Online Megastores Make It Easy!
I’ve moved around quite a bit, but it’s always been from one city to another, which means I’ve been incredibly fortunate to always have access to so much — museums, theaters, restaurants, and great shopping. While some cities have been better than others in terms of options (especially when it comes to vegetarian-friendly places), I’ve never had much of a challenge in finding places that suit my lifestyle. I remember when I was once visiting a friend in Pendleton, Oregon — a charming little town about three hours from Portland — I was struck by the fact that the only place to buy CDs in town was the Super-Walmart. Yikes. Working in the music industry at the time, this was a revelation for me: for any non-mainstream music, Pendleton’s population had to rely on the internet to hear about independent artists and buy their music. An instant new appreciation for online shopping.
The same is true when it comes to cruelty-free alternatives. I realize not everyone has a Whole Foods Market nearby, or a handful of vegetarian/vegan restaurants to choose from on a Saturday night. So maybe some of you out there are reading my posts and thinking, if only I lived in a location that made this possible… Take heart, there are a couple of online sources for you that will bring cruelty-free alternatives to your doorstep!
VeganEssentials.com
In business since early 1998, Vegan Essentials is one of the US’s oldest cruelty-free retailers, based in Wisconsin. The online store is truly a one-stop shopping destination. Just check out the sale categories that really run the gamut:
- Babies & Children
- Hair Care
- Candles Book & More
- Companion Animal Supplies
- Cosmetics
- Facial & Skin Care
- Bath & Body
- Food & Sweets
- Footwear
- Fragrances & Oil
- Outdoor Wear
- Home Products
- Personal Care
- Accessories
- Shirts & Message Items
- Vitamins & Therapeutics
VeganStore.com
Like Vegan Essentials, Pangea’s Vegan Store has a range of products to meet your day-to-day needs, as well as items for special occasions. I also like that Pangea’s products are made only in countries where there are labor laws and unions to ensure workers are protected. There’s a storefront in Maryland, open only on weekends; however, the web site makes online shopping easy and fun. Free shipping for orders more than $175, so stock up monthly! Again, a range of offerings that include vegan food items, body care, vegan vitamins, cosmetics, non-leather wallets and belts, men’s dresswear and winterwear, and dog & cat products.
Other cyber-hubs worth checking out: Cosmo’s Vegan Shoppe, which also has everything from food to fashion; and my newest mega-fave, Humanitaire. The web site is home to the online store for the Los Angeles vegan-fashion haven. I love that Humanitaire features local Orange County designers. And my personal pick from the online shopping selection is the Scent of Scandal soy candles, with names like “Back Seat of My Car” (vanilla), “Get Lei’d” (Hawaiian plumeria), “Hot Mama” (sugar and spice), and “Walk of Shame” (morning dew). More chic designers and brands are available at the Santa Monica storefront — you know I’ll be stopping by the next time I’m in town!
These sites aren’t just for people living outside of metropolitan areas. My friend Lisa, who lives in DC and close enough to shop at Pangea’s storefront in Maryland, still uses the online shop-op; with a law student’s hectic schedule, she takes advantage of the free shipping and convenience of shopping online… which frees up more time to spend in the library! And, as a full-time law student and business owner, wife and mom of two canine kids, I certainly can relate to that 
Related posts:
Trackbacks/Pingbacks
- Vegan Beauty Market online | Cruelty-Free Favorites, Personal Care & Cosmetics from | Sharon Discorfano - [...] Favorites, Personal Care & Cosmetics | 0 comments I’ve written before about vegan megastores that ...
Leave a Reply
Cruelty-Free Faves in your Inbox
Subscription Options:
Sharon Discorfano
Facebook Like Box
@shadisco on Twitter
History
Oh yes, now that I have lived in Pendleton, Oregon for 4 years, I have learned to shop online like never before!