How is that holiday shopping going?

The pandemic has certainly put a kink in so many people’s plans, including that all-important Christmas shopping. It is difficult enough to find fun and different presents at the neighborhood malls and department stores, and now, shopping during COVID is making it almost impossible to stay safe. The good news is that it is not too late to hit up online stores. Small businesses such as Esty shops provide shoppers with unique items that cannot be found in those everyday stores.

 

The Derpy Honey Badger

The Derpy Honey Badger not only has the coolest company name, it is a small (micro), woman-owned business. They sell upcycled and recycled home decor and soy wax candles. With a focus on sustainability and adorability, they pass their love of candles and kitschy home decor on to their devoted customers. They also mentioned that they saw how rampant consumerism was, especially during the holidays, and they thought, there’s got to be a sustainable way to do this kind of stuff and still enjoy the kitsch! Check them out on Facebook and all of their currently available items are in the albums.

The Pixelized Princess 

Pixelated treasures are actually a thing! The Pixelized Princess sells retro video game art, including standing character sprites for desks and shelves, and canvas prints for those empty walls, ornaments for those Nerdy Christmas Trees, and much more. As a bonus this season, the “Princess” is offering a free random ornament in all orders that are $30 or more. This Etsy talent was inspired to create her own business after attending video game conventions and seeing all the cool stuff people were making. She wanted to share her love of retro video games, and hopefully create a little nostalgic joy for people when they see some of the unique items they can make. “It is really awesome to see the excitement on someone’s face when they find that one random character that they loved as a kid.”

Melenagerie

Melody knew that she needed affordable costumes to complete her creative cosplay every year. She was not the only one out there, and thus was born a small business! The Melenagerie on Etsy gives people the opportunity to buy hard to find pieces for their outfits. She specializes in “Star Wars” inspired boots for characters like Rey, Cara Dune, and more.

Spooky Nerd Cross Stitch 

No thanks to the pandemic, creative people have a lot of time on their hands. Lara’s downloadable cross stitch patterns can be just the solution to keep fingers and brains busy. She actually learned how to cross-stitch during quarantine and decided to start making her own patterns. Thanks to suggestions from friends, she started her own Etsy shop.

Nerd Alert News encourages our readers to support these amazing small businesses during the holiday season and beyond. Happy shopping!

Written by Colleen Bement

Barefoot and nerdy writer/editor of Nerd Alert News. She lives and breathes all things geeky entertainment. A social media addict, she soaks up all life has to offer! Tea snob. Dodgers fan.