Congratulations! If you’re reading this, you survived Thanksgiving, made it past Black Friday unscathed, and successfully navigated your way through regional retailers during Small Business Saturday. And now it’s Cyber Monday. The unofficial online consumer holiday will bring about record sales figures for internet retailers. Though that means fewer people will be venturing out to brick and mortar shops today, it’s not necessarily a bad thing for Milwaukee businesses. There are countless ways shoppers can still support local retailers today without leaving the house. Here are 15 Milwaukee gifts you can buy online as part of Cyber Monday this year.
1. Admirals apparel
While you wait for Milwaukee to get its own NHL franchise (this won’t happen), stay warm with knit hats and replica jerseys from the Milwaukee Admirals. They are on sale for $15 and $100 respectively for one day only.
2. Bounce Milwaukee gift card
As if you needed another reason to go to Bounce Milwaukee, starting today (and running through the end of the year), every $25 gift card purchased online will have a $5 promotional gift card added and shipping taken care of for free.
3. Bucks tickets
Before you dust off that poignant “paying billionaires to watch millionaires play a game” argument yet again, it’s worth noting that Milwaukee Bucks tickets are among the least expensive in the NBA. As of Monday morning, already-affordable tickets have been marked down even more as part of the Bucks’ “Deal Hunter” sale. While seats last, fans can get tickets to Tuesday’s game against LeBron James’ Cleveland Cavaliers and a December contest against either the Nets or Hawks for only $30. Even better, there’s also a Cyber Monday special wherein tickets to five games can be had for a mere $49. You can Own The Future and buy a present at the same time.
4. Dope Folks Records’ latest release
Milwaukee-based hip-hop reissue label Dope Folks Records has managed an astounding 80 releases in just over six years. Starting Monday, you can pre-order their 81st release—a reissue of Soul King Productions’ 1993 EP Guess Whooz Back—and buy items from the label’s remaining stock of previous releases at a one-day discount.
5. Kpolly prints
Kristopher Pollard (aka “Kpolly”) is nothing short of a local treasure. Though Milwaukee is quick to claim the illustrator, radio personality, and film buff as our own, his pop culture-centered work would make a glorious gift for almost anybody on your holiday list, regardless of where they call home. Monday and Tuesday, you can take $5 off any purchase of $20 or more by using the coupon code “CYBER” on Kpolly’s Etsy page.
6. Latino Arts tickets
Perhaps you’ve seen the ad on this very site touting Latino Arts’ Gabriel Alegria Afro-Peruvian Sextet’s December 2 performance. Well, tickets can be purchased for just $7.50 all day Monday, which is a 50 percent markdown.
7. MilwaukeeHome stuff that says MilwaukeeHome on it
15 percent off orders
with promo code
CYBER2016
8. Milwaukee Art Museum membership
At a classy restaurant, $85 can make a minor dent in the bill. At Milwaukee Art Museum, $85 is enough to cover a year of membership for two people. As you’re plotting presents for people to open and use in December, consider springing for something that can be enjoyed all year long. Individual memberships cost $65 ($85 dual), all the way up to the $1,200 “Partner” level membership.
9. Milwaukee Film membership
Speaking of invaluable local institutions, Milwaukee Film is always seeking new members. For as little as $65—and as much as $3,000—annually, you can give that movie buff an exclusive pass to members-only screenings, discounts at independent theaters, and the opportunity to be listed among 3,000-some other award-winning Milwaukee Film members.
Milwaukee Film Festival Sponsor Trailer 2016 from Purple Onion Inc. on Vimeo.
10. Milwaukee Paranormal Conference goodies
Did you miss the 2016 Milwaukee Paranormal Conference? Did you attend, but you forgot to buy something? Do you want to make sure Milwaukee Paranormal Conference continues for years to come? If you answered yes to any of these questions, check out Para Con’s online shop for shirts, mugs, stickers, plush dolls, and more. Try to find a less expensive and cuter Bigfoot Buddy. We dare you.
11. MSOE Love Your Melon hat
Order one of the 10 newly-released products from Milwaukee School Of Engineering’s “Love Your Melon” apparel group on Cyber Monday and get free shipping along with a surprise gift. On top of the savings, you can feel good knowing that for each hat sold, Love Your Melon will give a hat to a child battling cancer. Plus, half of all proceeds from sales go to nonprofit pediatric cancer research organizations.
12. People’s Flag Of Milwaukee leggings
If you love Milwaukee, but simply can’t get behind the outdated and decidedly not TED Talk-approved flag the city has been flying for decades, we have just the thing for you. Spread the gift of (alternate) local pride with shirts, shower curtains, tote bags, iPhone cases, mugs, rugs, duvet covers, laptop skins, clocks, art prints, and leggings that are emblazoned with a symbol that represents an ideal Milwaukee to a small pocket of young professionals. Oh, and it’s not just knickknacks. People’s Flag Of Milwaukee also sells flags.
13. Records from other Milwaukee labels
In addition to Dope Folks, Milwaukee is home to a heft of respectable indie record labels weathering the storm in a rapidly-changing music industry. There’s no easier way to support area entrepreneurs, who themselves are supporting local bands, than buying some Milwaukee-made music from a homegrown indie label. To start you on your virtual trip to the record store, Good Land Records has pre-orders up for The Pukes’ latest, Gloss has a bunch of new tapes, and Dusty Medical can do no wrong.
14. Vintage clothing
In this era or abject convenience and widespread availability of almost anything under the sun, it can be tough to surprise loved ones with something they didn’t already have on their Amazon wish list. But thanks to vintage retailers, it’s still possible to get your friends, relatives, and that special someone a hard-to-find present they didn’t even know existed. Starting today, Alive And Fine is officially open, and there’s no shortage of other resale shops in town. But if you’re seeking vintage wares and still prefer the convenience of online shopping, Milwaukee-based Fresh To Death Vintage is selling items for 30 percent off this Cyber Monday with the code OMG30 at checkout.
15. A Milwaukee Record shirt
Support the city’s foremost publication covering Bar Rescue, Kato Kaelin, and elaborate eating challenges with this American-made, Milwaukee Record T-shirt that’s hand-printed by yours truly.
