Five years ago, The Purple Aardvark opened on Main Street in Chatham, NJ. From day one, their goal was simple: sell only made in America items. At first, they were focused on selling locally-made items, but later they expanded to other states as well.

According to the Chatham Patch, owners Carolyn Cherry and Sandy Casey said, “We went out and found local artisans for that first year… eventually we branched out a little more finding talent from other states as well.”

The pandemic created challenges for them, but also opportunities. “Our amazing customers continued to shop with us virtually and then we did work to get our webstore up and running as well.”

Also, their orders aren’t stuck on a cargo ship due to the ongoing supply chain crisis.

So, if you are in the area (or even if you aren’t) and are looking for locally-made gifts, check out their website