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.

Birch Alley is also right across the parking lot from Crompton and looked very decked out in Christmas Stuff when I went passed it this weekend.

Vaillancourt in Sutton is a nice store for higher-end gifts.

Northboro plaza past white city in shrewsbury.

Along the same route in westborough there’s the Christmas tree shop, further down There’s also a target, Walmart, Burlington coat factory and other little stores in the Burlington coat factory plaza. Further down from that Is a hidden plaza down a road I can’t think of it’s name. But the plaza has a medical center in it and there’s a railroad by it.

All these locations are a 10-20minute drive out of Worcester but along the same shrewsbury turnpike route

If you like handmade stuff Technocopia is hosting a small craft fair this Saturday at Redemption Rock Brewery.

I wanted to say thank you SO MUCH for this recommendation. This place is lovely and I finally got to explore the Worcester Public Market. The food vendors there are amazing! This was a great tip

Blackstone Mall Millbury MA about 15-20 depending how fast you drive lol