Tampa Bay, Florida-Every year, patch editors have an interesting duty to find locally made holiday gifts at Tampa Bay gift shops, craft festivals, and farmers’ markets.

And, as always, the choices this year are rich and varied. Tampa Bay has no shortage of cottage industries and creative entrepreneurs, offering gifts that satisfy every taste and interest.

With the help of online shopping sites such as Handmade Amazon, Etsy, Cratejoy, Zibbet, iCraft and Indiecraft, as well as the booming weekly markets across Tampa Bay, cottage industry has now become a big business.

Last year, Etsy attracted more than 33 million buyers from all over the world, who spent more than $3 billion on products sold in the cottage industry.

Handmade Amazon attracts 250 million customers worldwide and sells more than 3.8 billion products at an average of 7,400 items per minute. Among them, Florida ranks second in the United States with more than 50,000 Amazon sellers. California ranks first with more than 88,000 sellers.

Although grandmother’s hand-knitted sweaters may not be as exciting as tearing open gifts containing Xbox Series X or Playstation 5 on Christmas morning, retail industry reports that people are increasingly interested in buying gifts that support small businesses. Environmentally friendly and beneficial business.

The American Chamber of Commerce stated that the COVID-19 pandemic has had a significant impact on consumer spending. People give gifts that are not so luxurious, and prefer more personalized and considerate gifts.

With this in mind, here are some of our favorite things this holiday season.

Jeff Benes of Odessa, the owner of BENESandBENNY, uses sewing machines to make cloth dog collars, leashes and other dog accessories at home. He started his business during the pandemic in June 2020 and now sells his handmade products on the local market and on Etsy.

"I have always kept dogs, and I love my dog ​​Benny, a Catahura leopard dog, who came to me from a local shelter a few years ago," he said. "I am an artist and I create products that I want my dog ​​to wear."

You can reach Benes through his Facebook page.

Dunedin artist Elizabeth Mason created a miracle with the simple sea glass found while exploring Florida beaches. She is the owner of EJM Designs and her jewelry can be purchased at the local handicraft fair and her Etsy store.

If you look around Pinellas County, you will most likely see the handicrafts of artisan and metal worker Bill Coleman at the College of Creative Arts at 968 Douglas Avenue, Dunedin. From whimsical bike racks to decorative metal gates and railings, Coleman has been committed to bringing beauty and public art to parks, public buildings, and businesses throughout the county.

Although the 6-foot-tall metal statue may not be the most practical gift, Coleman also made some smaller objects, such as popular knives made from real railroad nails. You can reach him through the Facebook page of the School of Creative Arts.

Tampa resident Tim Wiley’s hobby started 10 years ago has become a family business for his daughter and grandson, creating unique writing utensils decorated with gold, silver, chrome, antique brass, tin, and wood, each of which is Artwork. Recently, Wiley's company 3 Gen Pens Company has added a series of custom handmade rings made of abalone, mother-of-pearl, opal and other gemstones.

By the way, one of Wiley's passion is giving back. Part of each pen sale is used to combat domestic violence.

Nothing represents Ybor City better than a hand-rolled cigar.

JC Newman Cigar Company continues to produce cigars in the same way that it produced cigars at its iconic factory in Ybor City 100 years ago. The Regensburg factory was built in 1910 and is one of the last and largest cigar factories in Tampa's history. Like every cigar factory in town, Regensburg has a nickname: El Reloj, which means "clock" in Spanish. For generations, residents got up and retired from the bells of the factory’s tall brick clock tower, which was restored by the Newman family in 2002.

In addition to hand-rolled cigars, JC Newman Cigar Company located at 2701 N. 16th St. also provides customized humidors and other accessories for cigar lovers.

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