If you’re like me, then you might not have the time or inclination to watch all the shows your beloved family member or close friend is a fan of. It may be a bit of a mystery to you why they spend so much time and emotion on these shows or series. And when birthdays and Christmas come up, it may be hard to shop for them. How can you hit a home run on the next gift-giving occasion?
Fortunately, there are places on the internet that cater to fans like your family member or friend. And all you have to do is know where they are, and what basically to look for.
1. Etsy
This is the home of home-made. If you want to find something truly unique, this is the place to go. For instance, you can find Harry Potter-themed phone cases, Doctor Who necklaces and earrings, Snow White or Batman decals, Star Wars cross stitch and knitting patterns, and thousands upon thousands of more unique items. This can include clothes and furniture as well.
Just be choosy with the quality of the item, and you should be fine.
2. Thinkgeek
Thinkgeek.com is a site dedicated to selling things geeks and nerds love. Unlike Etsy, this is all official stuff, and there’s considerably more stock of any given item. Also, they have a clearance category, which is great for the penny pincher.
A few things they have include a Doctor Who TARDIS bank, Star Wars rebel pilot headphones, and Star Trek insignia pins. Their range of merchandise is a little smaller than etsy’s in regard to number of fandoms, but I can say, as someone who’s gotten merchandise from the site, the quality is superb.
3. DFTBA
DFTBA stands for “Don’t Forget to be Awesome,” which is the motto of this small company. If your teen is a fan of John Green (author of The Fault in Our Stars, Looking for Alaska, and Will Grayson, Will Grayson, among others), the Lizzie Bennet Diaries, or the Vlogbrothers’ Crash Course series, then they will love merchandise from here.
Also, they have a particularly lovely Doctor Who/ Disney’s Tangled T-shirt and Poster.
4. Deviantart
This is a little like Etsy, but more art-centered. If it’s for sale as a print, you can get some pretty beautiful fanart for your big fan. Also, sometimes you will find some who makes sculptures or shoe-art, for instance, and is trying to sell. You can usually find fanart for any fandom.
So, those are your go to sites for fan merchandise. Hopefully, you will be able to make your big fan’s face light up with joy at their next birthday.