Valentine’s Day is a celebration of love in all its forms—from romantic to platonic and everything in between. While traditional marketing often highlights extravagant gifts or lavish dinners, this year is the perfect opportunity to try alternative options from small businesses offering handcrafted goods, personalized touches, and thoughtful services.
Here are 10 standout small businesses celebrating Valentine’s Day with heart and creativity.
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FINE & RAW Chocolate
Nothing says Valentine’s Day quite like chocolate. And FINE & RAW Chocolate says, “Above all else, be in love with the chocolate you eat.” Handmade daily in Brooklyn, this quaint chocolate factory takes this indulgent delicacy very seriously.
FINE & RAW Owner Daniel Sklaar is a self-taught chocolatier who honed his craft through YouTube videos and experimentation. He opened his chocolaterie in 2007 and went from making small batches for friends to having a global reach online.
From sourcing the world’s finest cacao beans to ensuring all ingredients are clean, organic, and plant-based, this confectioner holds itself to a high standard. According to Sklaar, the beans are flash-roasted so the shells are cooked but the inner nib stays raw. This is the best way to sanitize the food while keeping the antioxidant value high.
FINE & RAW’s curated gift sets include decadent truffle boxes, hot cocoa mixes, and bundles for the chocolate lover in your life.
Freestyle Vinyl
Music is a love language all its own, and the digitization of this media has opened up access like never before. However, some music buffs argue that the fidelity of digital music is weaker and advocate for the physical reproduction of audio recordings. That’s where Freestyle Vinyl comes in to record music in its purest form, with the customer’s personal touches of track selection and album artwork design.
Longing for the days of physical music and mixtapes, David Slenk put Freestyle Vinyl into motion in 2017.
Combining customization and nostalgia in a disc, this Chicagoan business has pressed over 25,000 records since its inception. The options include 7”, 10”, and 12” albums, and the ability to customize the record art or album sleeves.
With Freestyle Vinyl, people can experience the magic of listening to high-fidelity tunes while creating a treasured keepsake. Whether it’s a playlist of meaningful love songs or a favorite artist’s greatest hits, this personalized and thoughtful Valentine’s gift will resonate long after the music stops.
Native Poppy
Flowers are another classic Valentine’s Day gift, and Native Poppy in San Diego, California, is a one-stop shop for single arrangements, bouquet subscriptions, and floral workshops.
Natalie Gill launched this small floral shop in 2014 after putting together arrangements with friends in her backyard. Taking some creative liberties, she came up with the idea of a daily flower menu and opted not to follow the traditional single-bloom, dozen-stem formula. In 2018, Gill’s first employee, Meghan Blancato, became Native Poppy’s co-owner.
Native Poppy has two shops, one in South Park and one in Solana Beach. Both are decorated to the nines with seasonal art installations and a signature stem bar. There is a third location to pick up from—the warehouse—located in Mission Valley. The company also delivers fresh plants locally and other merchandise nationally.
There is a special Valentine’s Day menu that includes varieties of pink and red flowers, themed gift sets, cards, jewelry, candles, and other goods made by local artisans.
Lime & Lou
Owned and operated by a team of serial movers and visual creatives, Lime & Lou creates one-of-a-kind art pieces that freeze a moment in time—an anniversary, wedding day, or shared milestone—that will keep a memory alive for you and your Valentine.
Sofie Van Der Straeten and Tamar Meller put this vision into motion in 2021 after moving around quite a bit. They both realized the key to feeling comfortable in a new place was personalizing their space and felt this is probably a universal truth. So they created a small business that specializes in custom art that transposes favorite photos, song lyrics, or significant locations onto canvas, metal, or acrylic.
For a Valentine’s Day gift that’s truly unforgettable, Lime & Lou offers a range of personalized options—from custom prints to song lyric art to maps of meaningful locations in your relationship.
My Custom Candy
What started as a side project in 2015 quickly over-delivered and became Sarah Hannington’s full-time gig. My Custom Candy makes custom-printed mints and candies for bulk order, with personalized heart-shaped candies inspiring the business.
After losing the original manufacturer that helped Hannington get her feet off the ground, she had to “figure out how to produce the candy, print on it, and set up a food licensed facility.” That took about a year, but as of 2020, the company had increased production capacity by 300%.
For a sweet and personalized Valentine’s gift, My Custom Candy offers customizable candy hearts, chocolate bars, and other treats that can be tailored with your messages or designs.
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For a one-of-a-kind Valentine’s gift, Guess Where Trips offers gift cards for a surprise road trip experience, allowing your loved one to choose a trip that suits their interests.
Baked Bouquet
Baked Bouquet is an independently run bakery that specializes in crafting beautifully designed cupcake bouquets for every occasion. Founded by a passionate team with a love for both baking and design, Baked Bouquet combines the elegance of traditional flower bouquets with the deliciousness of cupcakes.
Each creation is meticulously handcrafted, using high-quality ingredients and careful attention to detail. With a commitment to creating memorable treats, Baked Bouquet has become a go-to shop for thoughtful, personalized gifts.
For a unique Valentine’s Day gift, Baked Bouquet offers cupcake bouquets that can be personalized to suit your loved one’s taste. They also offer a Blush and Bloom combo box filled with cupcakes and macarons.
Zesty Compass
Dedicated to creating unforgettable experiences, Zesty Compass offers curated selections of wines and aromatherapy products, all designed to enhance the senses and help customers live their "Zest" lives. With a deep passion for the finer things in life, Zesty Compass was founded to inspire others to embrace life's adventures and savor every moment.
From a carefully selected bottle of wine to a calming candle, Zesty Compass’ custom gift boxes will provide a unique sensory experience for every Valentine on your list.
The Dry Goods Beverage Company
The Dry Goods Beverage Co. was founded by Jake Krausz, a second-generation vintner from Napa Valley, and his wife Adrienne Stillman Krausz, a published cocktail writer. After recognizing a gap in the market, the couple created a range of non-alcoholic beverages. Focusing on high-quality ingredients and bold, complex flavors, they offer a variety of options that allow anyone to enjoy a well-crafted drink, regardless of their alcohol preferences.
For Valentine’s Day, The Dry Goods Beverage Co. offers a variety of gifts, including the Bee's Knees Mocktail Gift Set and the Paloma Cocktail Kit. And for the ultimate alcohol-free experience, consider the Cut Above Spirits Variety Pack or the Copenhagen Sparkling Tea Duo.
Naked Bar Soap Company
Naked Bar Soap Company offers all-natural, handmade products designed to nourish and celebrate your skin. Each bar, bottle, and lather is packed with ingredients like kokum butter, babassu oil, and black cumin seed oil, formulated to hydrate, soothe, and refresh. Their cheeky approach to body care invites you to embrace your skin and feel confident in its natural beauty.
For Valentine’s Day, consider their handcrafted artisan soaps, available in a variety of indulgent formulas, or their nourishing body oils for a truly luxurious self-care experience. Naked Bar Soap Company also offers seasonal bath and body products, lip care, and gift cards.
Guess Where Trips
Guess Where Trips strives to create memorable experiences that inspire people to explore new destinations and support local businesses along the way. The company curates surprise day trips that include a unique itinerary with recommendations, maps, and travel tips.
For a one-of-a-kind Valentine’s gift, Guess Where Trips offers gift cards for a surprise road trip experience, allowing your loved one to choose a trip that suits their interests. You can also add a Valentine’s Day gift-wrapping option with a tote bag and postcard to make the gift, and the experience, even more special.
Their Road Trip Gift Box includes a gift card, game pack, and tote bag, making it the perfect Valentine's Day treat for those who love an adventure.
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Emily Iverson also contributed to this article.
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