Veteran and Milspouse Holiday Gift Guide

Every year I tell myself, “I’m going to start my holiday shopping in July!” Every year, I actually start my holiday shopping in December. I shop for my son and husband, nine nieces and nephews, my parents, my in-laws, grandparents, teachers, and other extended family that would make this an incredibly long list. Not only that, I can’t just make a purchase. I have this internal drive that pressures me to ensure the gift will be (at the very least) somewhat liked!

This year, I decided to shop more intentionally for many of my gifts and support military families and veterans along the way. I curated a great big gift-giving list of military-, veteran-, and military spouse-owned businesses to share with you. I thought you might be feeling the pinch too, so let go of the “perfect” gift ideal and feel good knowing you keep supporting our greater military family.

Important note: I am in no way associated with any of these businesses or products. Some of the businesses are favorites of mine, but most are just collected from careful online research. This is not a comprehensive listing of veteran-owned or military spouse-owned businesses. If you have additional suggestions, please comment below.

CLOTHING

Bison Union Co.: Men and Women’s clothing
Combat Flip Flops: Shoes, clothing, and other products made by people who live in combat zones
GruntStyle.com: T-shirts, sweatshirts, hats, and other apparel
Ranger Up: Clothing, gifts, signs, gear, and more

BEVERAGES & DRINKWARE

Black Rifle Coffee Company: Coffee, coffee, coffee…and some other things!
Strike Force Energy: Energy drink packets free of sugar and calories
Salted Vinegar Design Studio: Insulated wine tumblers! Need I say more?
Alpha Coffee: Coffee and cocoa
Heroes Vodka: Award winning vodka
Merica Bourbon: Bourbon steeped in American military history

BOOKS & PLANNERS

Extreme Ownership – How U.S. Navy Seals Lead and Win: Book on leadership by Jocko Willink and Leif Babin

BAGS & TOTES

R. Riveter – American Handmade: Handbags, jewelry, scarves, and more
Sword & Plough: American made handbags, totes, travel pouches, jewelry, and more—made from reclaimed military surplus materials

ACCESSORIES & GIFTS

Stitches Fiber Works: Handmade hats, blankets, loveys, and toys! Just double check for the “READY TO SHIP” notice to ensure you get it in time for the holidays!

HOME DECOR

Cover Love: Custom pillows and specialty gifts
Westhouse: Signs for your home and other gifts. I especially love the HH6 mug and the Hooah sign!
Nomadic Nation Shop: Gifts, notecards, and more with a military focus. I love her tea towel designs!
Oak and Oliver Candle Co: Handcrafted soy candles in recycled wine bottles
AnnaKate Paperie: Download, print, frame, and wrap! Great quotes, home décor, scripture, teacher-themed, and more.

JEWELRY

Designs By KatieLeigh: Stunning, affordable jewelry
Seventy Three Designs: Handmade jewelry
Jennspieces: Military and First Responder jewelry

OTHER

Rollors: A perfect family gift—this outdoor game is designed by a veteran and employs other vets!
Mutt Sauce: Barbeque sauce rich in family military history
Milso Box: A monthly subscription box designed for military spouses

ONLINE MARKETPLACE

Pressed – A Creative Space: A marketplace for military spouse and veteran businesses. Shop home, accessories, food, totes, clothing, stationery, greeting cards, and more.
The Veteran Connection: An online marketplace with a wide variety of unique products for purchase.

BEFORE YOU BUY!

You may not have found something for everyone from this list, so check out Retail Salute, a milspouse-owned resource connecting you with discounts. Some of the discounts included: ToysRUs, Pier 1 Imports, clothing, vacation destinations, and more!

Did I miss your favorite veteran-owned or mil-spouse owned business? Share in the comments!