Shopping in Arcadia

Socially conscious crafters can take home a hand-stitched measuring-tape cat (Vietnam, $8) from Mai Vietnamese Handicrafts, while frugal fashionistas can sport dancing-girl earrings made from recycled soda cans by KICK Trading Ltd. (Kenya, $12) or a marbled bead choker from TARA Projects (India, $16). Decorate the great outdoors with Manos Amigas' ceramic bird wind-chime (Peru, $44), or beautify the indoors with the world children wall hanging (Haiti, $84) from Comité Artisanal Haitien. Fair-trade staples, such as Equal Exchange coffee, tea, and chocolates, make tasty gifts for Father's Day, Secretary's Day, or Father's Secretary's Day.

Working with artisans in developing countries who would otherwise be underemployed, Ten Thousand Villages supplies handicraft lovers with hand-crafted jewelry, home décor, accessories, and gifts from Latin America, Africa, and Asia, while paying artisans fair wages for their products. Support marginalized women in Bangladesh with YWCA Craft Centre's bright and goosy Super Duck backpack (Bangladesh, $24), which allows school children to strut confidently into second grade and medical malpractice lawyers to swagger into the courtroom with a duck on their backs. Socially conscious crafters can take home a hand-stitched measuring-tape cat (Vietnam, $8) from Mai Vietnamese Handicrafts, while frugal fashionistas can sport dancing-girl earrings made from recycled soda cans by KICK Trading Ltd. (Kenya, $12) or a marbled bead choker from TARA Projects (India, $16). Fair-trade staples, such as Equal Exchange coffee, tea, and chocolates, make tasty gifts for Father's Day, Secretary's Day, or Father's Secretary's Day.

Allen and Richard Wattenberg took over the reins at Ross Cutlery in 1964. By that time, the shop was already 34 years old and predominantly dealt with knife-sharpening services. While the brothers and their staff have continued the shop's legacy of fixing up dull knife blades and haircutting tools, they've steadily populated their shelves with professional-grade haircutting tools, sporting knives, collectible swords, and kitchen-cutlery sets from Henckels, Trident, and Forschner. Their 2,300-square-foot shop rests on the ground floor of the Bradbury Building, which is an architectural landmark and the proud father of a rambunctious little parking garage.

Blind 9 Golf equips duffers with clubs from elite makers including TaylorMade, Mizuno, and Adams, along with course-ready duds that owe their sporty collars to the stitch masters at Adidas, Puma, and other top brands. Along with a wide selection of putters, wedges, irons, and drivers, the golf emporium sells useful golf accessories, streamlining golf trips with travel bags and informing golfers of their exact distance from flagsticks and territorial forecaddies with GPS units and rangefinders. Clients can also sign up for a loft/lie fitting session with Blind 9’s recently acquired club-fitting equipment, which measures players' current sticks and swing path to determine optimal loft and lie.

The all-mother staff at Bellies, Babies & Bosoms know everything there is to know about breastfeeding. Their certified lactation educators share their knowledge in free support sessions for nervous new moms, and with the purchase of every breast pump, they include a complimentary training session to ensure that the mother understands the pump’s mechanics and the steps needed to produce chocolate milk.

Within the store’s pastel-hued walls, delicate chandeliers and gleaming wooden floors set a serene mood. Moms drop in to browse the boutique’s array of maternity and baby clothes, diaper bags, and toys, many of which are crafted with organic materials or bamboo, making them safe for curious babies and fashion-forward pandas alike. In addition to their work helping new mothers get acquainted with breastfeeding, they regularly donate to family-focused charities.

With locations in Downtown Los Angeles and Downey and an online emporium, Your Furniture Now's experienced staff outfits homes with bed stands, chairs, dining-room sets, tables, and other essential pieces. Throughout the virtual and brick-and-mortar showrooms, the stock shines with glass-topped coffee tables, leather recliners, and team members who can provide in-person or online consultation. They can also assist clients as they figure out how to best position a sofa in the living room or during a food fight.

After customers select their items, such as a durable innerspring Serta mattress or a marble-accented bar set, the company delivers the products as soon as the following day. They even assemble pieces for free, saving homeowners the hassle of having to find something other than a toolbox to weigh down important documents.