking, and individuals living in extreme poverty. These organizations improve the quality of life in their communities in a number of ways including literacy workshops, business training, counseling, and healthcare programs.”
Tampa Local Women Owned businesses we love to partner with
Ashlee Hamon Photography
If you have been following us on social media, scrolling through our portfolio on our website, or admiring items in our online shop, then you know who this woman is. Ashlee from Ashlee Hamon Photography, not only an incredible friend of mine, but an insanely talented photographer in the Tampa Bay area. She photographs all of my headshots, finished spaces, and products for Ann Cox Design. But she is truly so talented and can do all of the things.
There really is nothing like gifting someone a photography session. Being able to capture certain moments in their life is truly priceless. Ashlee’s work spans from extravagant weddings, to headshots, to branding sessions, and even private in home sessions. Check out her full portfolio here or follow her on Instagram.
Hajarie Home
You know we had to mention our 2022 home decor collection featured artist, Tiffany Hajarie of Hajarie Home! Hajarie Home makes beautifully designed textiles and wallpapers. Some of the patterns are featured in our home decor collection.
After studying Anthropology, Interior Design, and Graphic Design, Tiffany was driven to find an artistic outlet beyond her day job as an interior designer, so she launched her own textile collection. Inspired by architectural details, colors, and florals, her ideas always begin as a hand sketch. She later turns her sketches into digital illustrations, allowing her to tweak and create several iterations of the same pattern with a seamless repeat. She partners with vendors who use eco-friendly printing methods to bring her textiles to life, creating products that are environmentally friendly and sustainable.
You can shop some of the pieces she made for our collection, admire some of her other designs on her site, and follow her journey and designs at @HajarieHome on Instagram.
Tiny Vines Table Runner, Totem Pillow, Elizabeth Pillow - Hajarie Homes in partnership with Ann Cox Design
Table Runners - Hajarie Home in partnership with Ann Cox Design
Elizabeth Throw Pillow - Hajarie Home in partnership with Ann Cox Design
Elizabeth Table Runner - Hajarie Home in partnership with Ann Cox Design
Olfaction
Candles, another gift you really cant go wrong with. Enter Paige from Olfaction. She creates truly magical scents for her clean and 100% soy candles. She not only creates fun labels for every season, occasion, and even offers custom labels, but she also happens to be the person behind our Ann Cox Design signature candles.
“Since 2013, Paige has been exclusively working with soy wax to create uniquely blended fragrances that wow the senses. Combining that with her background in marketing, Paige has created a product that is pleasing to both the eyes and the nose. As memory is known to be tied most strongly to the olfactory system, it was important for her to offer a customized label option so others could tie their own fond memories to scents they have grown to love. “
Hope you all enjoyed the gift guide and discovered some new woman owned companies to shop at. What are some of your favorite woman owned business? Share in the comments below.
Cheers!
Annie