illustration of Nevada state map with road map for your design and products.
If you plan to consume on Black Friday, remember to save room for Small Business Saturday.
That’s the day designated for shopping with locally-owned retailers. The concept was launched in 2010 by American Express as a way to support local merchants, and the promotion has been growing ever since.
Last year, an estimated 112 million consumers took part and spent $15.2 billion in independent shops, according to American Express.
Carson City has plenty of homegrown options, from retailers in Carson Mall to shop’s lining downtown’s Curry and Carson streets.
But don’t forget to wander off the beaten track, too.
Touched by Angels, for example, plans to have a gift give away and a couple of local artisans visiting the store during the day.
“We sell a little bit of everything,” said Simone Bartell, who with her husband Greg owns and operates the seven-year-old home and garden shop. “We try to be unique and eclectic.”
Outside the East John Street store is plenty of garden art made from recycled car parts as well as a large lion and dragon made from the tree root balls by Winnemucca artist Danny Ham.
Inside is an array of items made by about 25 local artisans as well as other vendors displayed in 11 rooms of the 68-year-old house.
“We count the bathroom. There’s product in there, too,” said Bartell.
Merchandise includes handmade cards, pillows, baby bibs, stuffed animals, jewelry, and socks made from recycled yarn.
One room features books including a few written by local author Thomas Edward Shaw while another room houses garden art including wooden bird houses made by Disney artist Tim Cook, now a Carson City resident.
Next door to Touched by Angels is Patchwork Giraffe, a two-year-old business owned by Judy Lander.
Lander primarily does alterations and occasionally offers sewing classes, but she also sells homemade items.
Colorful knitted headbands are made by her daughter Victoria. Daughter Stephanie works in the shop, too, and sells anklets, necklaces and earrings she made from stone beads. A friend, Maria, makes machine-embroidered tea towels also for sale.
“I made the gnome hats,” said Lander, pointing to a series of knitted caps.
Across John Street is De Ja Vu Again and Distracted where Sammie, a friendly pup, greets visitors.
The two stores are owned and managed by Sofia and Richard Pacheco.
De Ja Vu Again features items for aficionados of steampunk, a sort of retro-futuristic mash-up of aesthetics mostly seen in clothing.
“It’s 1800s meets sci-fi,” said Sofia Pacheco.
For example, handmade steampunk items by local sisters Dena and Tera Allen are on sale.
“One makes hats, the other makes masks,” said Pacheco.
Other items include a side table made from gears and nuts and bolts by local welder Paul Smith and tissue box covers made by a Gardnerville artist.
“I try to collect local as much as I can,” she said.
Through a curtain of plastic cannabis leaves is Distracted, a head shop featuring all kinds of steam rollers, water pipes and other marijuana paraphernalia.
Many are made from blown glass, including pipes made in the shape of Marvin the Martian, Greedo from Star Wars, and Batman.
Pacheco said the shops will be offering a discount and opening early, at 8 a.m., for both Black Friday and Small Business Saturday.
Save Sunday, too.
The Sunday after Thanksgiving is now Museum Store Sunday when more than 500 museums across the country stay open for holiday shopping.
That includes two museums in Carson City — the Nevada State Museum and Nevada State Railroad Museum.
Unique, Nevada-themed merchandise, including silver medallions at the state museum, will be offered at discount with free gift wrapping.
There will also be activities for children at each museum.
The museum stores will be open from 9 a.m. until 6 p.m.
The Nevada State Museum is at 600 N. Carson St. and the Nevada State Railroad Museum is located at 2180 S. Carson St.