November 24, 2023: Shop Small Today, Shop Small Every Day

We at Steve Jackson Games are passionate about supporting other small companies. In honor of this year's Small Business Saturday, we've compiled a list of some of our favorite shops that are based on nerd and gaming culture. Many of these awesome businesses also donate a portion of their proceeds to support fantastic charities. Shop small this holiday season and every day, and remember to stop by your Favorite Local Game Store.

 

1. Found Familiar Coffee

Are you looking for a great way to start your morning? Check out Found Familiar Coffee, whose blends are based on Dungeons & Dragons and other tabletop role playing games. Some of their varieties, available in whole bean and ground, include Fae Magic (Waykan Guatemala medium roast), False Life (decaf espresso), and Thieves' Cant (a super-secret blend). A portion of sales are donated to businesses and causes that are themed around TTRPGs. Our Marketing Manager, Katie, is a total Found Familiar fanatic and can attest to their fantastic flavors. And let's be honest - one can never have enough coffee!

 

2. Meeple Shirts

Meeple Shirts is the site to visit if you love humorous gifts based around gaming. You can find a beer glass that proclaims its contents to be a "Potion of Greater Hops with 4D4 + 4 Taste" and a doormat with a d20 and the quote "Keep On Rollin'." If you always play the same color, you'll enjoy shirts, coasters, mugs, and tumblers that say "I'm Always Green" (or your color of choice!) so your gaming companions know the meeple you'll choose.

 

3. The Bear and Wolf Studio

The Bear and Wolf Studio has some of the most amazing hand-painted 3D-printed geeky decor we have ever seen! If you're an avid reader, consider bookends and book nooks featuring The Two Towers, Bag End, Cthulhu, and dragons. If music is more your jam, you can store your headphones on a bust such as a Na'vi from Avatar or Thanos and Hulk from the Marvel Cinematic Universe. Don't forget about board games - they have a huge selection of dice towers, dice storage, and many more accessories. The best part? There is free shipping on every product!

 

4. Giant Turtle Creations

If you'd like to take your gaming experience to the next level, look no further than Giant Turtle Creations on Etsy. This small business produces an extensive variety of nerdy items. Display your Amazon device in a Stargate Echo Dot holder or place your favorite drink on a Stargate coaster set. More into board games? Go through their huge collection of accessories, which includes a humorous jail for bad dice, a hot air balloon dice tower, and game component upgrades. Spruce up your fashion with d20 earrings and a variety of mini dice bracelets.

 

5. Dryad Tea

Tea lovers everywhere will enjoy the specialty brews created by Dryad Tea. Choose teas inspired by games and fandoms inclusive of TTRPGs (You Happen Upon A Tea Shop…,) Alice in Wonderland (Merry Unbirthday,) Marvel (Loki's Kiss,) and others. Infuse your favorite with a d20 infuser that comes in a variety of colors. If you just can't get enough of these delicious concoctions, you can join their Tea of the Month Club!

 

6. Geek Tropical

Geek Tropical is an incredibly unique nerdy small business clothing store. Each high-quality shirt is made sustainably, supports small artists, and a portion of sales benefit charities including the Stan Lee Foundation, the Coral Reef Alliance, and Critical Role. When you're sitting down to play a TTRPG, rock a D&D adventures printed button-up shirt. For animal lovers, you'll find one featuring sloth and otter astronauts in space. One of our favorites is printed with a space retro arcade video game pattern. And check out this Daily Illuminatior about their Munchkin shirts! They also offer bucket hats for shoppers who have 1990s nostalgia.

 

7. Fantasy Cosmetica

For those with a passion for makeup, Fantasy Cosmetica has products to create your most amazing look. You can choose to search by your favorite class: warlock, sorcerer, druid, or bard. The highly-pigmented shadows come packaged as individual pans, 9-shade pallets, and bundles of multiple items. The lipsticks are vibrant and the perfume scents are lovely. You'll be the star of your next TTRPG session when you arrive wearing these stunning colors!

 

8. Artovision 3D

If you are hoping to adorn your home with unique, fandom-themed artwork, check out Artovision 3D. Many of their unique art pieces are themed to games such as Street Fighter, Among Us, Settlers of Catan, and Halo. For nature lovers, there are shadow boxes featuring Saguaro National Park and Denali National Park. Each distinctive and handmade box has free shipping. With over 300 varieties of shadow boxes and desktop art pieces, we guarantee you will find something you love!

 

9. Her Universe

Specializing in Fangirl Fashion, Her Universe is an extraordinary business founded by Ashley Eckstein, the voice of Ahsoka in the epic Star Wars series The Clone Wars. If you love Star Wars, Disney, Doctor Who, The Hunger Games, and other fandoms, there is something here for you! Sport a Thirteenth Doctor sweater or see into your future with a Star Trek: The Next Generation Tarot Deck and Guidebook. They also sell the extremely popular Loungefly mini backpacks. I myself carry these fun bags every day and my husband and I have several clothing items from the store. Their Our Universe line includes fashion for men such as pajamas, button up shirts, cardigans, and other nerdy accessories. Sign up with your email address to score a 30% off coupon!

 

10. Friday Afternoon Tea

Friday Afternoon Tea is a specialty tea shop that bases their blends on different fandoms. Represented are Lord of the Rings, Game of Thrones, Alice in Wonderland, and others. If you love mythology and pirates, there are also teas for you! These tasty teas help to raise funds for meaningful charities including the National Network of Abortion Funds, the Association for Creatine Deficiencies, and the Free to Be Me Transgender Education Network of Texas. 

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