Get ready for the school year and Christmas!

Even though it's summer and the sun is shining, it's never too early to start planning for school and the holidays. Going to Otter & Oak’s "Christmas in July" sale is a great way to get ahead and get the most out of your shopping. This one-of-a-kind event is a great way to get great deals on back-to-school items and get a jump on your Christmas shopping. In this blog post, we'll show you how to get ready for this exciting sale. This will help you save the most money possible and make shopping a breeze.

Christmas in July Sale

Make a Shopping List:

Before you go to the Christmas in July Sale, take some time to make a full list of what you want to buy. Put back-to-school items on one side and Christmas gift ideas on the other. Include things like clothes needed by each family member, and who is on your holiday gift list. Write down the names of the people you want to buy gifts for at Christmas, along with any specific thoughts you have.

Find out and make plans:

Learn more about what we have to offer. Check our website, otterandoak.com and peruse the categories. We also find special deals and purchase more inventory so we can pass the savings on to you during this annual sale, so some items will not be listed until the sale starts. (Hint: website subscribers often get invited to an exclusive pre-sale. Sign up today!)

Mark your calendar so you don’t miss the sale. Planning ahead will help you get through the sale faster and make sure you don't miss any good deals.

Set a Budget:

It's important to make a budget so you don't spend too much. Figure out how much you can spend on both back-to-school supplies and Christmas presents. Having a clear price in mind will help you decide what to buy first and help you make smart choices during the sale.

Compare Prices:

If you want to get the most out of the Christmas in July Sale, it's best to compare prices first. Check with other stores or online sites to see what the prices are usually like for the things you want to buy. This way, you can figure out if the sale prices are really good deals and make smart decisions about what to buy.

Arrive Early and Stay Organized:

If you want to avoid the crowds and get the best deals, plan to get to the sale early. This will give you more time and choices to check out what the store has to offer. Keep your shopping list with you and stay in order as you shop. Cross things off as you find them.

Enjoy the Experience:

Don't forget that shopping during the Christmas in July Sale is about more than just getting great deals. It's also about having fun. Take the time to enjoy the store's fun atmosphere, talk to the staff, and look at all the different things. Enjoy the excitement of getting ready for the new school year and the holiday season while making the most of your savings.

With a little planning and an eye for great deals, Otter & Oak’s Christmas in July sale can be a great way to get ahead on back-to-school shopping and make progress on your Christmas gift list. By making a plan, setting a budget, doing research on the sale, and staying organized, you can save the most money and have a good shopping trip. Embrace the holiday mood and revel in the fun!

Holiday Gift Guide for Her

Most of us have more than one special lady in our lives. Our partners, mothers, sisters, in-laws, and the list goes on. As the holiday season closes in, we’re probably already racking our brains trying to figure out the perfect gift idea that conveys both our care and appreciation. We also don’t want to come across as last-minute shoppers that show up to the gift exchange with a generic,

female-marketed assortment plucked off an endcap somewhere. We're offering this guide for inspiration.

Clothes

Things like scarfs, broaches, or sweaters tend to go over well. Knock it out of the park with jackets to suit her style. Otter & Oak has everything from a leisure, comfy look to a business casual statement piece for those chilly days at the office. Check out more of North River and Charlie B products by browsing the racks over at the Otter & Oak!

*Hydroflask Coffee Mugs $19.95-29.95

Each year when the holidays roll around, you can expect a resurgence of popular fireside sips. Hot cocoa, cider, Tom & Jerrys, and peppermint everything can technically be whipped up anytime but something about the season of lights and caroling enchants us to crave these delectable delights every December. Break out a traditional favorite or try your hand at something new this year like mulled wine or Irish coffee served up in the gift of a new insulated coffee mug from Hydro Flask! Unlike your overflow of ceramic “Best ___ Ever” mugs, Hydro Flask’s innovative design keeps it on the nice list year-round! Each product comes with stainless steel double-wall protection against condensation, perfect for keeping cold drinks cold and hot chocolates steamy long after the marshmallows have dissolved! Head online to Otter & Oak’s online store to browse all the colors available and reserve your favorite for an in-store pick up to enjoy a festive beverage that keeps its temp long after the holidays are over!

*Hydroflask Spearmint Tumbler $29.95

Not everyone’s a coffee person. Maybe they are but perhaps less so of the hot variety and more so on the XL side of things! Accommodate your chronic iced coffee drinker with room for maximum espresso with Hydroflask’s 32 oz. collection. Or sync your gift to their on-the-go lifestyle with a Hydaway tumbler designed to fit perfectly in any car’s cupholder. Amateur wine connoisseur on your hands? You guessed it, there’s a flask for that! No matter your recipient’s preference or interests, Hydroflask has developed a line of top-quality products adjustable to practically any situation. There are endless accessories to add even more value and personalization to your purchase including different lid styles, over-the-shoulder slings, and stabilizing boots to protect against dings and spills. Match your flask’s vibes down to the very last detail with their eye candy array of available colors including alpine, bilberry, clementine, and just in time for Christmas, spearmint green!

*Piper & Leaf Classic Brews Kit $67.95

All this talk about cups but what about its contents? We’ve covered coffee, wine, and everything in the middle, but what about all the tea devotees? For the tea lover in your life, look no further than the all-in-one Classic Brews Kit from Piper & Leaf Tea Company. Complete with a piping press for brewing, jars for pouring and storing, a mini measure for mixing, and a pint-sized jar with a straw for drinking, Piper & Leaf has all your bases covered! Swing by Otter for this signature set of loose leaf, such as the Front Porch Special (a blend of drifting jasmine and a minty breeze) and Sassyfras Strawberry (flirtatious frolics of sencha, strawberries, and sarsaparilla) or explore the seasonal flavors of fall (cinnamon apple pie + pumpkin moonshine) and winter (cherry Christmas + mistletoe grove) for a comprehensive collection of artisanal teas that’s sure to impress even the most refined palates!

Accessories $13.00 - $39.95

An assortment of jewelry, scarves and scarf sets will make the perfect stocking stuffers. Shop online or come into the store at 302 Second Avenue in Hinton, WV.

Holiday Gift Guide

*Not Soap Radio Gift Set: $19.95-23.95

When in doubt, a gift set is always a safe go-to but don’t just settle for a drug store cop-out! Show that you put some thought into it by wrapping up one of Not Soap Radio’s spunky novelty sets this holiday season! Each collection comes with its own unique scents and sayings such as their “Do Over” bundle equipped with three matching sets of shower gel and hand lotion for the busy body in desperate need of a spa day. Shopping for a special someone? The “So Long to Going Solo” set comes with 1.25 oz. travel sized bubbles and lotions including “The stuff that Cupid dips his arrows in,” all sealed up in a zip vinyl pouch with a kiss a la their chocolate lip balm. Need an all-in-one option? Check out their “Everything but the Robe” set which comes stacked with a body wash, lotion, shampoo, conditioner, soap, and even a 1 oz. facial bar to cover all your bases. Pick up any of these bundles at the Otter & Oak and keep tabs on their website for any upcoming holiday collections!

*Whiskey River Soaps: $8.99-9.95

Need the perfect stocking stuffer for the practical joker in your life or having trouble breaking the ice with a colleague you’d like to buy for but don’t want it to seem weird? Provided they have a sense of humor, let Whiskey River Soaps do all the talking! Pay it forward after those many months of virtual learning by gifting your child’s educators a “Soap for Teachers” so they can spend their Winter breaks smelling like “Grading Papers.” Take a jab at your old man with a “Soap for Dad Jokes,” which begs the question, “Why do the jokes always happen in the car?” Hey, at least it’s not talk radio! Show some love for the middle child with a “Soap for Gen X,” which “Smells like Teen Spirit” with hints of Saturday morning cartoons. There are countless examples of niche soaps for every “Karen,” “Introvert,” or the “Messy People” in your circle available at the Otter & Oak. If you want to stay away from soaps, Whiskey River’s online store sells everything from gag gifts like “Personal Space Rulers” and “Emergency Ambiance Candles,” to astrology obsessed products for that special Capricorn who thinks they’re “The boss of everyone!”

*Ovalware Cold Brew Maker $39.95

If you’re looking to buy something a bit more practical, who couldn’t use a new inventive way to brew their morning coffee? With Ovalware’s RJ3 Cold Brew Maker, you can give the gift of ditching the drive-thru line all together with their chic, two step brewing method to turn your wannabe barista into a fully certified coffee snob! Designed to fit easily into any fridge, just fill with water, ice, and joe to the desired strength ratio for instant results! Uncover one of the best kept secrets in the artisan coffee community by ordering from Otter’s online store for an equally convenient in-store pick up!

*Hideaway Collapsible Bottle: $24.95-29.95

Backseats, dish strainers, gym bags, nowhere is safe from the constant clutter of reusable water bottles! How has something meant to save our landfills from filling up with plastic instead taken up all of our own personal space? Well because you’ve been doing it all wrong! Hideaway’s introduced a new line of collapsible bottles that are not only very eco-friendly but extremely space saving as well. Available in 17 or 25 ounces in a variety of colors, come by the Otter & Oak to do some one stop shopping for anyone left on your list that could use a motivator to cut out their plastic footprint and stay hydrated!

Party Games: $14.99-49.95

How about a gift you can also enjoy? Be the talk of your holiday mixer when everyone wants to bust open the eggnog and play a silly round of Exploding Kittens, Sushi Go, or everyone’s guilty pleasure Cards Against Humanity! Get outside and play ENO's Trail Flyer. The more the merrier as these games are best suited for a game of four or more ! So unplug and enjoy each other's company this holiday season.

Tech Candy Tripod: $34.95

This portable, lightweight tripod is perfect for Zoom meetings and hands-free calls. So you can talk to grandmom while she's making Christmas cookies or multitask during video calls. The phone clamp is expandable to fit larger phones and pivots for the best angle.