Still looking for that perfect, last-minute gift? No need to hit the highway or shell out for rush shipping: Bucyrus' small businesses have you covered.

Jessie Furner, executive director of the Bucyrus Area Chamber of Commerce, stressed the importance of shopping local.

She suggested a gift card for local restaurants, boutiques and thrift stores.

"We actually have five boutiques here in Bucyrus right now, and they all have gift cards," she said.

Gifts that are made, created or manufactured here in Bucyrus or Crawford County are sure to find a special place in someone's heart, she said. Experience gifts are an option at several local businesses, too.

"I love an experience gift, I love a gift card, I love Bucyrus-made products," Furner said.

Here are suggestions in a range of prices from more than two dozen local businesses.

• American Shoe Service, 230 S. Sandusky Ave., Stephanie and Steve Barr, owners: "We're running 15% off all boots in the store, and then we have belts, wallets, socks, hats, care products," Stephanie said.

• Amish Vault Fine Furniture-Graceful Gifts, 108 S. Sandusky Ave., Josh Leitzy, owner: Popular gift items include jewelry, plush snowmen, gnomes, candle melts, Willow Tree figurines and Christmas décor items. "We've had a very blessed Christmas season ... We chose to have more inventory this season than ever, just because we knew it was going to be hard to get; prices are going up so much, with all the inflation going on. So we tried to get more at better prices earlier in the year."

• Annie’s Primitive Marketplace, 238 S. Sandusky St., Debbie Schifer, owner: The shop offers a variety of both jarred and flameless candles, teapots, ceramic Christmas trees and vintage ornaments.

• Bucyrus Bicentennial Commission, Kelli Patterson, chair: Tumblers, T-shirts, buttons and other items are still available as the city wraps up its bicentennial year. Email emma@bucyrus2021 for details.

• Bucyrus Copper Kettle Works, 119 S. Walnut St., James Patrick, owner: The business' Christmas tree ornaments made great gifts — but they're currently out of stock. "But at least stop off for a tour. A lot of people have been doing that." 

• Carle’s Bratwurst, 1210 E. Mansfield St., Carla Koepke, co-owner: "If they're taking it directly, people buy our frozen bratwurst, like one-pound packs of frozen bratwurst. We have a lot of people give bratwurst as gifts. We have them already vacuum-packing and frozen in different varieties and flavors." Some people put together gift boxes featuring imported food items, chocolates, cheese and maybe a barbecue sauce. The store also offers gift cards in any amount.

• Castle Auctions and Appraisals, 301 S. Sandusky Ave., Missie Striker, co-owner: "Silver. Silver eagles — collectible and an investment. Or proof sets, yearly proof sets." The American silver eagle coins cost about $35; proof sets cost around $15 to $25, depending on the year.

• Central Monogramming, 4029 Ohio 98 NE, Dan Cobb, owner: "We do laser-engraved tumblers, and we can put just about anything on them." They cost $20 to $25.

• Cooper’s Mill and Country Market, 1414 N. Sandusky Ave., Tina Staiger, manager: "We have our 12 Days of Christmas going on; it's a progressive sale, so we get something fun added every day. It's pretty fun." Items on sale include candle warmers, clothing, purses and more. "They'll just have to pop in and see what we've got."

• Crossroads Original Designs Ltd., 115 Crossroads Blvd., Aaron Huml, sales: "Our 26-ounce Buttered Maple Syrup candle. It's crazy popular." The candle retails for $23.99, but the outlet shop frequently has special pricing.

• Divine Style Boutique, 105 E. Mansfield St., Leslie Hill, owner: "As we offer a variety of items here at Divine Style Boutique, I would definitely recommend one of our gift cards as a last-minute go-to. We have everything from jewelry and hair products to Ohio gear and flattering tops. Our gift card would give the customer countless options that would best fit their personal style." 

• E&H Ace Hardware, 713 S. Sandusky Ave., Greg Loney, manager: "This year's been extremely different than most," he said. Outdoor grilling supplies have been popular, and tools are a perennial favorite, "but this year we've actually got into a lot of other things." The business carries Crossroads candles, Harley-Davidson-branded gift items, cheese-serving utensils, Yeti drinkware and much more. 'But the ultimate one we always seem to have at this time of year is always about power tools or tools in general." Another new favorite: A Stihl-branded T-shirt that reads "Kiss my axe."

• Eco Trend Thrift Store, 1317 E, Mansfield St., Carrie Pollock, volunteer: "We have lots of Christmas décor left. We're a thrift store, but we have a lot of clothing. Pretty much anything and everything but furniture. Coats, crafts, dishes, candles ... our stuff is very inexpensive."

• Family Roots Boutique, 1315 E. Mansfield St., Keaton Durbin, co-owner: Fleece-lined leggings, available in black and brown. "They're one size, you don't have to worry about the size of anything. They're $12."

• Ley’s Jewelry, 225 N. Sandusky Ave., Barb Davidson, owner: Gold roses, bracelets, an engraved watch, necklaces, earrings. Prices start around $50.

• MB Subculture, 122 W. Rensselaer St., Betsy Gerhart, co-owner: The shop has an assortment of holiday décor items, including Santa figures and teacup floral arrangements. Books are always a good choice, and the store also offers Pop Vinyl figures.

• Midwest Furniture and Bedroom, 310 S. Sandusky Ave., Doug Godwin, owner: While many bigger furniture stores are having trouble getting merchandise, that's not the case locally. "I've got quite a bit of merchandise in stock that people can get before Christmas," Godwin said, thanks to seven outside storage areas for inventory. Lamps start around $68; recliners, around $498.

• NAPA Auto Parts, 1855 E. Mansfield St., Jody McFarland, manager: Car products or tools are popular choices.

• New2You Retail, 1705 Marion Road, Eliza Cole, co-owner: "We have all kinds of stocking stuffers and gifts." Exactly what's in stock varies because of the nature of the business. A recent shipment included a lot of housewares, such as silverware, bedding sets, cookware and more. Cole's other business, Your Great Escape, offers gift certificates.

• Norman’s Niche, 219 S. Sandusky Ave., Natalie Norman: A bottle of wine is always a great gift idea, "but I also carry coffee and pretzels, which are made here in Ohio — called Whiskey Stix." The alcohol is baked out of the pretzels, she noted.

• Norton’s Flowers, 225 S. Sandusky Ave., Sue Norton, owner: The shop has a selection of poinsettias in stock, along with packaged mistletoe. Another great option: "A fresh arrangement that would be real fragrant and make their house smell like Christmas."

• The Paper Pipe, 311 S. Sandusky Ave., Garrett Oliver, manager: "I would recommend either the Buffalo Trace cigar ($10) or the Bourbon cigar ($15), but we do have a couple gift packs of cigars here." Gift bags of the house blend are $20.

• Perfectly Imperfect Gifts, 913 W. Mansfield St., Erica Metzger, owner: "Although I’m no longer taking personalized orders for the holidays, I have several items in stock. We offer hand poured soy candles, earrings, bows, bags, hats, clothing, and much more! Our gift cards are always a great option as well."

• The Stalls at The Pickwick Place, 1875 N. Sandusky Ave., Sharon Cooper, manager: A wide variety of gift items are offered by the many vendors whose merchandise fill the stalls — holiday décor, gnomes ("still all the rage"), ornaments, candles, wreaths, jewelry and more. Two popular options: Dr. Squatch soap and Duke Cannon's Lump of Coal soap, which is $8.99. "That is a really good stocking stuffer," particularly — but not exclusively — for men. Custom gift baskets of the store's popular jams and jellies are available, too.

• Print Happy, 106 E. Warren St., Rachel Striker, owner: The shop can print custom images on anything from ceramic ornaments to underwear. Options include personalized enameled ("old-timey coffee") mugs, shirts and puzzles. "Blankets I think would be a wonderful present; we can put monograms on it."

• Shannon’s Spot, Shannon Stockmaster, owner: The storefront on North Sandusky Avenue has closed, but Stockmaster said she still has many items available online. Visit the Shannon's Spot Facebook page for details.

• Vasil's 2.0, 119 E. Mary St., Bart Dennison, co-owner: The business can do sublimation printing — text or photos — on coffee mugs, insulated mugs or T-shirts. "That's usually something we can crank out in a couple days. Other than that, we usually have a two-week time period to get things done." Logo items for local schools are another great option.

• Without Borders Boutique, 116 Washington Square, Ally Suter, owner: "I custom-make jewelry, and any of the jewelry can be switched up or charms can be switched up and accustomed to that person — I did a few pieces today on the spot." Everything in the shop is fair trade-purchase with a purpose, so she can suggest gifts based on the organizations the items benefit. She also has homeless mats, made locally out of old plastic bags, for $20. "You can either donate the mat out to the homeless that I take care of, and I put them out front and they get used and brought back; or they can keep them if they choose; or you can take it with you or gift it to that person, tell them to keep it in their car and then if they see someone who's homeless, they can hand it out."