Shops to Swoon Over

Unique Gift Ideas from Small Businesses

Last Updated: May 21, 2026

Local Shopkeepers Share Their Favorites Right Now

Online shopping may be convenient, but it can never fully replace the experience of being in a thoughtfully curated store where you can see and touch items up close, chat with friendly staff, and learn the story behind unique products. Seattle Southside is home to some charming boutiques, which stock high-quality artisanal goods that make wonderful gifts (or treats for yourself). We spoke with the owners and buyers of two shops in Seattle Southside about their favorite items on their shelves right now.

Zenith Holland Nursery
Iris & Peony

Zenith Holland Nursery

Jennifer, the buyer at Zenith Holland Nursery in Des Moines, loves stocking items made by small artisans and makers. The items she picks out for the gift shop include far more than gardening accessories (though there are plenty of those, too). You'll find everything from apparel and accessories to luxury home goods and decor to toys and baby items. She's also enthusiastic about helping people in the store and was happy to show us some items she loves that they tend to have year-round.

Stoll & Heart jewelry is handmade and curated in Seattle. Zenith stocks dozens of the brand's unique earrings, some delicate and dangling, some neutral and geometric, and some bright and beaded. The simplistic, elegant designs incorporate natural materials such as nickel-free brass and wood.

Pictured: Stoll & Heart earings at Zenith Holland Nursery

Will Leather Goods, a family-owned company based in Eugene, Oregon, makes a wide variety of luxury leather goods, including gender-neutral bags and wallets. Jennifer loves how soft and supple the leather is, as well as the fact the company offers a lifetime guarantee on products if you need to send something in for repair. The family-owned and operated company works with artisans worldwide to incorporate hand-woven textiles into some of its designs, which you can also find at Zenith.

Pictured: A bag made by Will Leather Goods at Zenith Holland Nursery

Iris & Peony

Iris & Peony has long had a reputation as one of the finest florists and gift shops in Seattle Southside. They recently relocated to downtown Des Moines, behind Second Love Coffee. The shop is filled to the brim with luxury seasonal decor that's fully turned over and restocked before major holidays. As far as items they tend to have all the time, owner Robyn Desimone points to one of their most popular gift items: luxury candles and skincare from Lucia, a small business in Montreal. In addition to using natural ingredients, the products have beautiful packaging, making them an eye-catching, elegant gift for the holidays, Mother's Day, or any occasion.

Pictured: Lucia candles and skincare at Iris & Peony in downtown Des Moines

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