Cuddlefish in Manchester is perfect for natural moms.
“Holder of Hearts” Mother’s Day package at MAHRI
Handbags and sunglasses at StyleSnoop
Michelle James Salon
4Beach Gifts & Goodies has lots of mom's favorites.
Ray Griffiths-designed rings, GLADSTONE
This Sunday marks the very first gift-giving holiday since sheltering at home began, and local retailers have pulled together with a lot of creativity that will surely ensure local mothers feel the love from those who love them.
We are blessed to live in small towns with vibrant downtowns. And many local downtown merchants have made an effort to get the idea gears going for special gifting for moms.
For those mothers who like jewelry and like giving back, the jewelry boutique and gallery Gladstone is offering both for the holiday. Shop owner Elaine Souza has brought “in” (virtually) the New York designer Ray Griffiths (who has made several visits up to Manchester to meet customers at Gladstone trunk shows over the last few years) and Gladstone is offer a special Mother’s Day shop-from-home special of 30 percent off Griffiths items. (Other designer jewelry is 15 percent off.) Gladstone will also donate a percentage of each purchase to the COVID-19 Research Fund, Ragon Institute of MGH, MIT, and Harvard.
The team at Mahri started styling customized “Perfect Gift Packages For Any Mom” several weeks ago. They ended up with 12 packages that have great names like “Time to Relax”, “Always the Entertainer” and “Holder of Hearts”. All have been photographed and are available for free gift-wrap and home delivery (or there’s always curbside pick-up) until Saturday. Shop owner Aimee Bode said customers can purchase directly on the Mahri website or by email or phone. They’re making it easy.
Style Snoop’s Amy Lage has always kept an online selling posture, especially using video on Facebook, and she has been busy styling gift options for any Mom on your list - everything from summer and spring outfits, cozy lounge wear, or even a Manchester-by-the-Sea sweatshirt. There are also many “not sure of her size” gift options, like just-in summer bags, earrings, sunglasses, and the shop’s signature “by the sea” leather key chains. Curbside pick-up and nationwide shipping is offered by all the shops.
Next door, at Michelle James Salon, local moms can get a gift certificate that will satisfy a woman’s daily daydreams of “my first salon visit after quarantine” (think hair treatments, cut and color, etc.) along with a basket of products from the award winning line Oribe and olaplex that the team there will be happy to configure.
Cuddlefish is a no-brainer for natural products moms and those who just love cute clothes, accessories, and the shop has the best natural beauty products from brands like Dr. Hauschka and Bare Minerals. It’s also got the best selection of clothes for newborns and toddlers. Erika Curtis says Cuddlefish just got in new summer handbags, hats (both up to 50 percent off), bath and beauty products and baby gear for new moms.
The Brown siblings at 4Beach Gifts and Goodies have been helping customers with virtual shopping events for the last six weeks. Customers love the mom-friendly lines they carry, including Corkcicle Drinkware, Lizzy James Jewelry, Baggallini, Lilly Pulitzer, to name a few. Curbside pickup and free delivery is available.
The Book Shop at Beverly Farms is a great option for moms who love to read. Hannah Harlow has a true gift for suggesting just the right books and related little gems from the store’s selection of cards and accessories. A great little feature of Harlow’s is her “Blind Date With A Book”, a pre-wrapped blind selection she promises to be a discovery. Harlow hand writes enticing descriptions on the wrapping that are so fun to read. This and other “mom options” are on the website or its Facebook page.
Being able to get these gifts from local shops run and owned by our neighbors is a double gift, especially in this time of sheltering at home. To widen the variety or to boost a Mother’s Day gift, a gift certificate or gift card might be just the thing. Nearly all restaurants locally offer gift cards that can be redeemed later (Why not do Rain Date Mother’s Day Brunch in July or August?). Cala’s, Allie’s, The Mooring or Antique Table or Black Arrow or Dal Mare.
At Prides Crossing Confections in Prides Crossing, they’ve been busy making Mother’s Day chocolates assortments, but the store is also selling gift cards directly on its website. At Allen’s Pharmacy, customers can pick up chocolates too—including Winfrey’s and ABDALLAH—and the pharmacy is open on Sunday (9 a.m. to 5 p.m.), which is a plus.
To cast the widest gift card net, however, it’s good to check with The Bridge Cape Ann, Kory Curcuru’s widely popular local business community website and Facebook group. Recently, Curcuru launched a page with an ever-increasing list of local businesses all over Cape Ann that offer gift cards for easy purchase from outlets like All Purpose Flowers (Magnolia), the Manchester Athletic Club, Riversbend (Essex), Arts Abound (Magnolia) and Wendy Rose Massage (Manchester). By this weekend, there will likely be more.
Go local for Mother’s Day this year. Here are just a few resources mentioned here but there are many, many more. Get out there and show Mom you love her!
