HOUSTON – Where we spend our money matters and when we buy local, our money does more good for our community than it does when we shop at big-box stores, so when you go shopping for surprises, whether they be for a birthday, holiday or major life milestone, consider supporting local entrepreneurs.

Sure, national chains offer the advantage of one-stop shopping and they make it easy to order items online, but if you hope to find something eccentric or unexpected, something truly special for your special someone, small businesses are your best bet. They simply care more about their customers and select with great consideration an inventory relevant to them.

I’m thinking of the zany gift shops that carry artwork by Houston-based artists who have a flair for making our hometown into masterpieces, the longstanding record stores that promote local musicians, the family-owned toy stores crammed with retro collectibles priced to sell, the gift shops at local museums, the stacks-style bookstores, where you can say, “My sister likes Virginia Woolf,” or “My husband’s into science fiction” and a discerning bookseller will start pulling out options for you. The kind of places that are a joy to browse and be at.

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In an effort to highlight our community’s small businesses, we’ve assembled a list of 40 stellar shops selling items you’ll actually want to give . . . and get.

This list is by no means definitive and we’re grateful for recommendations. Drop them in the comment section and they’ll be considered for inclusion in an update to this article.

👒 Apparel

Dao Chloe Dao

Houston designer Chloe Dao catapulted into the national spotlight after winning “Project Runway” Season 2 in 2006. Her eponymous…