We’ve partnered with our friends at GiftBlazer to come up with this list of funny and whimsical gifts that you can buy from locally owned stores in our very own Madison, Wisconsin! Or if you don’t feel like leaving the couch, shop online right now! Here’s the shoppable list!
Why Shopping Local in Madison Isn’t Just Nice — It’s Powerful (And Way More Fun Than Amazon)
Greetings, weird and whimsical warriors! If you’re reading this, you’re one step away from becoming a certified Champion of Local Shopping (seriously — we’ll get you the badge later). Today we’re diving into why picking up a silly gift from a Madison-based shop beats clicking “add to cart” on Big Online Retailer (you know the one). And yes — we’ll highlight 16 ridiculously fun local gift ideas while we’re at it.
1. Dollars stay in your community
When you shop at a locally owned store in Madison, your money stays right here. Research shows that for every dollar spent at independent local retailers, about 68 cents stays in the local economy (vs. around 43 cents when you buy from national chains).¹ That means you’re literally investing in your community’s future — and buying that “Gold Mustache Bunny Wall Accent” (yes, that’s a real gift, and yes, it’s glorious) counts as an investment.
So when you grab the quirky Party On!™ Licorice Dispenser from Motormouth (we know, we know — shameless plug, but it’s also genuinely awesome), you’re fueling Madison’s economy, supporting local jobs, and helping keep our weird-wonderful vibe alive.
2. Locals give back — it’s part of the deal
Small businesses aren’t just storefronts — they’re community hubs. They sponsor local sports teams, donate to nonprofits, hire neighborhood folks, and show up in ways the mega-online-giant never will. According to one study, small businesses give about 250% more per sales dollar to nonprofits than big corporations.² That’s Joyful Justice in action.
Take for instance: when a store in Madison sells that adorable Autumn Gnome Dish Towel, they’re not just making a profit — they’re likely supporting local art, sourcing from Wisconsin-based makers, and occasionally maybe donating to a bookshelf “Little Free Library” initiative (because yes we love our little libraries). And when you buy the Dino Xmas Playing Cards, you’re sending money to a shop that lives and breathes this city.
3. Unique gifts = more laughter per dollar
You know us: we’re all about mighty mirth and whimsical weirdness. National-chain gift aisles? Pretty meh. But locally owned stores in Madison? They’re full of gems like the Digestive System Plush Bundle (the guts out of us are still snickering) or the Wisco-Mythos Print: Mendota Monster. These items feature local lore, local roots, and local personality. The kind of gift that shows you care — not that you just hit “one-day shipping.”
Plus, local makers often have the freedom to experiment, produce limited runs, and keep things weird in a way mass-production just can’t match. Your friends will remember the gift — and you.
4. Customer service that remembers your name (or your weird quirks)
Ever tried to chat with a massive online retailer about a weird edge-case gift return? Not fun. But your favorite local shop? They’ve seen you before — maybe you bought the Peace Love Mustard T-Shirt and told them that’s your ultimate condiment motto. They’ll get you. They’ll dig into the back room for that Wooden Cat Cheese Plate you fell in love with. They’ll wrap it with local flair.
In short: support local businesses = better experience + same day (or next-day!) hero status when you bring home the gift.
5. Environmental pluses
Less shipping, less packaging, less carbon footprint. If you buy local in Madison, you’re reducing the need for long-haul freight and massive warehousing. If you pick up the Sasquatch Can Glass locally instead of ordering it overnight from somewhere else, you’re basically doing your part for the planet — while also sipping from a glass shaped like a classic soda can (cool, right?).
Highlighting 15 Mad-town Gifts That Show Why Local Rocks
Here’s a quick roll-call of our favorites (seriously legit weird and wonderful) — each from a locally owned Madison store, each with local flair, each giving you an excuse to throw a little joy.
- Autumn Gnome Dish Towel — Wisco Home Goods, Madison
- I Break for Little Libraries Canvas Tote Bag — The Glitter Workshop, Madison
- Dino Xmas Playing Cards — Wisco Home Goods, Madison
- Mission Impawsible Game — Hazel General Store, Madison
- Digestive System Plush Bundle — Nerdbugs, Madison
- The Wisconsin Collection (Spice Blends) — The Deliciouser, Madison
- Sasquatch – Can Glass — Zip-Dang, Madison
- Wooden Cat Cheese Plate — Good Day Shop, Madison
- Wisconsin Whey Book — Fromagination, Madison
- Wisco-Mythos Print – Mendota Monster — Zip-Dang, Madison
- Peace Love Mustard T-Shirt — National Mustard Museum, Middleton (close enough)
- Gold Mustache Bunny Wall Accent — Linen & Clove, Verona (just outside Madison)
- Poupon U Baby Onesie — National Mustard Museum, Middleton
- Graduate Cow Figurine — Open House Imports, Mount Horeb
- Party On!™ Licorice Dispenser — Motormouth, Madison
See what we mean? These aren’t “generic gift aisle goods” (i.e. Christmas slippers that don’t fit and shaving kits with products he’ll never use). These belong here. They belong to you, Madison, and to the people you care about.
Final Words: Make the Choice That Builds the Community
Look — we get it. Amazon is convenient. But convenience doesn’t win championships in community building. It doesn’t throw local fundraisers, doesn’t hire your mother-in-law after she retired too early and now doesn’t know what to do with her time and is slowly losing her mind, and doesn’t create the kind of vibe that makes a city go “Yeah, this place is weird and amazing and I love it.”
When you choose locally owned stores in Madison over a faceless corporate machine, you’re saying: “I value my community, my friends, my city, and yes — I’ll pick up a funky gift that makes people laugh because life’s too short for basic socks.”
So this holiday season (or anytime you’re looking for a gift because you have to — we get that), choose local. Gift with the kind of joy and weirdness that only Madison’s local shops can deliver.
Because the jokes matter. The laughter matters. The community matters. And when you shop local, all of it wins.
Stay weird. Stay joyous. Party on, gift legends.
— Your pals at Motormouth Innovations
