Shop Local! - NH Seacoast Holiday Shopping Guide
Forgot to buy for somebody?
Or do you enjoy the thrill of last-minute shopping?
Whatever the purpose, Consider shopping locally!
Holiday shopping can be exhausting—crowded stores, endless to-do lists, and the pressure to find the perfect gift can quickly drain your holiday spirit. While online shopping offers convenience, it often lacks the personal touch and community impact that shopping small can provide. This year, consider supporting local businesses for your last-minute gifting needs. Not only will you find unique, thoughtful items that big-box stores can’t offer, but you’ll also help your community thrive by supporting hardworking entrepreneurs. Let’s make the season brighter for everyone—shop small, shop local, and spread the holiday cheer!
Here are some locally owned businesses in the seacoast area of New Hampshire:
DOVER, NH
Balancing Mind, Body and Spirit
Central to the mission at Earth Harmony Wellness is balance and harmony. We strive to create balance within ourselves thus contributing to the whole of the planet, recognizing we are all a valuable part which makes up the whole. We share both knowledge and skills through healing sessions and classes that help to facilitate healing within ourselves and the world. We realize that inner growth is an ongoing process that can always be nurtured further, and we will continue to search and expand ourselves, while serving others through Divine co-creation. We treat others the way in which we wish to be treated, with respect and kindness.
The center includes Oasis Retail Shoppe offering transformational tools to assist in your spiritual journey for mind, body and spirit!
Alisa Marie is a self-taught encaustic artist from New Hampshire, blending vibrant colors and innovative techniques to create bold, textured wax paintings inspired by nature, emotions, and personal memories. With over a decade of experience, she has developed a distinctive style rooted in her artistic lineage and early experiences in her grandmother’s ceramic studio. Alisa actively participates in the New Hampshire art community, showcasing her work at local exhibitions and selling original artwork, jewelry, and home decor through her website. She also licenses her designs and offers fabric prints on Spoonflower.
Owned and operated by Erin Casey, Erin Claire is a collection of clothing, jewelry, gifts, home decor, and locally made crafts. Our mission is to feature quality products that are local, support a community, or support a cause. Dover, New Hampshire and its surrounding areas have a wealth of talented craftspeople who we're proud to work with.
Fire on the Mountain
In late 1989, two lifetime skiers felt the time was right to take a risk and open a new ski shop in the Seacoast. We wanted to pioneer a shop dedicated to offering the best in custom ski tuning and repair. Every year afterward brought new lines and a steady expansion into the old house at the corner of First and Chestnut streets. Each spring, we would head to ski/snowboard hotspots in Utah, Colorado, and Wyoming to meet product managers and find new and exciting products to introduce to our growing customer base. By 1992 the shop had taken over the first and second floors of the building and that brought the addition of clothing to the shop. During the same time, the famous Fire On The Mountain “Boot Club” boot leasing program launched and continues expanding today.
A must see! Furniture store with antiques, gifts, home goods, and jewelry in Dover, NH.
At My Country Story, co-owners Andy and Roni Watkins bring their passion for farming and crafting to life, creating a charming gift shop filled with handmade items and products from local artisans. Their dedication to supporting the community and offering unique, high-quality goods makes every visit to My Country Story a special experience.
My name is Shauna Natalie. I am a hairstylist who has always had a passion for making women feel beautiful. My love for fashion and shopping started as a young girl, my Great Grandmother Natalie encouraged my passion for clothing. (*Spoiled me with shopping sprees!*)
It has been a long time dream for me to open a boutique of my own. I am very excited to offer fashionable clothing to create your favorite looks!
Stop in at 458 Central Ave, Dover, NH 03820
Our family has been providing quality educational and specialty toys through our retail store since 2005. We strive to stock our shelves with toys, games, books, and gifts that inspire children to learn, explore, imagine, create, and grow!
From pink dresses to black cauldrons, Dover's premier witchy boutique offers clothing, metaphysical supplies, Tarot, witchcraft classes, and more!
The Flower Room is a full service flower shop located in the heart of downtown Dover, NH. We make daily deliveries to Dover and its surrounding towns. We design custom florals for every occasion, including weddings, parties, birthdays, anniversaries, sympathy, and more.
Lickee’s & Chewy’s Candies & Creamery is a one-of-a-kind, award winning, medieval themed candy store, chocolate factory & ice cream/dessert restaurant featuring nearly 5000sf of candies and chocolates from around the world inside a 200 year old mill in downtown Dover, New Hampshire.
For over 40 years, Jewelry Creations has been the ultimate destination for fine jewelry, engagement rings, fashion jewelry, anniversary jewelry and full-service on-site jewelry repairs.
No other jeweler in the area has our selection of high quality brand name jewelry and no other jeweler can match our custom design capability and knowledge.
Far Northeast Acupuncture & Herbal Medicine
Far Northeast Acupuncture is a small private practice in the Seacoast offering acupuncture & herbal medicine therapy. First established in 2013 in New York, the practice permanently relocated to New Hampshire in 2022 with a new clinic in Dover to support the local community. All services are provided by Carla San Diego, L. Ac.
Located in downtown Dover, NH, Gallivant Global Eatery offers eclectic brunch, creative lattes and cocktails, global dinner, and private events
PORTSMOUTH, NH
Snap Quack Pop is a one-stop shop for all your fun and unique needs! We specialize in hundreds of rubber ducks, Squishable plushies, trending and nostalgic candies, novelty purses, cubes, fidgets, stickers, and pins. Whether you're looking for the perfect gift or a little something to treat yourself, our store has something for everyone.
Retail gift shop focused on local and regional artists and creators and other found and curated, unique goods. (Previously Tulips.)
Located at 93 High St. in picturesque downtown Portsmouth, NH, Modern Records boasts a large selection of quality used vinyl records. We also specialize in all genres of vintage vinyl, including collectible records.
Vintage LP records, all genres, 33's /LPs, 45's, 78's, 10'' LPs/33's; Rock, Jazz, Folk, Bluegrass, C+W, Hip Hop, Classical, Blues, Soundtracks, International, Sound Effects, Collectors, Comedy
Ahoy there! We offer a great selection of Portsmouth's best t-shirts, sweatshirts and other apparel as well as jewelry, nautical and tugboat related gifts.
A Pleasant Shoppe LLC, founded by Gretchen in 2020, is a unique destination showcasing the best local artists across various mediums. Built on the belief that talented artists deserve proper representation, the shop offers high-quality artwork for every budget in a welcoming and family-friendly environment. With locations designed to impress and inspire, A Pleasant Shoppe is a place where visitors can browse and purchase stunning local art while learning about the amazing individuals behind each piece. Gretchen’s mission is to provide not just exceptional art but also an exceptional experience, ensuring every visitor leaves with something special and a smile.
Sea Love - A Candle Bar & Boutique
Sea Love Portsmouth is the premier candle-making experience on the Seacoast. Discover the magic of scent-blending as you create your own custom candle or reed diffuser from over 100 different fragrances to choose from. Our staff will guide you through the entire process as you choose your scent combination, mix the fragrance oils, set the wick, and pour the wax. Afterwards, shop our boutique of carefully curated, coastal-themed retail items and receive 10% off! Visit us online to learn more and book your custom candle-making experience today!
Inside Out is your comfort store where you will find an amazing selection of comfy clothing and accessories for men and women. We offer something unique for everyone from footwear to fashion, travel items to toys and jewelry to craft cocktail essentials. Come to Inside Out and experience something really different from the moment you step inside.
Designer Jeans - Men & Women's Clothing - Children's Toys - Pet Accessories - Craft Cocktail Essentials
P.S. - We are pet friendly!
Ten Thousand Villages is a global fair-trade movement that empowers artisans in developing countries by providing opportunities to earn a fair, stable income through long-term trading partnerships. Since 1946, they have offered ethically sourced, handcrafted items like jewelry, scarves, baskets, and art, supporting eco-friendly practices and community empowerment. By shopping at Ten Thousand Villages in Portsmouth, you help improve the lives of 20,000 artisans in 30 countries, enabling them to meet basic needs, educate their children, and build a brighter future. Visit to explore unique, handcrafted designs and be part of this impactful global story.
The Vibe Collective is an Art and Fashion Hub located in the Heart of downtown Portsmouth, offering carefully hand selected gifts and apparel along with many artist and designer offerings. The Vibe is an all inclusive environment where guests are encouraged to visit and Just be.
The Portsmouth Soap Company is located on Market Street in downtown Portsmouth, NH. We offer locally Handmade Soaps and Seacoast-inspired Bath and Body products, Gifts and Accessories. Monthly Cold process Soap Making Classes are offered on Sunday mornings from Oct-June. On most rainy days in the summer, from 1pm-3 pm, we offer drop in DIY Melt + Pour Soaps for some family fun.
We also have our Shop Online and send orders within 48 hours. We can prepare a custom order over the phone for quick and easy pick up.
Reedmor Books & Brews is a revival of a family legacy that began in 1928 when the founder's great-grandparents, Ukrainian immigrants, opened Reedmor Magazine Co. in Philadelphia. Specializing in magazines, rare books, and pulps, the original store became a hub for collectors worldwide, thriving under the leadership of later generations. After closing in the early 2000s, the legacy is being reimagined nearly 100 years later as a new space for readers, blending tradition with a modern twist. As a 4th generation bookseller, the owner is excited to build a vibrant community of book lovers and honor her family’s rich history.
A lifelong collector, "putterer", cottage lover, and former accountant turned interior decorator & shopkeeper at heart, Eileen founded Emptio: your go-to destination for new & vintage chic and chill home decor and gifts.
Emptio, Eileen's Latin name from school, meaning I buy, echoes a love of shopping and treasure hunting and is now a store that invites you to discover your own point of view.
G.Willikers! Toy Shop is a second-generation family owned and operated toy store located in historic Portsmouth, New Hampshire.
Offers a hands-on, family friendly environment.
Happy Shopping!
Sources:
Dover Main Street,
The Chamber Collaborative of Greater Portsmouth
Rental Inquiries: (603) 743-6649
Main Office: (603) 742-7715
rentals@hopkinsnh.com
130 Central Ave
Dover, NH 03820, United States
