Editor’s note: The following holiday feature is presented by nbkc bank, where small businesses find big support
Shopping with intention this season is just one way Kansas City gift-givers can squeeze local impact into each nook and cranny of those holiday stockings, said Melissa Eggleston, highlighting a sleigh-ful of women-owned businesses shoppers should bank on supporting.
Melissa Eggleston, nbkc bank
“Let’s be real — women bring the magic to our local small-business scene,” added Eggleston, chief deposit and operations officer for nbkc bank. “We know small business is the lifeblood of any local economy; so as people are out spending their hard-earned money for the holidays, let’s raise up the businesses in our communities that are making this a unique place to live and shop.”
The first female executive hired at nbkc bank about a decade ago, Eggleston and team work to support women-owned businesses throughout the year, she said, detailing an ambassadors program for women and their companies, a related workspace, and community-driven initiatives that boost female founders like nbkc bank’s Bank on Her panel event and Pure Pitch Rally event.
“Community involvement and our roots in Kansas City are important,” she added, emphasizing that approachability is key, regardless of the entrepreneur’s demographics. “We’re going to continue to lean into what it looks like to support the entire business ecosystem within Kansas City. We care deeply.”
Tania Hewett-Mader knows firsthand the support that nbkc offers, she said. Alma Mader Brewing — which she owns with her husband, Nick — has banked with nbkc since their brewing operation opened.
“They took a chance on us with an SBA loan when many others did not,” Hewett-Mader said. “They have always been responsive and knowledgeable.”
Buying beer from Alma Mader or stuffing stockings with goods from other local, women-owned businesses is a way for the local community to extend their support, as well as get a unique gift, Eggleston noted.
“It’s not just something you can get anywhere,” she continued. “I think that there’s a unique perspective when you’re buying local and shopping local.”
“Female entrepreneurs end up shaping the future entrepreneur community as a whole,” Eggleston added, noting their backers can come in all forms from family and friends to financial institutions to strangers looking for a meaningful purchase.
Check out these gift ideas from Kansas City women-owned businesses, detailed by the entrepreneurs themselves and curated by nbkc bank, where small businesses find big support:
Art of Confusion (2025) // BA Imperial Stout with Cacao, Vanilla & Coconut – $30 (limited bottle release Wednesday, Nov. 26)
Alma Mader Brewing, 2635 Southwest Blvd., Kansas City — Tania Hewett-Mader
This year’s Art of Confusion is a blend of imperial stouts aged in Willett and Heaven Hill barrels for 19-21 months. Like past versions of AOC, we deconstructed a nostalgic flavor into a bold and impactful barrel-aged beer — this time, German chocolate cake.
To get there, we used Madagascar and Ugandan vanilla, toasted and raw coconut, and a unique Ecuadorian cacao. We work with these ingredients often, but the key was balance: letting them complement each other from start to finish while avoiding over-extraction, which is easy to do with roasted nibs. The result is in fact, reminiscent of German chocolate cake, but with sublayers of rich marshmallow (thank you, Ugandan vanilla), mocha, marzipan, and a backend tannic finish from the barrels that reads like praline and honeycomb.
Our takeaway from beers like this — ratios matter, quality of ingredients matters, and the base beer matters. We love the pursuit, and we hope you enjoy sharing this one with your friends and family.
If you miss the limited bottle release, here’s another option:
Contextual // Czech-style Dark (Tmavé) Lager – $16 for a 4-pack
Contextual has a deep ruby glow and is inspired by the Tmavé lagers from the Czech Republic. Layers upon layers of malt flavor ranging from toasted granola to dried dates to caraway to iced coffee. Fermented, clean and cool, it’s a beautiful synergy of refreshing and complex.
Unwrapping the brand:
Alma Mader Brewing is the realization of a dream to bring our best back home. Brewer-owned and operated, our beers reflect years of brewing experience and education around the country, culminating in the desire to make something exceptional of our own.
Specializing in award-winning, hop-forward ales and lagers, and barrel-aged treats, we bridge tradition and innovation with a steadfast dedication to perfecting every batch. Most of our beer is available exclusively in our taproom, where our small, thoughtful team welcomes you with warmth and intention.
Gifting a shoutout for support:
My father-in-law, Curt, has been integral in building the business. We built SO much ourselves at the start, and it wouldn’t have been possible without his dedication and engineering precision. He’s still our default “Facilities Manager” who is everybody’s favorite dad.
Bottle + Box Pass – $225 ($275 value)
Salumi Rose, 7443 Broadway St., Kansas City — Kris Beckman
The Bottle + Box pass is a punch card that can be used four times throughout the year, each time redeemable for a charcuterie box and a bottle of wine.
Unwrapping the brand:
Salumi Rose is a charcuterie shop where I offer hands-on workshops, host celebrations, and provide a space where people come together to enjoy food, wine, and even a friendly game of mahjong. I also create made-to-order charcuterie boards and grazing spreads for events of all sizes.
Gifting a shoutout for support:
My biggest supporter has been my husband, Sam. He helped me transform my little space in Waldo into something truly special, and he continues to champion my business by referring clients. He owns an architecture firm that’s been around for 50 years (ACI Boland), and his passion for serving people and creating meaningful spaces has inspired me so much.
Hearth Candle – $28
Pickwick & Co. (Online) — Alicia Koranda
Hearth lingers where autumn fades into winter. The sharp spice of pepper and dark berry gives way to vetiver and seasoned woods, while leather, tobacco, and black patchouli smolder beneath. Smoky yet refined, it carries the last glow of fall into the depths of winter.
Unwrapping the brand:
Pickwick & Co. is a boutique candle company, hand pouring small batch candles right here in Kansas City since 2004. We hand craft each candle using a premium wax blend, high-end fragrance oils, and clean-burning wicks to create long lasting, beautifully layered scents. Our candles are designed to be an affordable luxury. People know when they purchase a Pickwick & Co. candle it is special, intentional, and timeless. They are truly an exceptional and meaningful gift any time of year, but especially during the holidays.
I became the owner of Pickwick & Co. in 2023, nearly two decades after the company was founded. The first time I walked into the warehouse and saw the level of care that went into every product, I immediately felt connected to the craft and the brand.
As we head into the holiday season, I’m grateful to share our handcrafted candles as gifts that feel personal and luxurious without being out of reach. And I’m especially grateful for the chance to be part of Kansas City’s community of women-owned businesses. When we choose to shop locally, we’re not just buying a product, we’re supporting the people, stories, and dreams behind it.
Gifting a shoutout for support:
My family has been a part of this journey from the beginning. My husband, who has always been my catalyst and biggest supporter, stood right beside me as I stepped into this new venture. My girls and their baby brother have also been involved in the business since day one of our ownership. It has always been so important to me that my daughters see their mom working hard, leading with confidence, and building something I believe in, and to know they can do the same. Watching my husband and children work beside me in those early days, and even now, has been one of the most rewarding parts of this journey. It’s made Pickwick & Co. not just a business I run, but something we share together as a family.
Kallie Flexman, mission-SKIN
Wellness Gift Card
Confidence Aesthetics / mission:SKIN, 4030 Indian Creek Parkway, Overland Park — Kallie Flexman
mission: SKIN offers comprehensive services including injectables, advanced skincare, medical grade facial treatments, weight loss programs, hormone replacement therapy for men and women, and Kansas City’s first FDA approved laser hair restoration device.
Unwrapping the brand:
mission:SKIN is a women owned medical aesthetics and wellness studio serving both men and women across Kansas City. As a nurse practitioner with a background in critical care, pain management, hormones and aesthetic medicine. I’ve created mission:SKIN to blend clinical expertise with an elevated experience that supports confidence, health, and long-term results.
Being a women-owned business is something I am incredibly proud of, but mission:SKIN is intentionally designed to be a welcoming, results-driven space for everyone.
Gifting a shoutout for support:
The greatest supporters on this journey have been my daughters. They have watched me rebuild after divorce, go back to school, balance multiple jobs, coach their teams, and now step into entrepreneurship with mission:SKIN. Every decision I make is grounded in showing them what is possible and proving that women can be leaders, providers, visionaries and caretakers simultaneously. They are my daily motivation to grow, create, and build a business rooted in resilience and purpose.
Signature Cuban Coffee – $14 for 10 oz. and $18 for 16 oz. (whole bean and ground)
El Café Cubano (food truck) — Racquel Rodriguez
El Cafe Cubano’s signature ground Cuban Coffee is crafted using authentic, high-quality beans and our family’s traditional roasting style. Bold, smooth, and aromatic, it’s designed to bring the rich flavor of Cuban cafecito straight to your home. Perfect for moka pots, espresso machines, or strong drip coffee lovers.
Unwrapping the brand:
El Café Cubano is a Latina- and family-owned mobile Cuban coffee business rooted in my Cuban heritage. As a woman entrepreneur, I’m committed to sharing the culture, flavors, and traditions that shaped my family with the Kansas City community. What started as a dream to bring authentic Cuban coffee to the Midwest has grown into a thriving mobile café that serves weddings, festivals, corporate events, and community gatherings centered on connection, culture, and genuine hospitality.
Gifting a shoutout for support:
One of my biggest supporters has been my father Jesus Rodriguez. As an immigrant who built a life and legacy through hard work, he taught me perseverance, pride in our heritage, and the value of building something that lasts for the next generations and preserving our culture. His belief in me and his hands-on help with the business have been a foundation for El Café Cubano’s growth and success.
