It seems like January is always the time of year when people are motivated to try new things. It’s a new year, a fresh start and the commitment to those New Year's Resolutions are in full swing. But let’s be fair–we’ve all had those years when January creeps up on us and before we know it, it’s January 15th and we have no idea what we want to accomplish for the year. And that’s totally okay! There are so many things happening around the holidays and the last thing we need is to put pressure on ourselves to master a brand new skill in 365 days.
That’s why we’re bringing you a list of fun hobbies that you can try out at your own pace this upcoming year. Without further ado, here are 10 online hobby stores to help you find a new passion at home.
1. New York Puzzle Company
Puzzles seemed to be everyone’s go-to in quarantine. No matter what social media platform you logged onto, there were people showcasing their masterpieces. Afterall, they can keep you busy for hours, days, weeks, or even months (if you completely forget about it like us) at a time. Although it may have taken a lockdown to rediscover your love of puzzles, keep the fun going in the new year.
New York Puzzle Company has every kind of puzzle you could dream of —for jigsaw rookies and pro puzzlers alike. With the ability to sort by piece count, collection, theme, or product type, you can easily find the exact type of product you’re looking for. Fancy a Harry Potter Mini Puzzle Collector’s Set? Or perhaps a 2000-piece Wildlife Map puzzle if you’re up for the challenge?
No matter what you’re looking for, New York Puzzle Company is the missing piece you need to keep your problem-solving skills sharp this year.
2. Music City Canada
Something tons of music lovers have in common is the desire to learn how to actually play an instrument themselves. If learning to play guitar has always been on your bucket list, maybe it’s time to learn a few chords this year. Music City Canada is fully stocked with instruments for every genre. Electric guitars? Check. 7-piece drum kit? Check. 6-string folk banjo? Check.
Whatever instrument is calling your name, you can find it at Music City Canada. If you want to truly channel your inner ‘70s Classic Rock star, you can browse their line of vintage and used instruments. Collecting vintage instruments is a great new hobby for those who are already musical pros.
Once you are ready to take your musical skills to the next level, Music City Canada’s sub-brand Charter House Studio offers music recording space, video recording space, green screen sets and more. Take your project to the next level and create something great this year.
3. Fritzy’s Roller Skate Shop
Looking for a way to get outside more and stay active in the new year? We suppose you could go for a run, but why not step it up a notch this year and opt for a brand new pair of roller skates. Fritzy’s Roller Skate Shop is a fun blast from the past with their colorful, cute, and vintage-looking line of skates, wheels, helmets, elbow and knee pads, and everything else a skater could need.
This store’s online web experience is just as adorable as their products, complete with their on-brand loyalty program, Skate Points. This brand is perfect for anyone in Pacific Beach who just wants to give roller skating a try as you can rent skates from their in-store location. For the more experienced skaters, you can create a personalized product by customizing your own skates. You can even turn your favorite pair of shoes into a one-of-a-kind pair of roller skates.
All you need to take up this new hobby is a pair of skates, some safety gear, and some open road–we suppose a little bit of coordination wouldn’t hurt either. What do you say, ready to roll?
Tina Donati
4. Relish Cooking Studio
Maybe this year is the year to upgrade your culinary skills. Before exploring more in the kitchen, any great baker or chef needs the right equipment. This is where Relish Cooking Studio steps up to the plate with all the baking, cooking, and kitchen tools you could need. It doesn’t matter if you just need the basics (a couple of baking trays, pots and pans, and some spatulas), or you’re looking for a top-of-the-line bread scorer or zester—Relish Cooking Studio has got you covered.
If you want to start cooking more but you can barely handle making cereal, don’t worry. Relish Cooking Studio offers a variety of cooking class formats including virtual public classes, virtual private events, and in-studio private parties for those close to Kitchener, Ontario. This is a great way to find a new hobby in the comfort of your own home.
If you’re already a seasoned chef but you want to get more adventurous in your dishes, you can check out the recipe section on Relish Cooking Studio’s website. They’ve got tons of delicious categories to choose from—including everything from Mexican cuisine to Parisian desserts, and even gluten free, vegan, and vegetarian options.
We’re hungry just looking at their website so if you’re looking for a tasty new talent to impress your friends, look no further.
5. Ellie and Mac
A saying that we’ve all heard before is, “If you want something done right, do it yourself.” While this may be true in some situations, we think there is no harm in letting the experts take the lead every once in a while. That’s exactly what sewing brand, Ellie and Mac does.
Originally founded by a mom who wanted to create cute boutique-style clothing for her daughters at an affordable price, this sewing brand offers tons of easy-to-follow patterns for every level of sewer. You can even take their online quiz to get personalized recommendations based on your interests.
Once you’ve mastered the basics from their sewing patterns, you can browse through their blog to find more unique tips and tricks. These posts cover everything from how to add sleeves to one of their staple tops to basic fashion and style advice. If you’re looking for a hobby that channels your creativity and gives you clothing that’s just sewwww cute, then Ellie and Mac is your solution!
6. Wallack’s Art Supplies and Framings
Oftentimes the question “How do I find a new hobby?” leads to trying out various different crafting or art projects. Just like their tiered VIP loyalty program, whether you’re a discovering, emerging, or established artist, Wallack’s Art Supplies and Framings has got you covered.
From painting, to sculpting, to print making, and more, this online hobby store has all the tools you need to tap into your artistic side this year. If you know exactly what you’re looking for, you can easily navigate their website by department. Or, if you’re a total newbie you can head over to their blog to learn the basics.
Jesse from DropInBlog
For artists whose studios are close to their brick-and-mortar store in Ottawa, you can even attend in-person themed classes and events on a weekly or monthly basis. So whether you’re ready to pick up a paintbrush and channel your inner Picasso, or you just want to try out that cool art trend you saw on Tik Tok, search no further than Wallack’s this year.
7. Hypergear
For those of you looking to get a little more adventurous in 2022, Hypergear is a lifestyle adventure brand based in Malaysia. This brand made waves by releasing their Dry Bags using their Frogman IPX-8 technology–receiving the world’s highest waterproof rating possible. Basically in non-technical terms, Hypergear made it possible for adventurers to dive headfirst into their adventure without worrying about their important belongings.
What started out with a waterproof backpack has since evolved into a diverse product range including waterproof fanny packs, masks, and jackets. Their customers have trusted their products on all types of adventures. They’ve taken them to the heights of mountain peaks on hikes and to the deepest depths of the oceans on snorkeling expeditions.
While scaling Mount Everest might not be on your 2022 bucket list, you can rest assured that you’ll be ready for your next adventure in any climate with Hypergear.
8. Better World Books
For those of us who haven’t stepped foot in a classroom in years, reading might not be something you do on the regular. That's why tons of people make commitments to get more into reading in the new year. And the bookworms on the other hand look at the new year as an opportunity to fill their bookshelves with a complete new library. Whether it’s your goal to read one page in 2022, or 100 novels, Better World Books is the perfect unique ecommerce store to check out.
This book outlet offers an impactful shopping experience you can feel good about. Their Book for Book model donates one book to someone in need for every book purchased, bringing them to a total of over 26.5 million books donated. They also allow customers to take sustainability into their own hands with options to browse through used books, or opt for carbon balanced shipping for a few extra cents.
If reading is the new hobby you’re learning towards this year, pick a book or a couple off of Better World Books’ virtual shelf.
Beth Foster
9. Crop Shop Boutique
No matter what happened in the previous year (maybe with the exception of a global pandemic) there is always one thing that remains constant in January: people commit to getting back in shape and focusing on their health. The gyms are full, fitness influencers are posting tons of motivational content, and the New Years’ Resolutions are in full-swing. It’s a great time to let go of anything that held you back last year and start new on your fitness journey.
We are a big believer in the fact that when you look good, you feel good. And so is Australian fitness apparel brand Crop Shop Boutique. With tons of different designs and colors, their functional and stylish activewear is perfect for those who plan to be “up in the gym just working on their fitness.”
From sports bras and cropped tops, to biker shorts and leggings, you can ensure you’re all decked out this year whether you’re running errands or running laps.
10. Stone Age Gamer
Trends are always popping up again years (or even decades) later and whether you fully embrace the ‘70s flared jeans or cringe at the sight of those chunky sneakers that ruled the ‘80s, they always come back. But these recycled trends extend beyond the world of fashion. One brand that lets you take a trip down memory lane is Stone Age Gamer.
This vintage video game ecommerce store has everything a gamer needs for a healthy dose of nostalgia. Customers are able to browse through various different gaming systems, accessories, and video game themed toys. From Nintendo GameBoys to Pac Man candy dispensers, these products would make the perfect gift for the gamer in your life–or treat yourself to a fun new gadget!
For parents who grew up in the magical world of Zelda or spent hours trying to catch ‘em all on Pokemon, Stone Age Gamer also sells vintage video game chess sets, puzzles, and board games that are fun for the whole family. No matter what age you are, this online store could help you revisit your old favorite hobby or discover a completely new one.
Which hobby is calling your name?
So there you have it–10 unique ecommerce brands that are perfect for discovering any new passion or hobby. Whether you want to roll right back in time with a new pair of roller skates or roll up your sleeves in the kitchen, it’s time to discover your new favorite hobby. It’s a new year and it’s your job to fill it with new experiences as you go. Happy hobbying!
