As much as we wish to fight it, September looms closer and with it…another school year!
As the inevitable school season approaches, we want to help you prepare so your back to school shopping is as seamless as possible.
Whether they’re starting middle school, getting your kiddos set up for success or beginning a third year of university, you’ll be starting to think about items you or your kids may need.
To make it a little easier for you, we’ve created a list of local businesses with a variety of clothing, stationary supplies, shoes, and more!
Here’s a list of 8 local places to check out for back-to-school shopping:
Warm Gift Shop
Everything you could ever want to give or receive as a gift lives at the superbly curated Warm Gift Shop in Esquimalt.
They have books, mugs, stationary and more—all of which have been carefully sourced from all over Canada and the world and cannot be found nearly anywhere else in town.
Warm Gift Shop also features a pantry section which is heaven on earth for the chef of any household.
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- Where: 890B Esquimalt Road
- When: Monday to Saturday from 9:30 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Monk Office
This local, island-born stationary shop now has multiple locations around the Greater Victoria area and across Vancouver Island — all with their signature one-stop collection of every office supply you might need.
Conveniently, they have a whole section dedicated just to back to school shopping, which can be viewed and enjoyed on their website.
As an extra little note, if you visit the store between now and August 31st, you’ll catch their Summer Seating Event for 20% their selection of chairs.
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- Where: Locations vary
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- 3335 Oak Street
- 1200 Broad Street
- 800 Viewfield Road (head office)
- When: Hours vary by location
San Poncho
Back to school also means the return of the rainy season, and why not return to it in style?
This is what brings us to their rainwear company, San Poncho—an island based business that launched in November of 2020 over the pandemic.
Not only do they have an incredible line of elevated poncho-style rain jackets, they also sell waterproof caps!
- Where: Sold at a number of different locations across the island.
- When: Hours vary by business, or you can shop online.
Once Upon A Child Victoria
Once Upon a Child offers a sustainable and affordable children’s shopping option for all of your kidlets’ back to school needs!
You can purchase gently-used children’s clothing, toys, and equipment with comfort, as each item is reviewed based on the store’s condition standards.
You can bring in your items too!
All of their clothing is received on a consignment basis — so, bring on down any unwanted or outgrown items and feel great knowing it will be passed along to another loving home.
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- Where: 1563 Pandora Avenue
- When: Open 7 days a week
- Monday to Saturday from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m.
- Sunday from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Thrift/Craft Alternative Art Supply
This unique store located in the heart of Market Square has great deals on art and crafting supplies for a wide range of needs, interests and skill levels!
Plenty of donations are always pouring in, so there’s always something different to look at.
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- Where: 560 Johnson Street #15
- When:
- Wednesday to Saturday from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m.
- Sunday from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Upcycle Clothing Collective
Ran by the dynamic fashion duo Mackenzie and Ira, this consignment-based business is fashionable, sleek, and sustainable.
Everything is curated and intentional, and you’ll often find some really great deals!
So, make sure you pop in and see what they’ve got to push your individual style even further and into new levels for the upcoming school year.
If you wish to bring in your used clothing, ensure you follow their guidelines and book an appointment for item drop-off!
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- Where: 517 Fort Street #100
- When: Open 7 days a week
- Open Sunday to Thursday from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.
- Friday and Saturday from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Russell Books
You will often find the best deals for new and used books at this family-run bookstore located in downtown Victoria!
They carry an abundance of genres in a variety of conditions — they even have used textbooks stocked every once in a while.
Not only do they carry books, but they also feature a decent selection of notebooks, day-planners, and calendars for all of your school-year organizational needs.
If they don’t have what you’re looking for, you can place your desired item on their request list. If it arrives in the store, they will notify you!
- Where: 747 Fort Street #100
- When: Open 7 days a week from 9:30 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Supply Victoria: Creative Reuse Centre
If you don’t mind purchasing second-hand, this fantastic store is a registered Society that redistributes used art, office, and school supplies at an affordable cost!
Their main goal is to keep supplies out of the landfill and instead place them in the hands of students, teachers, and artists that need them.
You can shop in person or online by their latest dropped items or by category to craft the best customer experience for yourself.
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- Where: 750 Fairfield Road
- When: Open five days a week—hours vary
