‘Tis the season, everyone! ‘Tis the season to channel your giving spirit and buy gifts for friends and family as you go on your myriad of Christmas and New Year’s dinners (all while keeping safe, of course!). But what if I told you that you could shop for holiday gifts and do a good deed at the same time?
What if you could support someone’s dreams and aspirations with some shopping? Well, WhatsApp Business has begun a new initiative, ‘Gifts For Good’, by featuring local and women-owned businesses for you to shop on your favourite app!
Today, I would like to share with you six women-led businesses that offer products ranging from small-batch snacks and bakes to traditional recipes, home essentials, and artisanal jewellery. You will be spoilt for choice this holiday season! Would you like to see your options? Here is your ultimate mid-holiday gift guide!
Chilli Tan (@chilli_tan)
This one is a chilli-dedicated business run by Dione and her dad. Dione’s dad has always made his famous chilli sauce for friends and family. Seeing how delicious it is, they always encouraged the two to make a business out of it. Now that her dad is semi-retired, Dione snatched the opportunity! While her dad experiments in the kitchen, Dione runs the business side of things, and together, this dynamic duo has ruled the hearts of so many who’ve taken on their chilli!
Do you know of any friends or family that are experts in taking on the terrifyingly scorching heat of chillies? This could be the perfect gift for them!
NOMMISH (@feelingnommish)
If you love to nom, this next business will be the bomb! Liz leads this business. A dramatic epiphany hit her and her business partner about an addictive, yet insanely healthy snack: granola! When this became her favourite snack, Liz started NOMMISH to share her favourite snack with Singaporeans. She creates fresh, small-batch and “unapologetically healthy-ish” granola for us!
Gift someone this scrumptious snack – one they can never, and never have to, put down!
Sweet Surprises (@sweetsurprises.sg)
The founders of Sweet Surprises, Ifra and Thara Hassan, are sisters, and they hold down the fort together! They provide you with the most unique and fun gift boxes, which hold some sweet, sweet surprises! Their Sweet Boxes and Smash Boxes are customisable and contain a wide range of candy and chocolate.
A classic gift during the festive season is chocolates and candy, so if you’re going for a twist on a classic gift idea, you’ve found your dream business!
Daughters Diamonds (@daughtersdiamonds)
What do you wear to brighten up a dull outfit? Jewellery! But this business is different from the rest. Sarah, Founder of Daughters Diamonds, launched this business not to make her own dreams come true, but that of others. She wanted to help individuals design their dream jewellery, whether by working with them to create unique designs or by bringing old jewellery to life by redesigning them! In Asia, top jewellery artisans use their top-notch craftsmanship skills to bring you stunning jewellery that will adorn your body and burn others with envy!
Give someone a darling artisanal piece of jewellery from this business, and they will love you forever.
Every Knitted Thing (@everyknittedthing)
This hobby-turned-business offers you beautiful handmade knitted items that will class up your home! Valerie and her sister wanted to keep their mother active after she stopped working during the pandemic. They had the superb idea to take their mother’s knitting hobby to the next level by turning it into a business! Today, these three women run this business together, selling funky handmade coasters and adorable trinkets. They hope that every product that reaches their customers will place a smile on their faces and spread good cheer this season!
Whose face will you place this smile on, with these wacky knitted items? Gift this to someone who loves little artefacts of talent and love to showcase them in their home!
The Bag Creature (@thebagcreature)
What started as a passion project for Matthew turned into an exciting business venture when his wife, Jieying, came onboard! She knew there was potential for this project to be something more, and she went all in as she quit her job and began handling the ropes to this business. Today, this business supports their family of four (and two dogs!) to sell any sort of bag, from functional camera bags to travel backpacks.
You can never go wrong with bags as gifts! The perfect handy-dandy bags, which can hold your most prized possessions or be your partner through a workday, is a gift anyone will be grateful for.
Now, those were the six brilliant businesses. The only thing I can think of right now is #GirlPower! As we say in our pledge with our chin up, shoulders back and hand to heart, we want to build a society based on equality. Giving women the spotlight proves that our nation is on the road to progress. It’s truly a proud moment as a woman to see other women given a chance to steer the wheel and steer it towards success.
I hope this season of giving, you give these businesses a chance. Let’s help them realise that they are capable of anything, and most importantly, through it all, we’ve got their backs.
Go check out the various businesses on their Instagram accounts and make your order on WhatsApp by clicking above on the names of the businesses that caught your eye!
Let’s make these women feel the jolly spirit because ‘tis truly the season!
Photos by Darren Chiong of the DANAMIC Team.
