By Emily White
REXBURG—One of the many perks of shopping local and supporting small businesses is that many of them are owned by your neighbors! Rexburg is well known for its sense of community and family, so shopping local is a great way to support your friends. Between the smaller carbon footprint, peace of mind in knowing where the products you’re buying are coming from, and easy access to unique custom items, finding the perfect gift for your loved ones is even easier! Below are the mini profiles of eight local businesses.
Kamassa (Kamie) Bushman is a stay-at-home mother of two. She’s excited to share some of her African culture with Rexburg!
“I was adopted into the States at the age of 5 to an amazing family of 17 kids,” Bushman said, “I, being the 11th oldest and first adopted. I remember from when I was adopted as a little girl from Liberia that I had a beautiful beaded waistband on. That meant so much to me due to the fact that that was one of the only physical things that I could bring with me from the orphanage. There is just something so beautiful and powerful with wearing beads on the waist or anklets!”
Bushman sells African waist beads, bracelets and anklets for women of all ages. The beads come in many colors, with each color signifying something different.
Prices range from $8-$20. Bushman will do matching mommy-and-me sets for $20 during the holidays, the mommy-and-me sets will only be $20 for both. To see more of her work or place an order, you can reach her through a private message on Facebook.
Crafted Cores
Crafted Cores is owned by Rexburg local Chandler Johnson and his wife. They make and sell handmade Kyber crystals that are compatible with the Disney Galaxies Edge lightsabers. In addition to the crystals, they do 3D printing, laser engraving, and laser cutting.
“The business started as almost a dare from my brother,” Johnson said. “He had recently been to Disneyland with his family and had built a lightsaber there. I’ve always loved to tinker and he thought maybe I could try my hand at making a Kyber crystal that would allow him to change his lightsaber color. I eventually figured out how to make a crystal that would allow the lightsaber to have two different colors in one crystal and it took off from there!”
A lot of their products are very specific to Star Wars fans, but they’re expanding the business with laser engraved custom holiday gifts and ornaments. Most of their business is done online at their website http://www.craftedcores.com, and they have a location in Rexburg at 30 College Avenue. You can contact them in person at their store or through their business email at craftedcores@gmail.com.
Sara Marie Photography & Anderson Designs
Located in Teton, Idaho, owner of both Sara Marie Photography and Anderson Custom Designs, Sara Anderson provides photography services, custom T-shirts, signs, cups and more. Her interest in photography started in high school, and over time, her passion became her profession.
Anderson’s outdoor mini sessions are currently on sale for $60. The mini shoot lasts for 30 minutes and this deal lasts until the end of the month. Her normal session price is $200 for an hour. December 11th she is having Christmas-themed Santa Claus shoots. Each session lasts 15 minutes and is $60.
All of the edits are delivered in an online album with full printing rights. She is also now taking orders for custom items through Anderson Designs.
Binary Cocoa
Binary Cocoa at 10 S. First East in Rexburg, is a local game design company that sells and creates games of all types. Both pre-existing games and games designed and produced by Binary Cocoa line their shelves and are readily available for anyone to play.
The business is run by president and game developer Joseph, creative director Stephan, and game designer Brian, who specialize in what Joseph refers to as “general geekery.”
In their mission to grow the gaming community, they open their doors for people to come in and play games. Whether they are “ours or some that they bring,” in-store gameplay is free—they only charge when people want to take something with them.
In addition to card, video, and board games, game accessories, and themed merchandise, Binary Cocoa does custom laser engraved items (water bottles, etching onto wood, etc.). Finding the perfect holiday gift for the high-tech video game lover or the card game connoisseur in your life couldn’t be easier. They have an online store as well as a location in Rexburg. Visit BinaryCocoa.com for more information.
Dough Play Me
Mother of 3, former teacher, and special education paraprofessional Amy Walker runs her business out of her home with help from her husband Chris. Her business, Dough Play Me, specializes in homemade essential oil-infused play-doughs.
She started her business after being inspired by her students. The sensory doughs she creates have many scents to pick from, with new ones each month. Through the month of November, Amy is selling Pumpkin Spice, Apple Spice, and Lavender. For the month of December, she will provide Christmas options of Peppermint, Orange Spice, and Christmas Pine.
The dough bags are the perfect stocking stuffers! Pre-ordering for Christmas doughs starts on the 8th of November.
Amy and Chris live in North Rexburg, up the street from Smith Park. Orders can be picked up from her home location, or she can provide delivery and shipping options. She can be reached through her website http://amygalewalker12.wixsite.com and through the Dough Play Me Facebook page.
Morgan Wright Art
Recent BYU-I graduate Morgan Wright has been an artist her whole life. She recently started selling in the past couple of years.
Wright sells all kinds of customized and printed art under the business name Morgan Wright Art. Some of her most popular pieces are watercolor family portraits, temple paintings and other original religious prints in both watercolor and charcoal. She lives in Rexburg but does her selling through her online platforms, @morganwright_art or on Facebook. (To order, you just need to send a message telling of what you’re looking for.)
She has a couple of Christmas-themed prints and isn’t afraid to branch out to try new mediums, themes, and ideas.
Dunes and Company
Dunes and Company is run by brothers Adam and Jared Esserine. The duo sells one-of-a-kind, hand-dyed apparel based on the sand dunes of St. Anthony. The dye is made with minerals found near the inactive volcano in the dunes, which gives the merchandise a unique red/orange color.
“We started this business to fill the need for memorabilia of Rexburg and some of the experiences people have here,” Adam said.
Staying true to their motto “explore where you are,” they encourage everyone to get out and see what the world has to offer.
They sell items such as T-shirts, beanies, and hoodies, with prices ranging from $21.99-$49.99. You can channel your inner adventurer this Christmas with the storewide 20% sale that lasts through the holidays.
They can be reached at dunesandcomp.com as well as their Instagram page Dunesandco.
Poppy Teeth Whitening
Chloe Royce lives in Rexburg with her husband, Chance. They’re juniors at BYU-Idaho,working towards a Communications degree and Business Management degree, respectively.
The Royce’s combined their mutual love of marketing and entrepreneurship with Chloe’s lifelong interest in dental hygiene to create their company Poppy Teeth Whitening.
Chloe enjoys working with clients to provide more confidence with a bright and beautiful smile, while Chance’s organizational and logistical strengths make him the perfect candidate for all of the back-office work.
Poppy Teeth Whitening offers cosmetic teeth whitening services. During your 90-minute appointment, they will whiten three layers deep and 4-14 shades in just one visit. Results are immediate and last for 6-12 months, depending on your diet and lifestyle.
Poppy also offers a product line of at-home teeth whitening products which includes high-quality kits and charcoal toothpaste to help keep your smile at its brightest all year round!
Poppy has some great deals for the holiday season including:
– All teachers and students receive $25 off their treatment.
– When you book with a friend, you both receive an additional 10% off your treatment.
– At-home teeth whitening kits are $20 off when purchased with an in-person treatment.
– Save $30 when you purchase two gift certificates, $90 when you buy three, and up to $200+ when you purchase four or more.
Visit the Royce’s at 36 Carlson Avenue, Rexburg, across from Florence’s Candies, or you can check out their Facebook and Instagram under the name @poppyteethwhitening to treat yourself to a gift you won’t be able to stop smiling about.
