Photograph by Caitlin Abrams
Cyber Monday
It's hard to believe it's been one month since Twin Cities retailers shuttered their doors. We've seen them scramble and pivot their entire businesses to serve us from the comfort of our homes. Our local shopkeepers are coming up with a myriad of creative sales, Instagram "deals of the day," gift card promos, and virtual styling shows, and many are absorbing shipping costs for us and even delivering packages to our front steps as incentives for keeping our dollars local.
What may seem like "perks" to us are cries for help from them. Like every other industry, the COVID-19 outbreak has completely upended our local retail landscape, but there are steps we can take to ensure they stick around after this is over.
Below is proof that our neighborhood shops are making it easier than ever to shop from a distance. Have a friend's birthday coming up? DM your favorite gift stop, which will gladly offer up suggestions, gift wrap and deliver to your porch. Take Excelsior shop Golden Rule, for instance, who's curating gift boxes from its array of on-trend goodies for those special people in our lives. Craving a new Spring piece to don once all of this is over? Fashion boutiques like Proper, Stephanie's and Jaxon Gray—who's set up a try now, buy later model—are unboxing new arrivals and showcasing them on their Insta stories daily.
Ahead lies a list of sales, gift card promos, giveaways and more happening over on shops' websites and social media handles—all you have to do is sit back with a charged laptop or smartphone, and shop from the comfort of your couch. Remember, even little gestures—a positive review online, word-of-mouth referral or heart on the 'gram—cost nothing...but go a long way.
Forget Amazon. Twin Cities boutiques and brands need us more than ever right now. So let's all show up—because, after all, we're in this together.
This post will be updated regularly. Have something to add? Email mnachbar@mspmag.com.
Allure Intimate Apparel: Spend $150 on allurefits.com and receive $25 off, or buy a $100 gift card and save $20 on your next cozy or intimate apparel haul.
A MANO Ceramics: Use code SHIPPINGLOVE for free shipping on your order of $75 or more, weshopamano.com
Atelier957:
Atmosfere: Now through May 4, the menswear store is offering a gift card promo: Earn an extra $25 when purchasing a $100 gift card, and an extra $50 with a $200 gift card, @atmosferempls.
Baby Grand: 15 percent off on all gift cards, babyongrand.com
BlackBlue: Take advantage of the men's retailer's Spring sale: 20 percent off the entire site with code: SPRING2020, Blkblu.com
Bluebird: The shop is running a gift card special: $125 for $100, $250 for $200, and $375 for $300, @bluebirdedina, bluebirdboutique.com.
Covered: Book your virtual shopping appointment and take advantage of free shipping, @covereduptown.
Blu Dot: The local modern furniture brand is offering 20 percent off through May 3 as part of its "stay home sale." bludot.com
D.NOLO: Socially-shop the boutique's selection on Instagram and Facebook and receive 20 percent off all full-priced items. Plus, free shipping!
De Nova: All of De Nova's robes are 20 percent off right now—just use code "bettertogether," mydenova.com.
Dugo: The Galleria shop is offering a $25 credit with any purchase of a gift card of $100 or more, dressupgoout.com.
Duke Albert: The Northeast shop is providing free shipping and free same-day local delivery, dukealbert.com.
Epitome Papers: COVID-19 card pack: 50 percent of proceeds go to VA Medical Center, free Shipping, plus a 30 percent off coupon with code: NEWSTORE20, epitomepapers.com
Equation: With code SHOPSMALL, take 20 percent off your order and earn free shipping, equationmn.com
Fisher + Baker: The local men's line is offering free shipping on all orders, and 20 percent off with code: STAYHOME20. fisherandbaker.com
The Fitting Room: Free shipping, and receive a $20 gift card to use later with any online purchase of $100 or more, thefittingroommpls.com.
From Grasse With Love: Stock up on calming fragrances and candles for the home—now 20 percent off from grassewithlove.com.
General Store of Minnetonka: Get free shipping on orders of $50 or more with code: SHIP50. generalstoreofminnetonka.com
Golden Pearl Vintage: The fave Northeast vintage shop recently launched its e-commerce shop, thegoldenpearlvintage.com.
Golden Rule Gallery: Cards, panty, and sale items are an additional 25 percent off with code: SPRINGCLEANING,shopgoldenrule.com.
Goldfine Jewelry: For the entire month of April, local designer Sara Goldfine is partnering with meal program Loaves & Fishes. 20 percent of every Goldfine purchase goes toward providing food for people in-need. goldfine-jewelry.com
GRAY Home + Lifestyle: The mother-daughter-owned shop is offering free domestic shipping on orders over $50, grayhomeandlifestyle.com
Grethen House: The Nolo and Edina shops are offering virtual styling and free, same-day local delivery, and buy a $25 gift card to use later when you purchase a gift card of $100 or more, grethenhouse.com.
Hazel & Rose: Offering a free $15 gift card for every $100 spent plus free shipping on orders of $100, shophazelandrose.com.
HOUSER: The fair-trade jewelry brand is donating 15 percent of all purchases to Second Harvest Heartland and offering free shipping on all orders over $50, shophouser.com
Idun: Everything on the site is 20 percent off (including the cult-favorite Kamm Pants!) with code HJEM, shopidun.com
Jaxon Grey: The men's shop inside D.NOLO is running a series of promos, as well as a daily deal. Owner Michael Druskin is also styling clients virtually and doing local deliveries, as part of his try now, buy later program, @jaxongreyofficial.
Julia Moss Designs: Free shipping on all online orders through the end of April, juliamossdesigns.com
June Resale: ICYMI: The Minneapolis boutique has loaded all of its vintage and resale treasures to the web for you to shop from the comfort of your couch (and your order ships free!) Check it at juneresale.com.
Karen Morris Millinery: Take 15 percent off her new Spring collection, kmhats.com
Kisa: It's iconic Turkish towels are on sale for $25, and the shop is also offering free shipping on orders over $100 with code: SHOPATHOME, kisaboutique.com.
Larrisa Loden: Every Tuesday, local jewelry design darling Larissa Loden is giving back with her Do Good Tuesday series. Plus, free shipping all month, and offering quarantine craft club kits for you to create your own piece while cozying up at home, larissaloden.com.
Local Motion Boutique: 25 percent off its entire Spring collection with code COV25, localmotionboutique.shop.
Lula Vintage: Vintage lovers, the St. Paul shop is now showcasing a selection of secondhand wares on its Etsy store.
Mainstream Boutique, Edina: Free shipping on social media orders of $50 or more, Instagram, Facebook
MartinPatrick3: While the North Loop shop doesn't have e-commerce, its accepting virtual styling appointments and orders over Instagram, and offering 25 percent off all orders.
Melly: The colorful, preppy Galleria shop is offering 30 percent off its entire site (excluding MZ Wallace and Lily Pulitzer) with code: EXTRA30. mellyonline.com
MILLE: The South Minneapolis boutique is partnering with a variety of nonprofits and hosting a series of online trunk shows with designers and brands like Clare V., KULE, and Alex Mill. This week, 10 percent of KULE sales will go to Direct Relief, shopmille.com
Naptime Aromatherapy Co.: The White Bear Lake store is offering 30 percent off the entire site, plus a spend more, earn more promotion. naptimearomatherapy.com
Neal: Free shipping on domestic orders, 25 percent off ready to ship jewelry with code: BEWELL, nealjewelry.com.
Parc Shop: Every domestic order ships free, parcboutique.com.
Peregrine Kidswear: The local brand has created "comfy in quarantine" surprise delivery boxes comprised of cozy PJ sets for the kiddos (marked 20-40 percent off!) peregrinekidswear.com.
Pharmacie: Free shipping with code: SOCIALDISTANCE, pharmaciempls.com.
Poppy: While owner Jill Henderson is working to get her goodies online, she's running a promotion of $60 gift cards for $50. Just text 612-236-3660 or visit Poppy's Facebook for ongoing offers and virtual purchasing options.
Proper: Free shipping on all orders through May 4, no code necessary, Proper-shops.com.
Pumpz: 25 percent off with code TAKE25, pumpzco.com
Queen Anna House of Fashion: Shop Queen Anna's selection straight from your cell while taking advantage of virtual styling with the store's new mobile app, and take advantage of free shipping. The boutique is also offering 25 percent off all new arrivals through April 19. On Friday, April 17, shop owner Nicole Jennings is joining Angelina Marie, founder of TAH LIFE, for a fireside chat about the journey of starting a retail brand, queenanna.co.
Requisite: Shop sale items in the store's "super sale" Instagram story highlight (items are marked 50-70 percent off) and earn free shipping on any purchase over $100.
Roe Wolfe: While the Edina Galleria shop is closed, it's offering virtual personal shopping (keep an eye out on Instagram for daily outfit inspiration), free shipping, and running a special gift card promo: earn $10 for every $50 gift card, and $25 bonus on $100 gift cards, roewolfe.com
Serge & Jane: Use code THANKYOUWALL for 20 percent off all apparel purchases, sergeandjane.com
Statement Boutique: Virtually shop the Nolo boutique's selection of fashion and accessories on Instagram, and earn free shipping.
Stephanie's: The Highland Park boutique is donating 20 percent of all sales to a St. Paul-based clothing manufacturer for mask production, and free shipping. Stephanie's is also lending a helping hand to its fellow St. Paul shop Flirt and showcasing and selling select lingerie styles on its shop local market page on stephaniesshop.com.
Up Six Vintage: This vintage treasure trove is adding new pieces to its Etsy store daily.
Via's Vintage: Shop Via's curated selection on the 'gram. Just DM to order.
