Maria realized after moving to Boston that if she wanted to hear the cozy, buzzy hum of people at a dinner party – chatting, clinking glasses, enjoying a home-cooked meal – she’d have to gather them herself. One viral TikTok (and 700 overnight sign-ups!) later, Aperitivo was born. Named for Italy’s pre-meal, catch-up tradition, Maria says her brand is all about “slowing down, spending time with loved ones and being in the moment.” But what started as a network of people who love good food and conversation has since expanded into a store that celebrates Maria’s love of hosting and gifting. This holiday season, she’ll lean into packaging that makes it easy for customers to put together gifts they can take home – or to their next gathering.
“The biggest thing I’ve learned from past holiday seasons is to be over-prepared and have more than I need on hand.”— Maria C.
Want those quintessential holiday vibes? Grab your tinsel, your twinkly lights, and start decorating! Every year, Maria goes all out with seasonal decor inspired by the Italian-American Christmases and big family get-togethers of her childhood. Plus, her branding and signage will get a festive makeover featuring Italian holiday greetings (Buon natale, everyone!) and showcasing her seasonal promos. Branded merch is a must, too: Maria can outfit her team in cozy sweaters, sell cute tees to customers or gift Aperitivo hats to her friends and family.
“It’s my favorite time of year, and I just love an excuse to redo the shop. We’ll have greenery everywhere, bows everywhere, lights, glitter. All of it.”— Maria C.
It’s the personal touch that makes shopping a small business feel so special. The smallest items, like custom matchboxes, make a “big difference,” says Maria. Customers and employees will remember you when they light candles at their holiday table!
Flair is always fun, but if there’s ever a time to go joyfully over-the-top, it’s the holidays. Part of Maria’s goal with Aperitivo is to show customers they can go big on little details, whether they’re hosting a festive cocktail night or gathering family for dinner. She sells cute housewarming gifts and tableware meant to put a smile on someone’s face (think pasta-shaped candles and plates adorned with punny sayings). To prep for the busy season, she’s stocking up on lots of thoughtful extras to pop in gift bags or decorate the store.
“The biggest thing that makes a difference is the little details, like adding a sticker, adding ribbon, adding a fun tape or gift tag.”— Maria C.
What’s more festive than a big ol’ bow? “I love ribbon” Maria says. “I’m going to have so many rolls of ribbon on hand.” She’ll use her Aperitivo-branded ribbon to make beautiful bows for gift boxes, but it’s also a great way to elevate decorations around the store – from window displays to Christmas trees. It even looks pretty just dangling from rolls on her shelves. The more bows the better, we say!
