With winter and the holiday season fast approaching, ‘tis the season to support small. Soon, gifts will be wrapped, hot cocoa will be made, gelt will be won, and drumming will encourage dancing.
But before we get to the festivities, we’re heading to local markets to make sure our giving also gives back. Here in our hometown of Boston, we’re already en route to Snowport, tote bags in hand.
The Holiday Market at Snowport 2024
Snowport, an annual event held at Boston’s Seaport District, will be open from November 8th to December 29th. Boston locals and visitors are welcome to participate in winter activities like curling, food stalls, and shopping at The Holiday Market at Snowport Presented by Constant Contact.
Constant Contact is excited to support twelve businesses and organizations with the 2024 Snowport Scholarship. Each business is BIPOC-owned, supports traditional handicrafts, and/or helps drive aid to social causes. To find each recipient, look for an orange border around their stall sign and a navy badge to identify them.
To support our scholarship recipients, we’ve granted them one-on-one marketing support with our team of marketing advisors and access to our marketing platform. Everything from email and automation to social media and sign-up forms will be available to support their digital marketing efforts.
Our CEO, Frank Villa, will participate in the holiday market’s ribbon-cutting ceremony on opening day. He had this to say about the event: “The Holiday Market at Snowport isn’t just about shopping – it’s an opportunity to support the small businesses that contribute to the vibrancy of our communities and give them the tools they need to grow for years to come.”
Not in Boston? Here are some ways to support small businesses this holiday season.
- Signing up for their newsletters
- Following and engaging with these
- organizations on social media
- Wearing and using their branded items
- Talking them up to your friends and family
- Donating your time or money to them
- Leaving them a glowing review
Now, it’s time to meet our Snowport Scholarship Program recipients.
1. More than Words
More Than Words is a Boston-based nonprofit social enterprise and a long-time customer of Constant Contact. The organization seeks to empower teens and young adults involved in systems like foster care and court, as well as people experiencing homelessness, who are out of school, who are parenting, or who are receiving mental health treatment, to gain skills to support themselves and create a successful future. Youth involved in More Than Words are paid staff who help run the nonprofit’s book and gift stores.
Learn more at More Than Words and on X, Facebook, and Instagram
2. African Authentics
Rosemary Chimbganda is the founder of African Authentics. Of the Shona tribe and an immigrant from Zimbabwe, Rosemary fell in love with art from a young age. Primary school gave her the skills to extract plant fibers for clothing and to make housewares.
She took her craft with her after graduating from the University of Zimbabwe and moving to Boston to study computer science. Fresh from Northeastern University and employed as a software engineer, Rosemary founded African Authentics. What started out as a side hustle has become a business supporting several artisans and craft styles, including Shona stone art, beaded animals, and Tonga baskets.
Learn more at African Authentics and on Instagram
3. Beautiful Amore Skincare
Amerrah Brown is the CEO and founder of Beautiful Amore Skincare, a Black-owned, woman-led business in Jamaica, Queens, New York. The company’s product line, which harkens back to her mother’s teachings on holistic healing, consists of natural remedies, including soaps, oils, scrubs, salts, and candles made with vegan ingredients. Recognized by the BET Awards, Soul Train Awards, and the African American Film Critic Association Awards, Beautiful Amore Skincare is solidifying its spot in the skincare industry.
Learn more at Beautiful Amore Skincare and on Facebook and Instagram.
4. Element Oasis
Element Oasis is owned and operated by Thaisa Salgado. Inspired by her Brazilian grandmother’s soap-making, Thaisa began making soap and body care products with ingredients sourced from the Amazon. The business uses natural plant fibers, oils, fruit, nut extracts, and minerals like volcanic ash to make its sustainable, cruelty-free products.
Learn more at Element Oasis and on Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube
5. Gp Organics Soulcare
Gina Pina owns Gp Organics Soulcare, a natural skincare business based in Boston. Gina’s motto is “keep it simple,” so her line of soaps, skincare, and bath and body products are all free of parabens, synthetics, and dyes. A guest of NBC10 Boston two times over and a promotional partner for The Color Purple, Gp Organics is helping Gina make waves in her community.
Learn more at Gp Organics Soulcare and on Facebook and Instagram
6. Hillside Harvest
Kamaal Jarrett is the owner and founder of Hillside Harvest, a line of Caribbean-inspired sauces and marinades. Having spent his youth in family-run restaurant kitchens, Kamaal decided to take his passion for food and make it his career. Now, his favorite flavors can be found in local markets or shipped nationwide and to armed forces overseas. You can also learn to make his favorite dishes from recipes on his website.
Learn more at Hillside Harvest and on Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, LinkedIn, TikTok
7. Kenya Meets USA
Raychaelle “Rachel” Muchiri owns Kenya Meets USA. The company’s origins stem from her family’s business in Nairobi, Kenya. The family creates artisanal crafts, decor, and accessories in collaboration with locals. After spending time with the family business, she took it with her as she immigrated to the United States. From there, Kenya Meets USA was born.
Learn more at Kenya Meets USA and on Facebook and Instagram
8. Madhrasi Chai
Nancy Daniel, aka Chef Nancy, is on a mission to make you the best chai. An immigrant from Chennai, India, to Boston, Massachusetts, Nancy has tried every chai she could find from coast to coast. Finding other recipes and concentrates lackluster, Nancy couldn’t take it anymore and set out to take her experience from bland to brewing the perfect cup. Now, you can do the same in your own home with Nancy’s Madhrasi Chai.
Learn more at Madhrasi Chai and on Instagram
9. MaraK Shoes
Marcia Mallakis is the founder of MaraK Shoes. Brazilian-born and a mother of two, she was inspired to start MaraK after a trip to Turkey. Focusing on creating styles to empower women, her brand pays homage to powerful women throughout story, history, and the present. Marak Shoes are made with 100% European leather. Learn more on MaraK Shoes and Instagram
Learn more on MaraK Shoes and Instagram
10. Refugee Protection International
Refugee Protection International (RPI) works with local NGOs to provide aid, protection, and skills to refugees and internally displaced persons (IDPs) in local conflict zones. Encouraging mutual aid practices, RPI provides models for community-led relief efforts in the areas it serves. RPI’s work is focused on conflicts in Southeast Turkey, Syria, Ukraine, Lebanon, and Gaza. To date, the organization’s work has aided over half a million persons in these regions.
Learn more at Refugee Protection International and on Facebook, LinkedIn, and YouTube
11. Rooting For You
Rooting For You is a boutique plant and self-care store located in Greater Boston. Originally a way to promote her own self-care, plant care encouraged Peggy Enayo to pass along her methods to her community. Supplying plants, care tips, and apparel, Rooting For You directs customers to brighten their spaces, heal themselves, and support tranquility and growth. Rooting For You sells out of its new flagship store in Canal District Kendall and at local markets and popups.
Learn more at Rooting For You and on Instagram
12. Sock Puppet City
Marty Allen is an artist and writer residing in Brooklyn, NY. In 2005, he began a new career path after taking a suitcase full of framed photographs of sock puppets to Union Square Park. Each puppet has a personality and a background. Some are stars — singers and actors tied to a larger brand. Now, the puppets can find their way into your home, along with their framed portrait and Sock Puppet Madness — a book characterizing how full of character they are.
Learn more about Marty and Sock Puppet City and Instagram
Shop small and give back this holiday season
For those in Boston, Snowport runs from November 8th – December 29th. The market is free to enter, but if you want to skip lines for the weekend, you can reserve your spot. Curl, grab a festive cocktail, and support small businesses along the way.
A small business owner? Here’s How to Market Your Small Business on a Shoestring Budget and our Holiday Marketing Quickstarter to help you finish out the year.
Happy shopping, selling, and supporting your local community — ‘tis the season!
