Amazon Prime Day Alternative: TPG’s favorite travel-friendly small shops
Shop small(er) and save
I’m not going to sit here and pretend like I never take advantage of Amazon Prime Day sales. I’ve managed to save major money on big-ticket items like a GoPro camera, AirPods and a carpet cleaner, but I much prefer supporting smaller businesses with unique items you can’t find just anywhere.
In today’s edition of Talking Points With TPG, I am going to share some of my favorite shops with items and services that are perfect for travel. They may not show up at your door in an Amazon-branded box within a day of your order, but they are well worth the wait (and the shipping costs).
And before we get to it, be sure to drop me a link to your favorite travel-friendly small shops so that I (and anyone reading this) can add them to my pre-trip shopping list!
Nuuly
Nuuly is a clothing rental company with styles and brands you can find in stores like Anthropologie, Free People and Urban Outfitters. Nuuly’s selection includes a mix of casual and dressy options, making it ideal for travel.
You can rent six styles each month for $98 (but if you search around online, you can usually find a discount code to save on your first month or two), and pay a discounted price to keep any items you love too much to part with.
Each month, when it’s time to make my selections, I check the calendar to see which trips I have upcoming. Last month, for example, I chose this ruffle-collar denim dress to pair with tan suede booties for a visit to Jackson, Wyoming. Next month, I am heading to the beach, so I’ve got my eye on some more casual items like sundresses and swimsuit coverups.
Grove
Grove sells eco-friendly household essentials, personal care products and more. But what I love most is the section dedicated specifically to TSA-approved travel items. You can get travel must-haves like hydration tablets, hand sanitizer, lip balm, moisturizer and first-aid kits in cute little travel-ready packaging.
REI Outlet
I love REI for high-performing outdoor gear, but quality craftsmanship comes at a price. That’s why I prefer to turn to REI Outlet for things like boots and daypacks, water bottles, hiking boots, camping gear and other adventuring necessities.
I’m a big fan of the CamelBak M.U.L.E hydration backpacks and my Danner hiking boots.
Away
My love for Away luggage knows no bounds. The colors and patterns help my suitcase stand out on the luggage carousel (and always garner several compliments from strangers at the airport. But, more importantly, even my years-old bags have stood up to everything I’ve thrown their way.
My favorite is the Bigger Carry-On. It has so much more space than my other carry-on suitcases, yet it’s still small enough to fit in the overhead bin on most airlines. I have had to gate check it a few times when flying on a tiny regional jet, but I don’t mind brightening up the cargo hold on occasion.
Uncommon Goods
I don’t usually turn to Uncommon Goods for items I need during my trip (though they do have those), but I’ve purchased several travel keepsakes and souvenirs made by local artisans and small businesses to commemorate some of my most special trips.
You can get things like a travel stub diary for storing tickets, brochures and other keepsakes, a scratch off map to track all the destinations you’ve visited and customized art pieces that serve as reminders of your most memorable journeys.
Your local library
Don’t hate me for saying this, but I avoid buying books whenever possible (unless it is written by one of my extremely talented author friends…you know who you are). It’s not that I don’t want to support authors, but the chance that I will read a book more than once is low. More often, they just become more clutter in my already jam-packed office (just ask anyone who gets a sneak peek into my life via TPG Zoom meetings).
I prefer to support my local library. I always have a stack of books on my nightstand, and I pack one or two every time I travel. I am still a physical media girl, but your library card can usually get you free access to audiobooks and eBooks through programs like Libby, too.
I’m currently reading Stephen King’s “The Institute” and “Yesteryear” by Caro Claire Burke.
Lush
I don’t spend much time at the mall these days, but I have the fondest memories of following the intoxicating scent of Lush’s bath products into the store and walking out with a bag full of goodies.
I use most of my Lush products at home, but they were designed to be very travel-friendly.
Take, for example, the shampoo bars. These solid shampoo bars aren’t subject to TSA 3-1-1 rules and don’t use plastic packaging, making them better for the environment. I also love the body butter scrub bars and I am a sucker for the cute collaborations they do with brands like Mario, Minecraft and Hello Kitty.
Subtl Beauty
I don’t even know what I did before finding Subtl Beauty. Well, actually, I do. I packed entirely too many cosmetics that took up entirely too much space in my makeup bag.
Now, I throw my Subtl Stack into my makeup bag and zip it up with absolutely no worry that it will break under the strain of my too-numerous cosmetics.
When you visit Subtl Beauty’s website, you can create a customized “makeup stack” that includes only the items you really need. My stack has concealer, bronzer, cream blush, eyeshadow and lip balm. And if I know I’ll be out and about, I can throw my stack in my bag for midday touchups.
What are your favorite travel-friendly small shops?
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Little Free Libraries are becoming more abundant, too, and can often have some surprisingly good reads.