We Know It’s Early, But…

Sorry to pull you out of your summer fun to talk about back-to-school shopping, but I promise to make it worth your while! The highlights: great new arrivals at Penny Post and Red Barn Mercantile, a school supply drive for Alexandria City Public Schools (ACPS), and Tax-Free Weekend!

I have always loved shopping for school supplies. (Yes, working for Penny Post is kind of a dream job!) Choosing the perfect planner, paging through pretty new notebooks, and stocking up on new pens and pencils, sticky notes, and notepads brings me great joy. There is something magical about reuniting with friends after summer break and having all of your special supplies perfectly organized in your backpack. Or was that just me? 

At Penny Post, there is never a shortage of beautiful things to incorporate into work/school/everyday life. But here are a few things that I think would be particularly useful as a student or parent managing busy schedules. Items to help you feel organized, inspired, and excited for the new school year. 

Agenda Notepad, $20; Appointed Planner, $39; Blackwing Colors, $28.50; Sticky Notes, $14; Kaweco Mechanical Pencil, $65; 50's Rock Student Rollerball, $68; Limited Edition LAMY Strawberry Fountain Pen, $37 (Rollerball also available for $25); Strawberry Fields Pocket Folders, $18; Penco Notebook, $15; Task Pad, $22.50; Zip Pouch, $21; Vertical Canvas Case; $44; Assortment of Stickers; $2.50-$4; So. Many. Planner. Stickers., $12.95.

And don’t think Red Barn Mercantile isn’t keeping up with Penny Post. At Red Barn Mercantile, we have an abundance of fun supplies for kiddos - including lunch bags, notebooks, pencils, pens, accessories, and art supplies, and very soon, we’ll have the most precious backpacks you’ve ever laid eyes on.

Shop the entire Red Barn Mercantile back-to-school collection here - and check back frequently as we’ll be adding more (including these backpacks) very soon! 

While you’re in, please drop off some school supply donations for the ACPS Backpack and School Supply Drive! Through August 7, Penny Post and Red Barn Mercantile will have collection bins set up for school supply donations. Both shops are offering 10 percent off* purchases made at the time of drop-off. (*Excludes custom purchases at Penny Post.)

Lastly, tax-free weekend is August 5-7. Generally, tax-free weekend only includes school supplies, but Red Barn Mercantile and Penny Post are covering the tax on everything else as well. (Excludes custom at Penny Post.) Books, art supplies, pillows, puzzles, throws, rugs, snacks, everything with a price tag. Whether or not you're back-to-school shopping, there is no better time to shop for whatever gifts and home goods you've had your eye on!

So while we are sad to see summer head south for the winter, we are very excited about our upcoming events at both Red Barn Mercantile and Penny Post, and we hope to see you soon!