I’m a huge advocate of shopping small when possible, every day, but especially during Small Business Saturday. If you’re not familiar with it, Small Business Saturday is an initiative by American Express, which has taken on a life of its own. This year, Google Small Business and Twitter Small Business formed a #SmallBizSquad with various partners in the industry to help give small businesses the resources they need to succeed. It was the last big project I got to work on as part of the Google Small Business Team, and I couldn’t be more proud of what we’ve accomplished.
This blog post, however, will be dedicated to a few fantastic Etsy shops. One of my favorite parts about Small Business Saturday is reminding everyone that shopping small can mean online, supporting Etsy shop owners who work hard at creating high quality, handcrafted goods with love. (If you’re a frugal shopper like me, I’d like to point out that Ebates now provides cashback for Etsy purchases as well.)
On to the shops:
I’ve followed Michelle’s journey since the days Etsy was just a hobby and she was working full-time. I’ve watched her evolve as a solopreneur and I’ve never been more proud of a friend’s success. If you love personalized metal jewelry, then you will love her stuff. If you’ve seen any pictures of me or have met me in person, 95% of the jewelry I own/wear comes from her shop. Bonus: She’s having a black friday sale. Go to her shop to find out the details!
Have I mentioned how incredibly talented my friends are? If you love jewelry and canvases inspired by literature and sports, you have to check out my friend Jessi’s Etsy shop. Everything she does is hand-painted, and she is just brilliant. Check out her shop and if there’s a canvas you love but want customized, shoot her a message.
Who doesn’t love stunning photography and scrabble tiles? The brilliant Mandy takes gorgeous photos, and encourages self-expression through candid and snarky scrabble tile photography.
Raise your hand if you still love getting hand-written notes in this crazy digital age. I do too. Four Hands Creations has more than stationary – they create beautiful, handmade items that range from custom holiday cards, to burlap banners, to creative accessories.
The holidays (and our lives) would be incomplete without a little sparkle, which is why I love this next shop. If you love little animals and glitter, this is about to become your new favorite Etsy shop. I’m not a huge fan of glitter (I know, right?) but my little penguins from this shop are my favorite!
Safari zoo animal tree ornaments. Dinosaur initial bookends. Magnets. Handmade jewelry. I’m pretty sure there isn’t anything my friend Alex can’t do. Her shop has something for everyone – especially if you love dinosaurs (but there are a ton of other goodies as well!)
As we all know, not all handmade items are sold on Etsy. When I asked friends to tell me about their favorite Etsy shops, my friend Lauren asked if she could recommend two people who are selling their goods on Shopify. After checking out their shops, I’m stoked to be including them in this round-up.
Jane makes fabulous pet beds and home accessories. From pillows to comfy beds and toys for your pets, Janery should definitely be on your Small Business Saturday list this year.
This shop is full of original paintings by Rachel, or as she calls them “artistic disasters.” Whatever you want to call them, they’re fun, unique, and creative.
Are you shopping small this weekend? Do you have an Etsy shop? Be sure to leave the info in the comments, and have a wonderful holiday season!