I was driving around L.A. recently and was saddened to see "FOR LEASE" signs on many of my beloved mom-and-pop boutiques, stores, and restaurants. Which got me thinking -- the holiday season is the perfect time to support the little guy. Yes, online holiday shopping at a mass retailer is a snappy approach. But, in this economic climate, if we don't support entrepreneurs, lots of groovy companies will fold.

So to help you wrap-up your holiday shopping list -- while helping some of your fellow entrepreneurs -- here are some of my favorite:

Why not buy mom a coterie of eclectic spices from Spice House?

Buy your partner portable aromatherapy massagers from t spheres.

Get the foodie in your life exotic chocolates from Vosges Haut-Chocolat.

Pamper her with organic grooming gear from Spa Space or score a decorive Chinese antique lacquer catch all box from Pagoda Red.

A faux diamond tank watch at ToyWatch is a lot of look for a little cash.

Invest in vintage accessories for men and women at Decades.

Grab the grooviest books, candles, and home accessories at Jayson Home & Garden.

Give her the gift of glow with Kinara's red carpet facial in a box.

With the economy down, anxiety levels are skyrocketing -- leaving stressed Americans with elevated heart rates, insomnia, neck crinks and tight, painful backs. Is there any relief in sight?

I am a huge fan of stress reduction through acupuncture. Yes, needles can be scary. But acupuncture needles are as thin as a hair and can impact the flow of chi -- or life energy -- with insertion at the tip of the dermis.

The day we shot the latest episode of The Inc. Life, Jin worked on points in my neck, which caused me to feel a fiery explosion behind my eye. The sensation was the typical movement of chi and abated in moments. She needled my feet (corresponding to the liver) and ankles, and I felt a pulsation in my shoulder. She put a slew of needles into my aching lower back and it was almost an instant release of tension. I won't lie. The aggressive scraping is excruciating when it is done. But 10 minutes later, I am pain free and feel a foot taller. My sleep is dramatically improved, and I fall asleep and stay asleep for seven hours straight -- a miracle.

The other items that I mention in the show are great for business travelers, since they are portable. I love the t spheres balls to use on the plane, as well as all of the effective and inexpensive items from Stress Less to combat the physical manifestations of stress.

And the old-school bath is also an easy way to take it down a notch at any point during the day. Add epsom salt and essential oils like lavender. I recently learned that applying lavender oil to the feet enhances sleep. I slap it on myself -- and the kids -- and hope for a more relaxing tomorrow.

The age-old maxim "it's the thought that counts" still applies to gift etiquette. But let's be honest -- nobody relishes the thought of a fruitcake, padded socks, or a sleigh themed tie. If you are making the effort to offer someone in the workplace a gift, you may as well spend a few minutes actually putting thought into it.

Where to begin? Examine the lifestyle of the recepient and score something that complements it. Do you have to go nuts and get something exotic? Pricey? Totally unexpected? No. It's not about how much you spend, it's about letting the giftee know that you let personal reflection guide your decision.

As you'll see in the gift guide episode of The Inc. Life, I am a huge fan of putting a fresh twist on classics. And utility. Who doesn't want a great book about business or sports or music? How about a cool set of DVDs?

Another idea? Everybody needs a little pampering. Beauty products for men and women are always a hit. Hit Sephora's website and check out their gift selections. Just stay away from overly fragranced items. Decorative, lightly scented candles are an inexpensive luxury for the home or office.

And you can always appeal to someone's stomach. A wonderfully eclectic food product like Vosges' new cheese and chocolate set will elicit glee from anyone on your list.

If you want to go luxe, check out the array of leather jotters, BlackBerry covers and portfolio holders from Brit brand Smythson.

As for me? I'm craving iPod earphones that actually fit.

Here are some resources for your shopping list:

Zingerman's

Vosges Haut Chocolat

Smythson

Sephora

Bath & Body Works

Amazon.com

A simple fashion don't like, say, pleated khakis, octogenarian-style footwear, or a sweater that's three sizes too big is an instant dumpifier. (Definition: the male version of "frumpy," a style element that impacts a look negatively.) That can take down the manliest of men.

In the latest episode of The Inc. Life, I hit Barneys New York, headquarters of fashion dos, to illustrate how capture the look of the season without breaking the bank. By my side was menswear guru Joe Lupo, a partner at Visual Therapy, a company that teaches individuals and corporate clients how to funnel their personal style and corporate message through fashion. Joe's mantra is "image, identity, and clarity," which is illustrated in his ability to mix and match new trends with wardrobe classics so that minimum investment yields maximum looks.

To illustrate this concept, we crafted five looks with one three-piece flannel suit for work, weekend, and a night out. Joe is a stickler on shirt and sweater sizing: "Most men buy sweaters and shirts a size too large. Men often feel comfortable in boxy shapes and think that the extra fabric hides a gut. The truth? Fabric fullness can add 10 pounds. Try and go down a size for a streamlined look."

But color is the topic that really gets Joe animated. He and Visual Therapy partner Jesse Garza just completed Life in Color, a tome devoted to why color is critical to the wardrobe.

It's undeniable -- color makes a statement about your point of view. A pop of bold color in the tie, shirt stripes, scarf, or socks indicates a man who does not fade into the woodwork. Just look at successful restaurateurs, sports figures, and music impresarios. Oh, and President-elect Barack Obama. These men know that fashion ain't fluff. It conveys strength and the requisite groove factor to do business in not so colorful economy.

So what are Joe's must-haves for winter 2009? A three-piece flannel suit, fitted shirts, a neutral v-neck sweater, great shoes, and a charcoal grey overcoat. Why? These pieces work together or as separates delivering a myriad of looks for the office and beyond.

It’s awful. You look in the mirror and see your parent. Or, on a bad day, a grandparent. It’s official: Stress, travel, and lack of sleep wreak havoc on the face and body. Guzzling Emergen-C may give you some energy, but pampering is what rejuvenates the mind, body, and… countenance.

In the latest episode of The Inc. Life, I take you to Spa Space, a groovy spa in Chicago’s Loop, to demo the best facials and massages to combat back pain, neck tension, and dull, stressed skin.

An important note? Not every massage is the same. I personally detest Swedish massages. I am not taking time out of my busy schedule to have someone lightly rub my back. I want deep (almost bruising) pressure that opens up the knots and increases circulation in my rock-hard lower back and neck.

Tense execs and the people who work with them are obsessed with Thai Yoga massage, a combination of acupressure, twisting, stretching and energy work. This type of massage has been done for 2,500 years, but is just gaining steam in the United States. Joints are loosened, range of motion can be improved, and the stretching enhances the flow of energy throughout the body. When knots are opened, lactic acid and other toxins are released, which in turn releases physical and psychological tension.

Then there's your face. Business travel is an insta-ager. If you need a shot of radiance, look for a facial with active products to slough off dead skin cells, stimulate collagen turnover, and improve circulation.

I know, I know -- making time to get to a spa is rough. There are so many excellent products for a DIY treatment. Epicuren, Sonya Dakar, Bliss, Eminece, and Kate Somerville are some of my favorites.

Want more advice from the pros? I enlisted Lucky Magazine's beauty empress Jean Godfrey June for her tips on distressing:

"The most amazingly de-stressing product I know of is the Relaxing bath/shower oil from This Works. Take a bath in it, and it’s genuinely as if you’ve been hypnotized and you must, must climb into bed and go to sleep. The first time I tried it, I mistakenly used the Awake version, and I was up all night!

"Travel-wise, my favorite thing is the Aromatic Balm from Darphin, an adorable little pot you can take on the plane with you and use as: lip balm, cuticle cream, last-minute frizz-fix, moisturizer, or you can just smell the citrusy scent, which makes you feel calm but invigorated.

"I also always take take Stella McCartney’s 5 Benefits Moisturizer, since it also passes all TSA regulations, is super-hydrating, and leaves you with glowing, dewy skin after a flight. And it smells like a spa."

There is a palpable swagger -- a fashion induced confidence, if you will -- innate to a well-dressed man.

Fashion may not be top of mind to many an exec. In fact, it probably ranks well below making payroll, delivering client presentations, and putting out the fires blazing throughout the workspace. But, the fact remains that in business, presentation is everything. Ill-fitting, boxy suits, a bad break in the pants, or a too-long jacket can send a message of sloppiness and disconnect with modernity. That is why tailors across the country are seeing men invest in bespoke clothing, as I discuss in the latest episode of The Inc. Life.

Bespoke, a word derived from the term "to be spoken for" in 17th century London, is a piece of clothing that is entirely made by hand for the client in accordance with about 30 measurements. Until the '60s bespoke was relegated to the ranks of aristocrats. The Beatles changed the paradigm by having Savile Row tailors design one-off outfits that defined rock and roll. The groovy part? The clothes fit perfectly and were absolutely unavailable to anyone else. Celebrities like Cary Grant followed suit -- pun intended -- and ignited a trend across Hollywood.

So what does this mean for you? A perfectly tailored suit, pants, jacket, and shirt sends a powerful message of polish and poise. Bespoke does not have to cost $60,000. A local tailor can craft a sharply cut custom suit for about $2000, depending upon fabrication and custom details. Keep in mind that a good suit is an investment. Shirts, pants and jackets can be delivered at a price point similar to off the rack. Often, the tailor can even come to your office, measuring tape in hand and fabric swatches for selection.

Want to stand out in a crowd? I have one word for you: custom, custom, custom!

Road warriors have a cadre of tried and true travel tips that make simplify and chic-ify business travel -- a topic I explore in the latest episode of The Inc. Life. Here, I turn my questions to the pros, in search of a little advice for the rest of us.

Rachel Roy, Fashion designer
www.rachelroy.com

Roy travels the globe sourcing fabrics and promoting her designs at tony retailers like Neiman Marcus and Nordstrom.

When I travel I always pack…

A carry-on with my own pillow, cashmere blanket, and enough essentials to get me through the next day just in case my luggage is lost.

Rose hydrating spray to freshen and reduce the puffiness that comes with travel.

Travel candles, good reading material, and photos of my children to make my hotel room feel more like home.

A completely edited wardrobe with accessories and outfits planned for each day to keep myself organized.

Harry Slatkin, President of Home Design for Limited Brands

The man who pioneered the category of scented candles for the home with Slatkin & Co. now spends weeks on the road designing and promoting the Limited's explosive arena of home fragrance.

Your luggage of choice?

I carry an oversized black Hermes Birkin bag for three-day travel and a hard Louis Vuitton when I am away for four nights or more.

Must haves?

iPod nano, chewy mints, and my black fig and absinthe room spray.

Travel tips?

Drink as much chamomile tea as possible on a plane and always take Airborne, because germs are everywhere. Someone always has a cough that you don't want to catch.

Grooming products?

Pat Wexler skin care.

Packing tips?

One blue suit and two pairs of pants give you five different ensembles. I love Prada because the microfibers in the suiting prevent wrinkling. Everything pops out of a suitcase perfection.

To keep busy on trips to Europe, I bring dozens of magazines and tearsheet everything for inspiration. Airplane food is so awful that I always travel with high fiber crackers and My Little Cow (light) cheese.

Karen Herbst, CEO of The International Kitchen
www.theinternationalkitchen.com

Herbst organizes culinary vacations all over the world. So, she is in Italy, Spain, France, and Morocco exploring the latest and greatest new locations and test driving chefs

Your suitcase?

I carry a 24-inch expandable carry-on if I am away for one night or two weeks!

What do you pack?

Three pairs of dark pants, one dressy blouse, one blazer, a few sweaters to layer. I love no-iron shirts. If I wear a white blouse, I wear it alone once and under a sweater the second time. I always bring things that I can wash.

I pack everything in Ziplock bags: Nightgown, robe, slippers in one bag. My clothes are all packed in plastic cleaning bags and layered on hangers so everything is ready to pull out and wear without thinking about it.. I am often in one place just for one night so this method seriously takes five minutes to pack up in the morning.

Any rules to live by?

I always bring a cashmere wrap to use as a blanket.

I always bring my own robe and slippers to feel at home.

I always bring an alarm clock. I never trust a wakeup calls and adapters.

I always have a cosmetic case ready to go packed with TSA-approved sizes so I don't need to think about it.

I always bring raisins and raw almonds so I don't starve when the flight is delayed.

Everyone feels better when they work out. The problem? Finding time to get to the gym. Case in point? Moi. I, like most working mamas, have to finesse getting myself and two kids fed, dressed, and out the door by 8:30 a.m. I'd love to go to the gym at 4 or 5. But life, work, and the crafting of a quasi-healthy dinner for my family, always intervenes.

I thank the god of sculpted triceps for putting me in the path of Fred Devito, vice president of Movement of Exhale Spas. Fred, along with his wife Elisabeth Halfpapp, created an exercise regimen -- Core Fusion -- based on yoga, pilates, and dance to tone and strengthen the entire body. I started going to his classes in New York City; a welcome respite from the mind-numbing gym jaunts. I was ecstatic when Exhale opened in Chicago (and all over the country).

After I had a baby, Fred flew to Chicago and challenged me to do Exhale's six-week transformation program to ditch the 36-odd pounds of blubber acquired during my mac and cheese infused pregnancy. I did a story on the experience (which worked!) and Fred taught me a series of precise moves that I could do at home for insta-toning. The genius of Core Fusion is that it can be done anywhere and with no equipment.

To illustrate how user-friendly this workout is for busy execs and business travelers, I shot our latest episode of The Inc. Life at beautiful The Allegro Hotel in Chicago with two super cool entrepreneurs, Jason Scher of Vosges Haut Chocolate and Genevieve Thiers, CEO of SitterCity.com. After six minutes, both test subjects were schvitzing. That's a good thing.

Remember, all you need is 20 minutes. So why not give it a shot?

And if you've got your own workout tips for other weary business travelers, drop me a comment.

I'd like to welcome you to The Guide, a new blog designed to give modern entrepreneurs the tools they need to stay at the top of their games. My name is Amy Tara Koch, and I'm also the host of Inc. TV's newest series, The Inc. Life.

What's the easiest way to land an upgrade? Which tech gadgets are essential for your next business trip? How can you amp up your workspace? In both The Guide and The Inc. Life, a seasoned trend reporter (moi!) will discuss and dissect the tools that impart that quantifiable edge in all aspects of your entrepreneurial life -- in the boardroom, at the cocktail party, at the bank, and on the road.

And now… a little about your host. As a trend reporter for NBC, style expert for USA Today, and contributor to Town and Country, American Way, Chicago Tribune, and Travel & Leisure, I would describe myself as a journalista (one part journalist, one part stylista) of the highest order. My beats? Fitness, fashion, interiors (I am a flea market fiend!), food (just back from olive oil tasting in Brescia, Italy!), and uncovering the latest and greatest anti-aging treatments on the mean streets of Beverly Hills. Random House/Ballantine will be publishing my first style book in 2010.

So what can you expect from the first episode of The Inc. Life? The art of the power cocktail. Conveying creativity and business acumen are, obviously, critical components to closing a deal. And, sometimes, your prospective partner needs a hearty nudge in the right direction. One trick? Get your target out of the confines of the boardroom and into a relaxed setting: your home. The intimate cocktail soiree has evolved into a power player in the deal closing playbook.

In our first show, I meet up with entrepreneur Wendy Pashman of the 18-year-old Entertaining Company in Chicago to stage two strategic yet easy-to-emulate cocktail parties designed to wow colleagues and close the proverbial deal. Pashman and I agree that what you serve is as important as how you serve. So, projecting one’s image through food, decor, and overall ambiance must be treated as a strategy. Layering the table with quirky items like a rough hewn bowl fashioned from a coconut, chunky quartz tea candle holders, and vintage Turkish bowls to house dips and sauces is key to thought provoking ambiance. The result is an artful gathering that emanates strength, power, and outside-the-box thinking.

One tidbit from this week's episode -- I am obsessed with Jayson Home and Garden, a brick and mortar and online resource for eclectic decor. The company offers a high/low smorgasbord of tabletop items from a glam $10 shell-as-serving dish to pricey platters from John Derian. But the selection is impeccably edited and perfect for a groovy party at home. Check it out!

So sit back, enjoy, and drop me a comment below. Next week, I'll check in with Fred Devito, founder of CoreFusion, for a look at how to stay fit on the road.