In worcester: Crompton collective in the canal district right next to the worcester public market. Small locally owned businesses if that's what you're looking for. Stuff ranging from plants to interesting oddities...there's also a bookstore. Within the worcester public market are also local makers and not just food vendors, one example is someone who makes soaps.

Little outside worcester is the Blackstone shopping center in milbury that's basically your typical mall area. For a wider array of shops there's the Natick mall area up route 9, but it's typical big stores and name brands you're used to. But it'll have stuff good for gifting like Lush, anthropology, origins, UNIQLO, William sonoma, crate and barrel.