Shops & Business

Bride with flowers in her hair.

Personal flowers, also known as “flowers to wear,” have had importance and place throughout history. Early in history, personal flowers served a practical function.

Alexandra Eve Howe, St. Croix Valley-based personal stylist and wardrobe consultant

Alexandra Eve Howe dreamed of being a personal stylist since she was a little girl.

A variety of unique table decorations from Small Things Fair Trade shop.

At Woodbury’s Small Things Fair Trade shop, there are plenty of beautiful handmade items to choose from, each with its own baked-in story.

Shannon Enright, owner of Small Things Fair Trade, shows off some of her wares.

An estate planning and retirement attorney by trade, Shannon Enright has always loved learning about new cultures, but it wasn’t until an October 2017 trip to Ghana to deliver polio vaccinations and build part of a school that she first got the idea to open a fair trade store.

The cover of the 2019 Holiday Gift Guide

Our 2019 Holiday Gift Guide features the best local picks for perfect presents.

More than 220 guests and volunteers helped to raise over $75,000 for United Way of Washington County East at United by the Vine 2019. Funds raised help the organization and its partnering agencies to benefit the lives of many in our community.

A spiral candle from Afton Candle Company.

The Afton Candle Company has grown from family hobby to thriving business.

Sarah Schroeder, founder of Minnesota Made apparel company, poses outside a storefront displaying some of her products

All of Minnesota Made's products are sustainably made from companies that are Worldwide Responsibly Accredited Production (Wrap) certified.

Four trolleys from Stillwater Trolley await riders before a tour of the city.

Fall back in love with the Valley: Book a trolley tour!

Bags of Colectivo Coffee sit next to a Wisconsin mug at The Purple Tree gift shop.

The Purple Tree was voted this year’s Best Gift Shop, and with a summer of graduations, block parties and impromptu patio gatherings on the horizon, who doesn’t need a stash of host and hostess gifts right about now?

A woman models a pair of statement glasses.

Statement glasses are back in a big way. But when it comes to finding the right frames—to flatter your face, work with your lifestyle and fit your look—it can be intimidating to navigate the bevy of choices.

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