By: Shandra Martinez
The holiday season is the perfect time to treat yourself while lifting up Michigan’s small businesses. Shopping small means unique, curated finds while investing much-needed capital into the local economy.
Locally owned shops are where you’ll find those special, personal indulgences that make the season feel magical. You’ll enjoy the experiences as you hunt for holiday treasures from nearby boutiques, specialty shops, and artisan markets. These spots offer thoughtful touches that make every celebration feel unique.
Shopping small isn’t just for the basics. It’s about the little luxuries, too, whether that’s handcrafted chocolates, cozy Michigan-made winterwear, or a new fragrance from a local perfumery.
As we head into 2025, we can support our small-business community locally and across the state with our shop-small habits. Pampering yourself while supporting your community is a gift that lasts long after the holiday lights fade.
Looking for ideas? Check out some ways MRA members across Michigan are offering unique ways to indulge this season.
European Flavors, Michigan-Made
Biting into a rich and flaky treat can transport you to an outdoor European cafe. That’s the inspiration behind the Just Delicious Scones brand. Created with Scottish tradition and European flair, Just Delicious Scones is a beloved Michigan- made favorite on the bakery shelves in over 40 specialty groceries statewide.
Each preservative-free scone is rooted in founder Jennifer Stockwell-Colombo’s passion for creating delectable baked goods inspired by what delighted her taste buds while traveling Europe in her youth.
“I fell in love with scones in the cafes,” Stockwell-Colombo recalls. “When I came back in the ‘90s, there were no scones here, so I started making them at our family coffee shop, Cup-A-Cino, in Grosse Pointe.”
She soon perfected her recipes and began selling wholesale. Her version reflects her Scottish heritage and has a richer, buttermilk-based texture, just like her recipe handed down from her grandmother. “Scones are different everywhere,” she explains, “but ours are softer, cake-like, and keep fresh for 21 days, which is unheard of.”
As demand for Just Delicious Scones grew, she expanded her line to include more than 30 varieties, from peppermint white chocolate and eggnog for Christmas to vanilla bean bunnies for Easter. Each six-pack is thoughtfully wrapped and often topped with a bow, designed to feel like a gift.
“We want our scones to stand out and feel like a treat,” she says.
Over the decades, Stockwell-Colombo has built deep relationships with premium Michigan retailers, who championed her brand from the start.
“We began with just a few local stores, but demand grew quickly,” says Stockwell- Colombo, adding that retailers stood by her during the challenges of the pandemic. “That’s the kind of partnership that’s carried us through, even during the toughest times.”
Stockwell-Colombo is now moving her longtime bakery operations from Roseville to downtown New Baltimore, next to The Pink House Tea Room, an 1875 Victorian home overlooking Anchor Bay.
“It’s a place to reconnect and celebrate,” she says, offering guests a beautiful setting to savor tea and freshly baked scones. Whether enjoyed at The Pink House or brought home from your favorite grocery store, Just Delicious Scones continues to bring warmth, tradition, and a sense of Michigan pride into kitchens across the state.
Find Just Delicious Scones at these other MRA-member businesses:
Busch’s Fresh Food Market
Ann Arbor, Brighton, Canton, Clinton, Dexter, Farmington, Livonia, Novi, Pinckney, Plymouth, Rochester Hills, Saline, Tecumseh, West Bloomfield
Hollywood Market
Madison Heights, Rochester Hills, Royal Oak
Nino Salvaggio International Market
Clinton Twp., St. Clair Shores
Westborn Market
Berkley, Dearborn, Livonia, Plymouth
Visit Justdeliciousscones.com to become a retailer or shop online.
Take the Stress Out of Travel
For an extended treat, travel can be the ultimate indulgence – especially when you hand over the planning and booking to a boutique agency.
“Booking with us is about treating yourself,” says Megan Anthony, group travel operations specialist at Next Travel in downtown Frankenmuth. “We handle everything, start to finish, so clients can relax and enjoy their trips without the planning stress.”
Next Travel, with branches across Michigan and Indiana, offers full-service travel arrangements for leisure and business clients alike. As part of the Signature Travel Network, Next Travel provides clients with perks like upgrades, extra amenities, and special promotions.
“Our advisers bring years of experience and exclusive benefits through our network,” Anthony adds.
Popular Michigan getaways include Mackinac Island’s Grand Hotel, Frankenmuth’s Oktoberfest, and Traverse City’s Cherry Festival. For those traveling farther, destinations in the Caribbean, Mexico, and Europe are easy to reach with direct flights from Michigan.
“We also specialize in meetings, incentive travel, and group travel, where utilizing a travel advisor can really make a big difference,” Anthony says.
Find Joy in Creativity
If a creative retreat is more your style, consider visiting B’s Artistic Studio, a welcoming space where anyone can treat themselves to a day of hands-on creativity. Since opening in May 2023, B’s Artistic Studio in Charlotte inspires creativity with an array of workshops.
“Many people visit simply to treat themselves or enjoy a fun afternoon with their grandkids,” says owner Michelle Banta. For 25 years, she offered classes from her home while balancing roles as an elementary school teacher and a caseworker for the state of Michigan, before finally turning her passion into a full-time endeavor. “We have something for everyone, from string art and wreath- making to UV resin jewelry and diamond dot coasters.”
B’s Artistic Studio’s splatter room
The studio even features a “splatter room” where guests can let loose, flinging paint across a canvas in Jackson Pollock- inspired art sessions. This family-friendly activity is popular for group events and birthdays.
“We’re looking for excellence, not perfection,” Banta says. “Creativity is great for mental health, and we want each project to be uniquely theirs.”
B’s Artistic Studio collaborates with other local businesses, including Studio Marketplace, to offer book clubs, soap- making sessions, and cookie classes, and the Crafty Michigander, to help guests create beach glass windows and Christmas trees.
B’s Artistic Studio also offers classes for resin art stained glass windows, beaded suncatchers, and crushed glass pieces. Gift certificates are a popular choice at the studio, allowing customers to treat loved ones to an art project or workshop.
“We’re not just arts and crafts. We’re a little bit of everything,” Banta says. “It’s all about helping people treat themselves to the joy of creating.”
Pampering yourself doesn’t have to wait for a special occasion. Whether it’s a quiet morning with tea and freshly baked Just Delicious Scones, a getaway planned by the experts at Next Travel, or an art-filled afternoon at B’s Artistic Studio, supporting MRA members is a gift that keeps giving.
