Now that Thanskgiving is over, the holiday season is in full swing and many of us have so much shopping to do. Although it’s much easier to reference the many sales going on at larger retailers, I wanted to make an effort to highlight a few small businesses that I really like for my holiday shopping guide. I definitely do shop at larger retailers on a regular basis, but lately I’ve been trying to support more small businesses, whether it be by visiting a local cafe or a family-owned restaurant. By shopping at small businesses, not only have I been able to find some cool and unique items that I wouldn’t have found at a larger retailer, I’ve also been able to feel great about the fact that I have supported talented and hardworking individuals that are trying to make a living doing something that they love. This guide includes a few small businesses that I really like at the moment, and I’ve even included some promo codes to make your shopping experience more enjoyable and affordable.
Photo via Dear Creatures
USE PROMO CODE “DCBLACKFRIDAY” FOR 40% NEW STYLES
I’ve been following the brand Dear Creatures for a while, and I keep falling in love with every collection they release each season. I have to admit that Dear Creatures’ clothes are usually out of my price point, but they are definitely well worth the money that they cost. If I had money to spare, I would definitely buy their “Bella” dress in blue. I love how elegant it looks, and I think that the baby blue color would look great with my darker hair–a girl can dream, right? If you do have the money to spare, you should hurry to get 40% off any of their new styles.
Photo via Fleet Collection’s Instagram
USE PROMO CODE “BLACKFRIDAY14” FOR 40% OFF
I told myself that I was only allowed to spend $30 dollars on myself this holiday season, and I wasn’t sure if I would be able to find anything within my price range that I liked and that was worth investing in. Luckily for me, Fleet Collection has an awesome SALE section. Once I applied the promo code, I managed to score their “Madeline” dress in gray for only $29.24, and that was including shipping. I can’t wait until it arrives in the mail and I get to wear it all the time!
Photo via Millay Vintage’s Instagram
USE PROMO CODE “MERCI” FOR 30% OFF
I first heard of Millay Vintage after I started following the business’ Instagram account, where owner Mary Spears provides her followers with beautiful inspiration. When I finally headed over to the Millay Vintage Shop, I was happy to find an equally gorgeous selection of vintage clothes and home decor items. They even have a look book, which you can check out here.
Photo via Burdees
Burdees is another one of those shops that I discovered on Instagram. I love that all of their items are very affordable, and their designs are simple, elegant, and suit a variety of styles. So, if you’re having some trouble trying to figure out what to buy for a certain family member or friend, you should definitely head on over to Burdees and see what they have in store.
Photo via Rainaroo
USE PROMO CODE “SHOPSMALL14” TO GET 15% OFF
Some of you might remember that I teamed up with Raina from Rainaroo for a giveaway, not so long ago. Being that Raina is such a strong supporter of this blog, it only made sense that I highlight her business in this shopping guide. Raina makes a variety of very cute crocheted items including scarves, headbands, and hats, and you can even request a custom order from her if you’d like. You should definitely head over to Rainaroo’s Etsy shop if somebody on your holiday gift list is an accessories fanatic.
Photo via Cheese Before Bedtime
As I was browsing through my favorite shops on Etsy, I rediscovered Cheese Before Bedtime, a shop that sells tiny pieces of embroidered art. Embroidery is definitely one of those skills that I want to master at some point in time. Since I have yet to do so, I can’t help but to be impressed with owner Amy Jone’s beautiful work. I don’t have a promo code for this shop, but considering the amount of work that goes into each of these pieces, most of them could be considered a bargain.
USE PROMO CODE “SMALLBIZ14” FOR 10% OFF
And finally, who would I be without some shameless self-promotion? In case I haven’t bugged you all enough about this, I have an Etsy Shop called the Sweet Helen Grace Shop, where I sell jewelry, accessories and other items that I make by hand. I’m constantly adding new items to the shop, so check back often to see what I have in store.
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I hope that you all had a happy Thanksgiving, whichever way you chose to celebrate it. It’s always nice to be able to take some time to think about what you are truly grateful for, and I think that is a practice that I really want to try to implement more often throughout the year. I keep saying this, but I have really been trying to make more of an effort to be a more positive person, and I am so thankful for all of the people who have supported me in that goal through and outside of this blog.
xoxo,
Helen Grace