Cozy Up to Fall and Winter with these Marketplace Businesses

Winter is coming. You can hunker down and count the days until Spring, or you can face the dropping temperatures and shorter days head on. Or why not do both with this selection of cold weather-friendly products and experiences from small, local businesses around B.C.?

Merge (Tofino)

Tofino residents know a thing or two about bundling up against the cold. When summer retreats, the storms roll in. Tucked away in a pink building just off Tofino’s main drag, Merge sells a carefully-curated range of Canadian-made clothing and gifts, including the Colette Sweater. Nothing says “Summer is over” than digging out that favourite sweater. This one has all the timeless attributes of a woolly wardrobe staple for years to come.

Klowa (Lytton)

If it’s not quite cold enough to go full sweater, but you still crave cozy while out and about, an organic, hand knitted toque or cowl from the Klowa Art Cafe in Lytton could protect you from unwanted chills. Local creator Meghan Fandrich thinks of her Syíqm cowl as a “wearable work of art.” It’s part of a collection of handknits named in honour of the Nlaka’pamux people in the area.

Florezca Designs (New Westminster)

We might spend more time than usual at home this fall and winter. A good blanket can take lounging on the sofa for a Netflix binge to a whole new level of cozy. Don’t be deceived by the name, the el Camino Travel Blanket doesn’t require actual travel to enjoy it. Like all Florezca products, the all-natural alpaca wool blanket is handmade by a member of an Indigenous women’s cooperative in South America. At a time when a simple sneeze attracts more attention than usual, it’s even hypoallergenic. Get two and make a blanket fort.

Pizzamoreh Artisan Pizza (Kelowna)

What’s better than a crispy-crusted, wood-fired pizza? A crispy-crusted, wood-fired pizza you made yourself of course. The folks at Pizzamoreh certainly think so. Worth a visit for their name alone, this Kelowna institution also sells the Pizzamoreh Pizza Steel, a premium steel surface for adding a satisfying crunch to home-baked pizza, bread, and pastries.

Mink Chocolates (Vancouver)

Mink Chocolates has been run by three generations of chocolatiers. That’s a lot of time to perfect making the chocolate bars, sauces, and other goodies they sell online and through three chocolate cafes. Their Mini Squares are perfect for making indoor S’Mores and, while their Hot Chocolate at Home doesn’t ship, if you’re passing through Vancouver or Surrey you now know where to go for a classic winter chocolate treat.

Ecotours-BC (Williams Lake)

Some people want to earn their cozy. If that sounds like you, a staycation through Ecotours-BC could help you experience a true Canadian winter. Gary and Peggy Zorn are third generation western Canadians with over 30 years of knowledge and experience in the outdoors and guiding. They offer a Winter Call of the Wild package that lets you strap on snowshoes and venture into the Cariboo Mountains domain of moose, wolves, and lynx. At the end of the day, kick back in front of a wood-burning fireplace at the lodge and swap tall tales of daring-do.

Raven Reads (Kamloops)

When you can’t travel much, for weather or COVID-19 reasons, a good book can transport you anywhere. Raven Reads combines the joy of reading with the anticipation of travelling into the unknown. Born out of a local book club, this Indigenous-focused business offers a Seasonal Subscription. Each season, starting in January, subscribers receive a new book written by an Indigenous author, as well as related handmade gifts and other items. It’s a fantastic way to both learn about and support Indigenous culture in Canada, and look forward to a literary surprise arriving in the mail every three months.

Browse Marketplace BC for more products and experiences to help take the chill off this fall and winter.