So here we are, just a week away from the biggest shopping weekend of the year. Black Friday, Small Business Saturday and Cyber Monday are quickly approaching, so I wanted to share a few of my favorite small bookish & geeky businesses as well as their planned deals for the upcoming shopping extravaganza!
While small shops like these ones can’t necessarily afford to slash prices like Amazon and Target, they still try to offer deals in some form for their shoppers and these hardworking business owners, who are often handling most if not every aspect of their business, will truly appreciate your support and also provide specialty, unique items that just can’t be found on the shelves of your local Target or listed on Amazon.
If you’re looking for that perfect, unique gift for a reader or geeky bookworm on your list (or you just want to treat yourself!), please consider checking out these amazing shops - all of which I personally support and own items from.
Repurposed Words By Reese
Repurposed Words By Reese is my own shop (full-disclosure), where I create paper goods, décor, and more from upcycled book pages and other repurposed and recycled materials. From bookmarks and prints, to ornaments, wreaths, and book sculptures, I love taking damaged, unloved books and materials and upcycling them into something new so that they can be loved in a different form! I also love working on custom projects featuring your favorite book or quote!
Repurposed Words By Reese will be offering 15% off sitewide (excluding custom items) with code: BLKFRI15 from Friday, Nov. 26 through Monday, Nov. 29 and will be including a free small gift for every customer who signs up for the Repurposed Words By Reese newsletter with the same email that is linked to their order. To access an even deeper site-wide discount, be sure to join my Facebook group: Repurposed Words & Whimsy!
Serpent & Flame
Serpent & Flame (formerly 42 Nerdtastic Place) creates bookish and fandom scents, offering candles, wax melts, sprays, bath & body care and more! Owner and creator, Amanda Mayer, started her business as a hobby in order to celebrate and share her love of fandoms and being a nerd, before going full time with the intent to bring joy to others through olfactory senses while celebrating the uniqueness of individuals.
Serpent & Flame will be offering a 15% discount from Friday, Nov. 26 through Monday, Nov. 29 with code: BF2021 and will be holding their monthly restock & holiday release at 7 PM CST on Friday, Nov. 26. Rep codes will also be applicable during the sale and you can use my code: WORDS10 to save an additional 10%!
Amanda has a running list of the products and scents that will be available in the Black Friday restock and you can check that out in advance on her blog! There will be gift sets, Winter collection scents, sprays, 4 oz candle tins, 7.5 oz candle jars, bath soaks, and 13 oz double wick candles.
In The Reads
In The Reads offers beautifully bookish and affordable artwork that brings to life the worlds within your favorite books, TV, and films. Owner and artist, Lauren Stewart, is known for her “Tolkienized” maps of both fantasy and real world locations that she has crafted in the style of JRR Tolkien. The name of In The Reads has also become synonymous with beautiful, quality woodmarks or wooden bookmarks, all of which feature Lauren’s artwork or that of a collaborating artist.
In The Reads will be hosting a Buy 2 Bookmarks, Get the 3rd Free sale from Friday, Nov. 26 through Monday, Nov. 29 at 11.59 pm Mountain time. The promo will apply to up to a total of 12 bookmarks using the following codes:
3 bookmarks: BUY2GET1
6 bookmarks: BUY4GET2
9 bookmarks: BUY6GET3
12 bookmarks: BUY8GET4
Codes will apply to bookmarks only, with the exclusion of misprinted bookmarks, which are already offered at a discounted price.
In The Reads will also be debuting a new subscription style box called Page & Parcel on Black Friday that was created in collaboration with @paperbackbones, which will include more than 7 total Middle Earth themed items valued at approximately $90! The box will go live here on Black Friday!
Charming Kate’s
Charming Kate’s is a jewelry shop owned by Katie Holland that offers a variety of unique, beautiful jewelry pieces, many of which are inspired by fiction and pop culture! The bangle bracelets that cleverly represent beloved stories and characters are my personal favorite items in her shop!
Charming Kate’s will be hosting a Semi Custom and Mystery Box Sale in her Facebook group: Charming Kate’s Creation Station from Friday, Nov. 26 though Sunday, Nov. 28 and you can learn all the insider information by joining the group in advance!
Northanger Soapworks
Northanger Soapworks is a shop that offers handmade soap and accessories, as well as other self-care and home products for the Jane Austen addict! Owner and soapmaker, Laura Hansen, notes that the shop was born out of her own addition to Jane Austen and classic literature and that she aims to create one-of-a-kind products that “lift you from the modern world” and transport you to your favorite literary settings within the world of Austen.
Northanger Soapworks will be kicking off a 2-day sale event on Friday, Nov. 26 (also the date of the famed Netherfield Ball in Pride & Prejudice!) by offering 20% off the entire shop. A free lip balm will be included in every order while supplies last and free shipping will be offered on all orders over $60 (for US domestic orders only)! This event will run through Saturday, Nov. 27 - but several of the shop’s winter collection products are starting to run low in stock - so get your orders in quick!