By Kristin Dvorak | Photos courtesy of Cedar & Spice and Lev Apparel
We’re all about supporting small, local businesses. Since we’ve all got a little time on our hands, check out these cool Madison-based Instagram accounts for inspiration.
We love Small Biz Madison (SMB) for a lot of reasons. This account was started out of one Madisonian’s sheer love for her community and it’s a great resource for those seeking to support local businesses. Local companies like Saints Juice Co., Gotham Bagels and Tradition Children’s Market have been featured—and other spots you may not have even known were in your backyard! Help highlight your own favorite Madison spot and send it straight to @smallbizmadison’s inbox or tag SMB in your own posts for a chance to get those companies featured.
Lev Apparel is an ethical clothing line owned and operated by Krystle Marks and Abby Winzenreid. Marks is very active on social media and often takes to Lev Apparel’s Instagram Stories to post styling tips and other fashion-related bits. Most recently, the brand hosted a Closet Cleanse Challenge, in which Marks shared five steps to a meaningful closet cleanout and challenged followers to apply those steps to their own closets. Winzenreid also let viewers into her own closet cleanse, too.
Cedar & Spice is a boutique design and fabrication studio that creates custom event features. We’re talking Insta-worthy backdrops, donut walls and other unique installations. One thing we really love about this local powerhouse is that they share behind the scenes videos of their pieces in production, which we don’t normally get to see from larger companies. Another incredibly cool thing they’re doing? In response to the COVID-19 crisis, they have handcrafted “Small & Mighty” signs for other small businesses in the area. The signs are $50 (including delivery) and 50% of all sales will be donated to support the local Madison small business community.
Museums, attractions and zoos are experiencing the same challenges small businesses are facing with zero customers through their doors—so they’re finding innovative ways to bring people into their worlds. We really appreciate how the Madison Museum of Contemporary Art educates the community through social media. In their Instagram account you can find daily posts of works in their collection currently housed on MMoCA’s gallery walls, along with a brief history about the artist and their piece.
Madison Foodie Finds is exactly what it sounds like: delicious restaurants and meals from around the city, and this Instagram feed is nothing short of mouthwatering. The account is a must-follow, especially if you and your spouse can’t decide where to grab dinner on a Friday night. With frequent updates and a variety of different cuisines, you’re sure to find something new to crave.
