There are so many interesting local shops and businesses to explore in Tucson, and we know that sometimes you want to shop without straining your wallet.
That’s why we’re starting the $25 challenge. Every Thursday, our team will be searching for affordable treasures at some of Tucson’s favorite spots. Whether you’re looking for gifts for your friends or a treat for yourself, these $25 challenge guides can be your go-to for finding items that won’t break your budget.
An employee helps people at the register while customers browse at Pop Cycle, at 422 N. Fourth Ave.
And what better place to start our challenge than Pop Cycle? The North Fourth Avenue shop promotes local art, particularly items made from recycled materials, reused products and refurbished goods, and you’ll find T-shirts, ceramics, notebooks, jewelry and more, all made by Tucson artists and creatives. Even better, many of the items will cost you less than $25.
RetroTrek offers a variety of items including prints, note cards, postcards, holiday cards, magnets, and yearly calendars, all depicting Tucson’s beauty.
The first items that caught my eye immediately as I entered the shop were bright, retro-inspired Tucson postcards created by RetroTrek. RetroTrek is a collaboration between husband and wife team Dale and Cricket DeNunzio and graphic artist Pete Marenfeld. The art created for their products celebrates the town they all love.
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RetroTrek offers a variety of items including prints, note cards, postcards, holiday cards, magnets and yearly calendars, all depicting Tucson’s beauty. Think desert landscapes, flora and wildlife, depictions of Fourth Ave. locations, and more.
You can find their postcards at Pop Cycle for only $3. Perfect for sending to friends and family, or framing as a display on your own wall.
Artwork and products by artist Marcy Ellis are on sale at Pop Cycle.
Artist Marcy Ellis creates intricate feminine, floral and nature-inspired designs that span various mediums, including fine art prints, apparel, ceramics, stickers and more.
At Pop Cycle you’ll find tote bags, mugs, zipper bags and notebooks adorned with her work, among her usual prints.
If you’re an avid tea or coffee drinker, her “Flora Sisters Mug” might be the right addition to your cupboard, for $24.
Her tote bags are priced at $20, and her notebooks $12.
Handmade cactus dish by artist Mehgan Birky.
If you’re looking for a cute ceramic dish to hold your jewelry or trinkets, artist Mehgan Birky has handmade cacti dishes.
Birky also creates hand-embroidered art and colorful mini-mushroom dishes. The smaller dishes are priced at $20.
Juju & Moxie cotton dish towels feature desert landscapes and Tucson wildlife including hummingbirds, javelina and roadrunners, and each costs $16.
Juju and Moxie Co. is a design house and handmade gift line based in Tucson, and their designs are inspired by the Sonoran Desert. They have everything from notebooks and pins to dish towels and earrings.
Their cotton dish towels feature desert landscapes and Tucson wildlife including hummingbirds, javelina and roadrunners, and each costs $16.
Juju & Moxie earrings at Pop Cycle.
Their earrings vary in price, but many are between $13 and $16, with vibrant designs featuring kitties, cacti, fun foods, and more.
Flowing Waters Soap Co. offers handcrafted bars of soap in scents like “Desert Rain,” “Desert Flower,” “Lavender Dream” and “Corazon Negra.” Their bars can be purchased at Pop Cycle.
For bath products, Flowing Waters Soap Co. offers hand-crafted bars of soap in scents like “Desert Rain,” “Desert Flower,” “Lavender Dream” and “Corazon Negra.”
Flowing Waters Soap Co. is a native owned family business, and says all bars are made with natural sustainable ingredients. Their bars are priced at $15.95.
Pop Cycle sells apparel with some of Par’s Tucson-centric designs, as well as prints and stickers of his artwork.
Tucson artist Jos Par is known for his bright, quirky designs. His "Tucson Tales" series features iconic Tucson landmarks from the dinosaur at McDonald's to the Rattlesnake Bridge.
Pop Cycle sells apparel with some of Par’s Tucson-centric designs, as well as prints and stickers of his artwork. You can bring home your own Jos Par print for your home or apartment for $22.50.
Scientific illustrator, wildlife biologist and artist Nathalie Aall creates artwork of Sonoran Desert wildlife.
Finally, scientific illustrator, wildlife biologist, and artist Nathalie Aall creates artwork of Sonoran Desert wildlife, representing the beauty and importance of the natural world.
At Pop Cycle you’ll find stickers, stationery, prints, zipper bags and more, depicting all manner of local critters from quail and hummingbirds to tortoises and javelina. Zipper pouches retail at $16, prints for $20, and sticker packs for $16.
Aall also has a line of pet apparel including pet bowties and bandanas decorated with her art. You can pick one up for your own furry friend for $16, or $20 for bandanas.
