Supporting Small Businesses

Small Business Saturday is the day we promote mom-and-pop stores across the country. The first observation of this holiday was held on November 24th, 2010. It was launched by American Express to help small businesses gain exposure for all their hard work. For these small business owners, it’s not just a business- it is an extension of who they are. By supporting your local business, you can help your community grow into something bigger. Most small businesses today thrive on an online marketplace site known as Etsy. There are some stores on the platform that I think offer the best deal on prepping supplies.

1776PatriotUSA

Owned by John Rourke in Bangor, Maine. His goal is to provide unique prepping supplies at a reasonable price. He is always developing new products to help those navigate this crazy, new world we live in. Those mini survival kits are great for everyday carry. A wide variety of reading materials on handy flash drives is an easy way to educate yourself on many skills. He also has books and guides available for easy downloading. Ranger Bands are great at replacing duct tape and are reusable. Alcohol stoves are a compact, easy-to-use outdoor cooking device.

https://www.etsy.com/shop/1776PatriotUSA?ref=l2-about-shopname

BlueRidgeEDC

Owned by Patrick, and Appalachian Trail Thru-Hiker, Master Naturalist, and a certified Horticulturist. Survival bandannas are his claim to fame. They provide you with an important guide while providing you with a face cover. Flint steel starter kits are a must-have in any bugout bag. The compass necklace allows you to wear your compass so you won’t lose it in the depths of your bugout bag, or leave it behind in an evacuation. Waxed canvas bags are tried and tested to be good foraging bags. Survival kits provide a great foundation for starting your prep journey.

https://www.etsy.com/shop/BlueRidgeEDC?ref=shop_sugg_market

KaeserWilderness1947

Owned by Steve Kaeser in Ventura, California. His store specializes in tactical gear and bushcraft. His claim to fame is all things fire. He offers handcrafted fatwood fire-starting sticks. He also has a wide selection of waterproof matches. The compact stoves are of outstanding quality. He offers a variety of tinder-like magnesium shavings, sawdust, and char cloth. Waterproof refillable flint lighters and Ferro rods can get the fires started. If you don’t know what you need to get started, he offers pre-made fire-starting kits. This is a perfect gift for the beginning prepper.

https://www.etsy.com/shop/kaeserwilderness1947?ref=l2-about-shopname

Korpocalypse

This has to be what I consider the best-prepping store on Etsy. The owner Kevin is a US War Veteran and Wilderness Survival Instructor. He sells many survival supplies, like a Swiss Army-style wool blanket and a field notes journal. Those emergency capsules are great starter kits for beginners. The pocket guides he sells are valuable educational materials. He sells the best bushcraft knife on the market called “The Kracken”. It even comes in a custom sheath to hold it in. Something that really makes his store stand out is the unique monthly supply drop box.

https://www.etsy.com/shop/KORPOCALYPSE?ref=l2-about-shopname

Honorable Mentions

These are stores that sell just one particular item that I find beneficial in a doomsday situation. The Go Pure Pods sold by TheEtchingBee is a small water purifier the size of a puck. You just drop it in the water and wait ten minutes. It will last through 2,000 bottles or six months. The oilskin poncho from the GemmagoodsStore works great in rainy weather and can also become a roof on a lean-to. OrkloKnife has a wide selection of good quality, handcrafted knives. FreezeDriedFoodsUS makes yummy food with a long shelf life. ByHappyBee has great zipper scrunchies you can use to hide valuables and money while at the emergency shelter.