Supporting Small Business

We all want to make a difference in this world. During a pandemic our options and resources are limited, and that’s why it’s more important than ever to do what we can to help others along the way. This does not have to equate to money, although it can.

Money. Time. Talent. Resources.

These are the things each of us have to offer. The capacity to give from each varies from person-to-person and throughout the timelines of our lives.

Where are you at now? What can you do? What would you like to do? What do you dream of doing?

How to shop small when so many businesses (small and large) are closed?

The answer is ONLINE. Many small businesses have an online presence. There are thousands of entrepreneurs on Etsy. I’m going to list a few here to give you an idea of the wide variety you can choose from. In upcoming posts, I will list other ways you can help, inspire, comfort a corner of the world that can benefit from you – your money, time, talent, or resources.

For this blog post I am highlighting some Etsy shops. #StandWithSmall #SupportSmallBusiness

Leaf Scribble Undated Daily Planner Book sells for $45.58 and ships from the UK (S&H to US is $13.02). There are all kinds of journals and planners on Etsy including some downloadable ones you can print at home.

Birds of Paradise Wood Journal (laser cut) sells for $29 and ships free in the USA. This unique journal offers many cover designs that you can see in her shop.

My Self-Quarantine Recipes Journal is an editable PDF download (letter size) that costs $4.87. With downloads there is no shipping and you receive your product immediately. What better time to create your own Recipe Journal to share with family and friends? There are also downloads for stationery pages, journals, ephemera and much more.

Custom Rubber Stamps (Business Logo Stamps or Wedding Custom Stamp, Custom Logo Stamp) starts at $15 and offers free shipping in the USA. For this type of order, there are instructions explaining how to upload your hi-res image that the company will put on a stamp that you select and approve before it ships.

This personalized stationery from Alex & Co Noted sells for $15 for a set of 10 cards (shipping is $3 for USA). You can choose different card amounts and there’s also an option to get your return address printed on the envelopes for an additional fee. There are multiple floral designs and font options, so take your time looking and get just want you want.

Vintage 1800’s Letters Bundles sold by Monahan Papers. This 5-piece set costs $10 (shipping is $3.25 in the USA). I will often search for ‘ephemera’ on Etsy and am amazed by the offerings for this category (postcards. steampunk tags, stickers, bookmarks, paper bundles, tea cards, digital ephemera, bank ledgers, maps, library cards, and much more.) Try it!

Goat Milk Lotion (cherry almond) can help protect your hands from all of that washing and sanitizing. Many Etsy shops offer a variety of scents (and unscented) lotions. I’ve recently tried goat milk lotion (unscented) and love it. This one is sold by Fresh and Fancy from the Farm and sells for $6 (includes S&H).

These days many people are looking for face masks as recommended by the CDC for protection against Covid-19. You can find a wide assortment of masks on Etsy such as these fabric masks made by Jenn Wisbeck, owner of Midnight Sky Fibers. This two-piece set sells for $24 and includes free shipping.

Some things to consider if you’re new to shopping on Etsy:

• Look for reviews (how recent, how many, what they say)
• Cost (is shipping included)
• How many sales have they had
• Return policy (or other recourse if dissatisfied)

I am an Etsy affiliate and Etsy seller (new to both) and may earn a small commission from any sale made through links in this article. The cost to the buyer remains the same.