SMJ is embracing the spirit of community and joy this holiday season. 

We're teaming up with fellow small businesses to bring you a curated collection of unique gifts and experiences. By choosing to shop small, you're not just making a purchase – you're supporting dreams, passions, and the heartbeat of local entrepreneurs.

Join us in celebrating the magic of small businesses and make this holiday season truly special. We've interviewed a few of our favourite brands and their founders - get ready! These amazing businesses are perfect to treat yourself to a taste of local luxury. 

 

Meet Amberly Donnelly, Founder of Plain Jane Skinbar

Who is behind Plain Jane Skin Bar?

Hello, I'm Amberly Donnelly, the Founder of Plain Jane Skinbar. We are all about correcting and preventing environmental skin damage through routine medical grade facials and skincare with the goal of making skincare simple and accessible.

What should we book at Plain Jane if it's our first time?

If you weren’t sure where to start, our #1 pick would be the Laser Facial (Laser Genesis) with a Hydrating Add-On. This combines the Laser Genesis and HydraFacial technology. Real results with instant gratification. If you were looking for a more transformative experience, The Fractional Facial (Clear + Brilliant) with a MicroNeedling Add-On is our newest game changer. And yes, you can combine these two facials and the results are *chefs kiss*. 

Do you have any exciting projects coming up?

We do have some exciting things in the pipeline for the new year but I’m afraid we’ll have to keep you in suspense!  If you’d like to be the first to know, you can sign up to our newsletter at www.plainjaneskinbar.ca! 

Our current promotion for the Holiday Season! Purchase a Gift Card of $50 or more and receive an additional Gift Card with 20% off the purchased value! If you are new, book your First Facial with us and get 40% off with promo code FIRST. 

Where can we find your products?

All facials can be booked in person or online via our website. All our Medical Grade Skincare products from ZO Skin Health, SkinCeuticals and iS Clinical are available for purchase online and in-clinic.

Visit Plain Jane Skin Bar in two locations:

 

Meet Fiona Hepher, Co-Founder and Creative Director of Sansorium

Tell us a little about Sansorium.

Founded in 2021, Sansorium is a boutique alcohol-free wine and spirit agency and a direct-to-consumer online marketplace. Dedicated to the curation of premium alcohol-free beverages, Sansorium has been featured in Forbes, the Globe and Mail, CBC, and Best Health Magazine among others for their thought-leadership and stand-out beverage lineup in this evolving sector; making retail, hospitality, and entertainment spaces more inclusive.

 

What sparked the idea behind your business and what do you love the most about your business right now.

My mom and I decided to stop drinking alcohol in 2020 and it set us off on a year of discovering all the worst and best beverages in the alc-free space. And what we found was that the rest of the world is doing it better! So we started our agency, importing our favourites, built a premium online marketplace for Canadians to shop on, and got to work in the community. To date, being in community, educating and challenging stereotypes around sobriety is my favourite day.

When you work, what is something that makes you smile?

Breaking down stigmas about sobriety. I light up when I meet people who say they found a new language for their alcohol-free life after leaving one of our talks. One that doesn't involve needing a rock bottom story, pregnancy or illness to justify their alcohol-free choice.

We'd love to know...are there any designs from SMJ that you are coveting this winter?

These baddies! The 2” Alex Earrings add a subtle feminine touch to any look. We think they look gorgeous paired with the Cassie Stud, or the 1/2" Alex Earring in a second piercing.

Where can we find your products? 

Everything is always on: https://sansorium.com but this Locator tells you everything you can find in person - including restaurants and shops!

 

Meet Heather Dawson, Founder of Heather Lynn Cashmere

Tell us a little about your brand Heather Lynn Cashmere.

We create luxurious cashmere coats for women at Heather Lynn Cashmere that help women feel effortlessly pulled together so they can embrace their softness, walk a little taller and dream a little bigger.

Where do you work? Describe your space, and your favourite corner.

I love light and have a great room with a ton of glass that catches amazing light on a sunny day and shows the urban glow of city lights at night. Whenever possible, I set myself up to work at a table there. I also developed a bad habit of working laying on my stomach, so I do a lot of paperwork on the carpet. My chiropractor loves it, haha. I’ve also been known to curl up on the couch with my laptop.

If you were shopping SMJ this holiday what would be your pick?

All of them!  If I have to pick two... I’d choose the Heather necklace in gold for it’s clean lines, simplicity and great name! I am also obsessed with Made of Stars necklace also in gold because it’s beautiful and I love the interconnectedness of it all that it symbolizes.

Do you have any exciting projects that are coming for the new year that we need to know about?

We are super excited to have collaborated with Tallu and Co. to make gorgeous cashmere candles to glow throughout the holidays.

We also just launched a collection of uber-soft cashmere scarves in gorgeous colours to coordinate with our coats.

We also just recently previewed four new styles of coats you can watch for on our website in the next two weeks. One in particular (Paige) has a rapidly growing waitlist for stock delivery in 4 weeks.

Where can we find your products?

We can always be found at heatherlynn.ca, you can shop our Kate and Jo coats at Rebecca Bree Boutique in Point Grey. We are also popping up with amazing female-led brands at Bigtime Showroom December 1st to 3rd and in Whistler at the Bespoke Market the following weekend. Can’t wait to see you there!

 

Shop local luxury this Holiday Season!

Revel in the exclusivity of local luxury with these three incredible brands. Discover limited editions and one-of-a-kind pieces that reflect your individuality and set you apart in a world of mass production with Heather Lynn Cashmere. Experience a divine moment with a taste explosion at Sansorium. Give the gift of self care! Who doesn't love a self care moment elevated by the dreamy So-Cal vibes of Plain Jane Skincare. Take a look at our Market Makers in part two of the Local Love Collective.