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In partnership with Southwestern Ontario Regional Innovation Centres, we’ve rounded up some of our favourite Southwestern Ontario women entrepreneur brands, products and services.

Whether you are buying for an aspiring woman entrepreneur or for your entire family, check out this list of curated gift ideas founded by women in #SWO (and a few beyond) for this holiday season. Let’s make this year’s holiday shopping easy and most importantly, REGIONAL!

Please note, this is merely a snapshot of available #SWO gift ideas and women entrepreneurs. Southwestern Ontario is filled with great businesses and entrepreneurs. Share your suggestions with us on Twitter, Instagram or Facebook by using #ShopSWO.

This partnership is presented by WEtech Alliance, Haltech, TechAlliance, Innovate Niagara, Innovation Factory and Innovation Guelph, and is made possible with support from the Government of Canada through the Federal Economic Development Agency for Southern Ontario as part of the Women’s Entrepreneurship Strategy.
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Whiskeyjack Boutique – Nestled on Maiden Lane in Downtown Windsor, ON, is a quaint little shop stocked with quality Canadian-made gifts and souvenirs sourced from across the country. They have thoughtfully chosen their wares to create a unique shopping (online and in-person) experience for both locals and visitors alike.

Location: Windsor, ON  |  Founders: Allie Mistakidis & Katie Yeomans
Contact: hello@whiskeyjackboutique.com

Cheekbone Beauty is an Indigenous-owned and founded, Canadian cosmetics company established in 2016 by Jennifer Harper. Based out of St. Catharines, Ontario, Cheekbone Beauty is known for creating high quality, cruelty-free, sustainable beauty products. Keeping in line with her Anishinaabe roots, Jenn’s Cheekbone Beauty launched a less-waste line of lipsticks in 2020, called SUSTAIN, with zero-waste goals for 2023. Giving back to our community is a fundamental part of Cheekbone’s mission. Cheekbone Beauty aims for all, especially Indigenous youth, to feel beautiful and see their enormous value in the world.

Location: St. Catharines, ON  | Founder:  Jennifer Harper  |  Contact: cheekbonebeauty.ca/pages/contact-us

Dolled Up Desserts has recently launched a new product – Send A Slice. Send-A-Slice is the first “slice” of cake you can send to anyone via letter mail. The initiative was created to try and make shipping baked goods accessible to all. Each Send-A-Slice contains a “slice” of our award winning chocolate cake in baking mix form, a personalized greeting card, a candle for wishes, and comes sealed in a pink envelope. The cost includes postage to anywhere in Canada, and takes 2-3 weeks to make it to the first al destination. $1 of every send a slice goes to the Live Your Dream fund of the Soroptimists Society of Hamilton and Burlington. This award supports women in Hamilton facing poverty and abuse in achieving higher education.

Location: Hamilton, ON  | Founder:  Katarina Poletto  |  Contact: whatsbaking@dolledupdesserts.com

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Culture Shock Jewelry is an Indigenous owned company specializing in everyday jewelry using components like glass beads, shells, leather, feathers and semi precious stones. Also specializing in moccasins, pouches and dream catchers.

Location: Windsor, ON  |  Founders: Kathryn Pasquach  |  Contact: cultureshockjewelry@gmail.com

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Fun in the Box is a subscription box that encourages growth, learning, and quality time spent together with your kids. Their gift boxes are perfect for loving parents, grandparents, relatives and friends who struggle with what to buy for kids ages newborn to twelve years old, and make a perfect option for those who live far from their loved ones. They offer one-time gift boxes as well as a subscription model that brings joy to kids every 3 months.

Location: Windsor, ON  |  Founders: Danielle Moldovan, Michelle Vandenbrink
Contact: info@funintheboxkids.com

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Status Dress Rentals is an online platform where you can browse a large selection of dresses by size, occasion or color. Once you have chosen the perfect dress, simply add to your cart, choose a time-frame in which you would like to keep the dress for and the date you wish to receive it and checkout!

Location: Chatham, ON  |  Founder: Stephanie Owen

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Wooly Doodle is a Canadian clothing company focused on making the most comfortable, functional, gender-neutral clothing out there for babies, toddlers, young children and adults. Their clothes are ethically handmade in Canada out of sustainable, eco-friendly fabrics. All their fabrics are also exclusively knit and dyed in Ontario.

Location: Chatham, ON  |  Founder: Elizabeth Suni  |  Contact: hello@woolydoodle.com

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Grey Rock Clothing Co. is a men’s and ladies clothing boutique store that has curated a collection of sweatshop-free fashion. Partnering with brands that have the same values and principles as they do, Grey Rock is very proud to be able to provide conscience clothing choices to their customers.

Location: Guelph, ON  |  Founder: Morgan Baker  |  Contact: morgan@greyrockclothingco.com

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Abokichi creates sauces and condiments that fuse Japanese and other culture for unique flavours. There three miso-based sesame oil condiments: OKAZU Chili Miso, OKAZU Curry Miso and OKAZU Spicy Chili have been featured by major media outlets, including Chatelaine, the Globe and Mail, CBC, Edible Toronto, Toronto Life and more. OKAZU was chosen as a Gold Winner for the 2020 sofi Awards. Out of 1800 marinades, dressings and condiments.

Location: Hamilton, ON  |  Founder: Fumi Tsukamoto  |  Contact: fumi@abokichi.com

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SommEvents – Discover wine in the comfort of your own home with virtual wine tasting events, wine education, and wine related products.

Location: Mississauga, ON  |  Founder: Marte Belisle  |  Contact: marte@sommevents.com

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Penny Lane’s line of 100% Natural products are VEGAN / VEGETARIAN, GLUTEN FREE, and of course CHEMICAL FREE and based on the personal philosophy that if we wouldn’t put something IN our bodies then we won’t put it ON our bodies either. Therefore, when they design proprietary recipes for natural personal care products they choose ingredients that are often found in the kitchen or garden.

Location:  Huntsville, ON  |  Founder: Alexa Campbell  |  Contact: alexa@pennylaneorganics.com

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Spent Grain – All Natural Pet Treats. What is Spent Grain and what does it have to do with Beer? Spent grains account for 85% of the by-product of beer making that is currently going to farms as animal feed or to lands fills as waste. Spent Grains are oats and barley that have been steeped in hot water to remove the sugars for the brewing process. The grains are an excellent source of protein and fiber. They are human grade and low in gluten. Recycled Happiness Good for Pets, People and the Planet

Location: Meaford, ON  |  Founder: Barb Rideout  |  Contact: 2spentgrains@gmail.com

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Dixon Distilled Spirits – Founded in 2013 by the husband and wife team of JD and Vicky Dixon along with their good friend Kevin (Chevy) Patterson, Dixon’s Distilled Spirits was the first craft distillery in Guelph, Ontario. With diverse backgrounds in sales, laboratory services, operations and production management, the Dixon’s story began with a casual conversation over drinks on the backyard deck and quickly evolved into a mission to share their love for fine spirits with people across Ontario and beyond.

Location: Guelph, ON  |  Founder: Vicky Dixon  |  Contact: jd@dixonsdistilledspirits.com

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SniperSkin – Since 2015, Sniper Skin has delivered the best custom fit hockey grips on the market. Over the past 5 years, our product offering of Premium Sports Grips has been expanded to also include lacrosse, baseball, golf, fishing and more. Our ICT grips have also been enhanced to include additional tack to improve performance and vibrant, bold colours for a personalized feel.

Location: Dundas, ON  |  Founder: April Wright  |  Contact: april@sniperskin.ca

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Pomp & Sass sells wholesale Turkish towels. Designs are exclusive to us and we specialize in customization. Our products are ethically made, environmentally friendly and we donate a portion of profits to charity.

Location: Oakville, ON  |  Founder: Nikky Starrett  |  Contact: nikky@pompandsass.ca

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She’s Got Leggz – We are LOVED for super soft and comfortable LEGGINGS and stylish tops! At She’s Got Leggz, we pride ourselves on bringing unique, fashionable, and affordable leggings, tops and accessories to ladies of any age, size or body type. Leggings are a comfortable, inexpensive addition that every woman should have in her wardrobe. Pair your leggings with an amazing top and you will be all the rage!

Location: Burlington, ON  |  Founders: Laura Youngs & Donna Pinsonneault
Contact: laura@shesgotleggz.ca | donna@shesgotleggz.ca

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Amanda Steene – You are unique, and your makeup should be too. Why buy off the shelf when you can have exactly what you want made just for you to your luxury specifications for an everyday affordable price in less than 30 minutes? Welcome to the Evolution of Makeup! We are changing the face of the cosmetics industry by leveraging technology to offer Personalized Custom Cosmetics made just for you. Unlike having to choose from a pre-made selection, our professionals work with you to custom create products perfectly matched to your skin type, tone and colouring as well as taking account of your personal desires. This delivers makeup and skincare which enhances your beauty in ways you can never achieve with off-the-shelf standard products. Your custom formulated products are ready to take home at the end of your visit. You can re-order your Personal Formulas online and have product delivered directly to your door!

Location: Burlington, ON  |  Founder: Amanda Steene  |  Contact: info@amandasteene.com

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Lip Service Beauty – We hand craft plant based cosmetics. We source our raw ingredients and packaging as locally and ethically as possible

Location: Grimsby, ON  |  Founder: Annette Smith  |  Contact: support@lipservicebeauty.ca

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Moyaa Shea Products Ltd. – Soft, supple skin is a visible reflection of your inner health. Loving your beautiful, healthy skin contributes to your overall health and well being. 100% UNREFINED and COLD-PRESSED, GRADE A Shea Butter is an all-natural Vitamin A & E cream that’s rich in antioxidants. East African Shea Butter is high in Olein, which contains highly therapeutic substances. Moyaa Shea Butter is one of the best moisturizers for face, body, and even hair that you’ll find anywhere on the planet

Location: Lowbanks, ON  |  Founder:  Debbie VanGrieken  |  Contact: moyaashea@gmail.com

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The OVer Company makes the everyday life of the modern family easier, positively influencing every person we get to interact with. Clothing for parents and babies.

Location: London, ON  |  Founder: Sabrina Maulucci  |  Contact: hello@theovercompany.com

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Skilled Accents employs refugee women to create décor products from recycled fabric collected from local furniture and drapery stores. We believe in having a triple bottom line for our business; People, Planet and Purpose.

Location: London, ON  |  Founder: Kay Habib |  Contact: info@skilledaccents.com

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Featherfields – It is a haven for bird lovers and gardeners; passions that often go hand in hand. We are a very successful, independently-owned wildbird & garden shop, as well as a popular destination for unique gifts.

Location: London, ON  |  Founder: Ashley Satchell  Contact: featherfields@rogers.com

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Os & Oakes creates comfortable, unisex, clothing made of high-quality fabrics that both kids and their parents will adore. Established in London Ontario, our contemporary designs provide detailed, fun, fashionable and durable apparel for your busy little birds.

Location: London, ON  |  Founder: Erika Oakes  |  Contact: info@osandoakes.com

Southwestern Ontario is FILLED with great women entrepreneurs and businesses worth celebrating.

Be sure to share your favourites with us on Twitter, Instagram or Facebook by using #ShopSWO!

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QUESTIONS?

Contact our Women’s Entrepreneurship Coordinator, Kate Tomen

Email: ktomen@wetech-alliance.com  |  Phone: 519-355-7365