11 small businesses with great gift ideas

We are highlighting 11 fantastic small businesses who have the perfect gifts for both you and your loved ones.

If you want the chance for your small business featured on Kochie’s Business Builders please let us know by commenting below.

The Hamper Emporium, Sydney

The Hamper Emporium founder Emily came up with the idea of an online gift store in 2007 with fresh hampers made daily. Realising the market potential, Emily launched the website in 2010. As a determined small business owner, she purchased the successful online gift sites Gifts Australia in 2010 and Everything But Flowers in 2014 to establish The Sol Group Pty Ltd.

Global Sisters, Sydney

This wonderful organisation called Global Sisters was founded by the inspirational social entrepreneur Mandy Richards in 2014. Richards is passionate about supporting human rights, eliminating poverty and empowering women. Over the past two decades, Mandy has worked in both commercial and not-for-profit sectors in Botswana, Ethiopia and New Zealand. She established Global Sisters to assist women to be financially independent and to ‘stand strong’ on their own. This fantastic organisation provides fantastic and empowering alternatives for women who aren’t able to enter the workforce. They also have a social business called The Market where they sell beautiful handmade products by women working to create a better quality life for their families.

Edible Blooms, various locations around Australia

Edible Blooms was founded by sister duo, Kelly Jamieson and Abbey Baker. What started out as a crazy idea developed into a thriving business in 2005. The sisters started out in a small commercial kitchen and an online store and has grown to a team of 50 in seven locations across Australia and New Zealand. Edible Blooms are made fresh daily from chocolate and fresh fruit. There are locations in Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Perth and Adelaide.

Alperstein Designs, Melbourne

This Australian owned company was formed in 1996. The team at Alperstein Designs create and develop a range of interesting lifestyle products for the gift and Indigenous tourism industries. Alperstein Designs colloborate with Australian artists and designers to create a vast range of products that appeal to Australians and internationally.

Australian Choice, Canberra

Australian Choice is a family owned business which only sells Australian made quality gifts and souvenirs online and from a retail store in Canberra. They currently stock a range of more than 4,000 products in store, sourced from artists, designers and manufacturers from all over Australia. The store was first established in 1989 to create an outlet for quality Australian made products for both locals and tourists. The shop has nearly doubled in size since the launch and has recently had a complete new shopfront.

Jones & Co, Sydney

Jennifer Jones was involved in creating a small family business Jones & Co in 2006 selling specialty handmade ceramics, gifts and homeware. The products are all designed in Sydney but produced in factories in the Phillipines, Vietnam and Thailand. Jennifer opened her first store in Bondi Beach in November 2016. Jones & Co has grown to include four unique brands each with their own authentic spin on different products.

Hardtofind, Sydney

hardtofind was founded by Erica Stewart to celebrate vibrant, unique designs from many small businesses in Australia and internationally. Erica aims to gather an international community of cottage industries, independent studios and hole-in-the-wall retailers with people looking to purchase something unique. They sell quirky, interesting and quality gifts that are hard to come by. Erica works with sellers from all over Australia, London, Lithuania and Puerto Rico.

Prezzee, Sydney

Prezzee was created by Matt Hoggett and Claire Morris. The Sydney-based duo work in the gifting industry and have been the first to market Australia’s first Gift Card app. They know that all of us have missed an expiry date, misplaced a voucher or left our Gift Card at home when out shopping. The idea behind Prezze is the Gift Card is stored safely on your phone. The perfect gift for someone who is hard to buy for!

Arganeco, Sydney

Arganeco was founded by Marouane Rouicheq in 2013. With Moroccan Berber origins, Marouane witnessed her grandmother working in the Argan fields her entire life. She realised how labour intensive the task of gathering nuts and fruit and then tediously crushing them for hours to get to the precious oil that lay inside. After two years of research, Marouane wanted to empower these women and provide the finest organic argan oil beauty products. The oils are purchased directly from the women’s village cooperatives in southern Morocco.

Melt Bake & Party, Wendouree, Victoria

Melt Bake & Party was launched in 2016 by Allison Jones when she spotted a gap in the market for an online store selling on-trend cake decorating supplies. The ideas was to creat something for people just like her who were self-taught bakers trying to recreate at home the amazing cakes on social media. Allison has recently added a boutique party store making it a unique one-stop shop selling everything that is needed to create a gorgeous, unique celebration.

Biome, Brisbane

Biome was founded by Tracey Bailey in 2003 who was frustrated with large businesses getting away with claiming to be greenwashing their products. She took matters into her own hands and started a small business selling super clean, cruelty free beauty ranges. Tracey ensures that careful research is conducted when it comes to labelling, ingredients and no harm being done to people and animals. Biome prides themselves on being free from toxins and are firm supporters of human rights, controlling waste and supporting local businesses.