PROVIDENCE – Gift-giving can be hard work, and sometimes it can simultaneously feel like there are too many options and not enough. Especially if you’re mostly shopping online and looking at gift guide after gift guide after gift guide.

In which case, consider doing it the old-fashioned way and shopping at a local brick-and-mortar store. There, someone else has already done the hard part of curating a selection of choices, and you just have to see which one inspires you. Plus, shopping small keeps more money in the local economy and gives you something to talk about when your recipient opens their gift.

Here’s a selection of 15 small retailers in Providence to try while shopping this holiday season.

This store makes it so easy to buy from local makers and artisans. It started as a holiday pop-up for makers and evolved into a year-round collection of artsy pieces made in Rhode Island and Massachusetts, including clothing, accessories, artwork, housewares, jewelry, stationery and other treasures. If you’re looking for something unique, put this shop on your list.

Their tagline says it all: “Selling stuff you don’t need but gotta have since 2001.” You can find all kinds of things here, from hand-knit sweaters to throw rugs to jewelry, But, what they are best known for is their humor and their locally printed and designed graphic tees that often poke fun at the Ocean State. Shop at one of their two locations, 795 Hope St. or 713 Westminster St., for the person on your list who loves a joke or loves Rhode Island.

Rad is the word you might use to describe the aesthetic of Hungry Ghost Press. Located in Olneyville, 60 Valley St., Unit 2, this shop started selling zines, tapes and books, and then expanded into a lifestyle brand. People who like horror and/or Olneyville will want to buy everything.

Colorful, bright and oh-so-fun, Lore, 144 Brook St., is a mix of handcrafted goods and curated collections of giftable items from around the United States, with many items being sourced from women-owned brands. You’ll find art, candles, games, decorations, party supplies, handmade clothes, jewelry and so much more.

As the home of the late Howard Phillips Lovecraft, Providence has to have at least one store devoted to the author and the weird fiction genre he started. The bookstore and gift shop is one part of The Lovecraft Arts & Sciences Council nonprofit “networking center for scholars, authors and fans of weird fiction,” according to the website. Shop here for your favorite weird fan, and be sure to also check out the other stores in the Arcade Providence, 65 Weybosset St.

This collaboration between Milk Can Industries and Parched doesn’t have the same range of items as some of the other stores on this list, but for those who love a witty T-shirt or a comfy crewneck, it’s a must-visit. At 163 Brook St. you’ll find the perfect clothing item for anyone who loves Rhode Island.

The big-box equivalent to NAVA, 197 Wickenden St., would probably be Anthropologie. The lifestyle shop has a similar mix of bohemian and vintage with a touch of traditional but with some local items in the mix, like candles poured in Rhode Island, and more consideration to sourcing. One of their goals is to have “a little bit of something for everyone,” which makes it a great spot to do some holiday shopping.

If you’re looking for a little bit of everything, shop vintage. Nostalgia, ​236 Wickenden St., is three stories of curated vintage booths, filled with rediscovered treasures looking for a new home curated to a variety of different tastes. If you don’t know what exactly you’re looking for, walk around long enough and you’ll find yourself inspired.

Queen of Hearts is a boutique carrying cool clothing and accessories, and its sister shop, Modern Love, is its lifestyle store counterpart. The shops at 220 and 222 Westminster St. carry brands like Free People, Volcom, Herschel Supply Co, Mosser Glass and P.F. Candle Co. They’ll also help you wrap it.

Yes, you’ll find school swag and supplies you’d find at any campus store here. But for non-Rhode Island School of Design folks, what makes this place at 30 North Main St., worth shopping is the collection of alumni and student work for sale. Books, apparel, housewares, bags, you can find it all here. They even have dog leashes.

Eclectic but curated, Rhody Craft, 769 Hope St., has gifts for “anyone and everyone,” as they say. Here you can find cards, ceramics, jewelry, clothes, home goods and even baby gear. They make gifting easy.

Set in an old forge covered with vines, Simple Pleasures, 6 Richmond Square, is full of old-school charm. Find gifts from all over the world at this destination store.

Crystals, incense, singing bowls – you’ll find it all here. Spectrum India, 252 Thayer St., has brought India to Providence since 1967. And while you shop here, you can get some henna or a tarot card reading.

Everybody eats. Stock, at 756 Hope St., celebrates the joy of food, selling groceries, kitchen gadgets, linens and beautiful cook and bakeware. They also have a sizeable selection of Rhode Island-made items, such as Newport Sea Salt, the Nest homeware skillet and Dave’s Coffee. Whether they cook a lot or a little, you can find something for everyone here.

There’s a lot to look at in this shop, which is always great when you’re shopping for gifts. The shop, 498 Washington St., has all sorts of little items, from jewelry to bookmarks to Peanuts merchandise, that make the perfect small gifts.