10 Souvenir Shop Finds

Skip the T-shirt and opt for a memorable memento at Nifty Things

When summer arrives in northern Michigan, you can count on a few things: the sun and beach, road construction, and tourists. Welcoming visitors is part of our Up North identity, and really, it’s a vital part of our economy. Perhaps the most dependent are our souvenir shops that line downtowns and stock their shelves for the post-Memorial Day rush.

One such shop that has stood the test of time is Nifty Things, with stores in Traverse City, Elk Rapids, and Alden. The brand has found success among local downtowns offering an eclectic mix of goods for the summer traveler and souvenirs for the loved ones back home.

Curating a store like Nifty Things is no small feat. The hunt to find products for every type of traveler is a job that can be both challenging and rewarding. But after 18 years on the job, Nifty Things general manager and buyer, Kathy Trilla, knows a thing or two about what tourists want.

“We always say, if you can’t find something here, you need to find new friends and family,” Trilla jokes.

Nifty Things started in 2006 in Alden by Doug and Martee Hickman, who moved North from downstate. After the success of their first store, Trilla says, “We started slowly expanding to Elk Rapids, and then here [Traverse City], and then we opened in Suttons Bay, which we closed during the pandemic.”

Working alongside Trilla is Victoria Hundley, a senior manager and jewelry buyer. “People love the store,” Hundley says. “Some customers come in the store and say, ‘This is my first stop’ when they come up here, or ‘You’re always on our list when we come Up North.'”

As for this year, Trilla suspects the summer might be a little different than years past. “This year it’s an interesting year with construction. We’ve seen a little bit of a slowdown with that, and inflation, and it’s an election year,” she explains. “Election years are always questionable; people hold on to their money to see what’s going to happen.”

For those who are still in the market for a northern Michigan keepsake, we’ve asked Nifty Things to share some of their favorite picks for souvenir shopping. But don’t expect your typical graphic tee or kitschy magnet—this roundup includes unique, out-of-the-box, and locally made souvenirs that will blow your usual “wish you were here” coffee mug out of the water.

1. Foterra Jewelry
Forever remember your favorite northern Michigan views with a special souvenir that turns your photographs into jewelry. Foterra Jewelry has been featured in Nifty Things for over a year, but Hundley says this is the first year they’ve featured local photos in the jewelry. From a Lake Michigan sunset to a stunning view of Grand Traverse Bay, there are several different pictures featured on necklaces, earrings, bracelets, and more. Foterra Jewelry is based out of Washington and ranges in price based on jewelry selection.

2. Mend on the Move Jewelry
As the jewelry buyer, Hundley had a few unique lines to feature, including Mend on the Move jewelry. “It has a huge backstory and that is why I bought into it,” she tells us.

Hundley says the jewelry line, based out of Detroit, is made by abuse survivors. According to the company’s website, each piece is hand-crafted out of old auto parts and car seat leather, not only supporting women on their journey to get on their feet, but also helping combat auto waste that would normally end up in a landfill.

“They [Mend on the Move] are allowing us to be exclusive here—there’s one other place in Traverse, in The Commons, that also has a couple of pieces,” says Hundley. “This is going to be exclusive to downtown.”

3. Cellar Door Bath Co. Bar Soap
Another Michigan business to keep your eye on this summer is Cellar Door Bath Co. out of Canton, Michigan. The company produces several different bath products including bar soap. The soap is plant-based, cruelty-free, and doesn’t have synthetic fragrances. And best of all, the company’s Michigan soap collection has versions inspired by the best of northern Michigan summers: Beach Glass, Leelanau Sunset, Mackinac Island Lilac, Michigan Dunes, and others. Each bar retails for $8.99. 

4. Devonian Coast
If you’d like to support other Michigan makers, consider a Devonian Coast candle, made nearby in Yuba. Hundley explains all the candles are poured with gel and are quite the sight once lit. “They look like little sunsets or sunrises when you light them because they’re clear. The light goes all the way through.”

Hundley says the smaller candle lasts up to 10 hours, while the larger ones last up to 60 hours. Nifty Things offers several candle options and sizes, prices range from $15.99 - $34.99.

5. DunMor Metal Art
For another local artist, check out DunMor Metal out of Waterford Township, Michigan. You’ll find unique metal offerings like Great Lakes’ wall art and compasses, ornaments, and more. According to their website, all DunMor items are handmade from raw materials.

6. Kedzie Bags
For travelers on the go, Hundley says the Kedzie bag is a must-have. “We brought these in over two years ago now,” she says. “The straps are all interchangeable, and [with] a lot of them, you have the ability to go with a lot of options. You can go crossbody; you can go backpack.” Hundley adds that the bags are very popular and offer a way for customers to mix and match to choose their own bag/strap combination. The Kedzie bags start at $19.99. 

7. Save The Girls Clip & Go Straps
Speaking of bags, straps, and travel storage, Hundley says the Save the Girls Clip & Go Straps are essential…and they also contribute to a great cause.

“Back in the day when we first started getting cell phones, a lot of women took their phone in their bra,” says Hundley, “For the owner of this company [Save the Girls], it caused her breast cancer. So she created this.”

The strap is meant to attach to just your phone and also has a little wallet on it. According to the Save the Girls website, 10 percent of all profits go to breast cancer research. Clip & Go Straps retail at $29.99.

8. Poor Boy’s Home Decor
Map out your next northern Michigan escape with this Great Lakes artwork. Crafted from wood, the three-panel map is one of Poor Boy’s Decor’s most popular offerings. Poor Boy’s is based out of Saginaw but sells its artwork across the state.

“This artwork is really cool,” says Hundley, “We have three panels here in both sizes of Grand Traverse Bay. We also have three panels of Michigan…we really do well with those.”

9. Dune Jewelry
This jewelry line, started by Holly Daniels-Christensen in Massachusetts, incorporates sand and other elements from your favorite northern Michigan spots into beautiful jewelry. Nifty Things offers Dune Jewelry with sand from Sleeping Bear Dunes, Mackinac Island, and other local escapes. However, Hundley says the store can do custom pieces, as well.

“She [Daniels-Christensen] has over 5,000 different sands and elements in her bank that you can pull from if you don’t have sand yourself, or you can bring in sand yourself,” Hundley says.

For something more sentimental, Hundley tells us, “They will also do ashes, I’ve done a couple clients with ashes, and a lot of times we’ll add maybe a power stone with it,” she explains. “Or flower petals, or something representative of them.”

10. Custom Engraving
For customers who are truly looking for something one-of-a-kind, Nifty Things offers customized engraving at its Elk Rapids store.

“We have an engraver in Elk Rapids, so you can make them yourself” on the shop’s own designs, says Hundley. Items available for engraving include signs, coasters, mugs, cutting boards, glassware, etc. Prices vary depending on the item and design.

For more information on Nifty Things, visit their website at niftythingsonline.com or stop in at one of their retail locations.

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