Here’s a curated list of some of the most innovative and unusual online stores I’ve come across, all remarkable for their creativity, unique products, and exceptional shopping experiences:
• What Makes It Unique: Offers a wide range of quirky, handcrafted, and eco-friendly products. Their selection includes items like reclaimed wood iPhone docking stations, handmade jewelry, and personalised gifts. Sells to the UK as well as the US.
• Innovative Features: Emphasises sustainability, offers an “Uncommon Perks” membership for free shipping, and has a voting system where customers can help decide which products to sell.
2. Thingiverse
• What Makes It Unique: A community-driven platform for 3D printing enthusiasts, Thingiverse allows users to share, download, and print 3D models.
• Innovative Features: Completely open-source, the platform encourages creativity by allowing people to design, customize, and print their own items at home. You want a 3D printed McDonald’s knuckleduster? This is the place for you.
3. The Grommet
• What Makes It Unique: Features products from independent makers, inventors, and small businesses. Many of the products are first-to-market, making it an excellent place to discover new trends. Someone needs to bring this to the UK very soon. Also the nearest real life thing to Private Eye’s Gnomemart.
• Innovative Features: Storytelling is central, as The Grommet highlights the stories of the creators behind the products, adding a personal touch to online shopping.
4. Etsy
• What Makes It Unique: A global marketplace for handmade, vintage, and unique goods. Shoppers can find everything from custom-made furniture to niche craft supplies.
• Innovative Features: Offers customisation options, supporting small-scale artisans, and the chance to buy directly from independent sellers worldwide.
5. Firebox
• What Makes It Unique: Specialises in quirky, humorous, and unique gifts, such as personalised Face Socks, “plantable” pencils that grow into herbs, and glow-in-the-dark constellation bedding.
• Innovative Features: Offers “Create Your Own” options for personalised gifts and is known for its humorous product descriptions, making shopping entertaining. I mean who doesn’t need “freshly baked bread slippers”?
6. Fab
• What Makes It Unique: Focuses on modern, design-centric products across categories like home decor, tech gadgets, and accessories.
• Innovative Features: Offers daily curated sales and showcases products that blend aesthetics with functionality, featuring exclusive designs from emerging artists. There are 5 stores in the north west of England as well as an online store.
7. BoxFox
• What Makes It Unique: A platform for custom gift boxes that allows you to choose items from a curated collection and have them packed in a sleek, personalised box. Just US for now but this has to come to the UK soon!
• Innovative Features: An easy drag-and-drop interface to build your own box, with high-quality gifts that are beautifully packaged, making it ideal for unique and thoughtful gift-giving.
• What Makes It Unique: Allows users to rent high-end fashion for a fraction of the cost, making luxury fashion accessible without the hefty price tag. You can buy the outfits as well if you prefer. Must surely be coming to the UK soon?
• Innovative Features: Offers subscription services, so customers can regularly receive new outfits, and has introduced a circular fashion model to promote sustainability.
9. Museum of Modern Art (MoMA) Design Store
• What Makes It Unique: Sells products inspired by or sourced directly from the world of modern art and design, such as limited-edition prints, modernist homeware, and art books. Who in their right mind would not want a Brionvega Radiofonografo Radio and Turntable for £18,000?
• Innovative Features: Every item is curated with a design-first philosophy, giving shoppers access to unique, artistic products that are often exclusive to MoMA.
• What Makes It Unique: This unusual online store sells unclaimed luggage contents that airports couldn’t reunite with their owners. Just US for now but surely we can bring this to the UK?
• Innovative Features: You can buy “mystery” boxes of random items, adding an element of surprise and treasure-hunting to online shopping.