Ah, holiday shopping. No matter how well you prepare for this time of year, the perfect gift somehow always seems just out of reach. In the spirit of the season, we asked our Spectrio team members for some of their top suggestions for holiday shopping. Their responses sounded so great, we decided to share them on our blog!
Check out our employee holiday shopping guide to see if any of their suggestions might be the perfect gift for your friends and family!
Holiday Shopping at Small Businesses
Here at Spectrio, we’re big believers in supporting small businesses. Whether local or far away, we asked our employees for their favorite gift-buying spots.
Essentials Massage of Trinity
Where: Trinity, Florida
What: A spa that offers massages, facials, and more.
Gift Ideas: A gift card for one–or a package–of their services would be perfect for any overworked friend, worn-out Mom, or the Dad who pulled a muscle while golfing. However, it’s important to note this gift is only beneficial for those in the Trinity area!
Ultimate Cycles
Where: Charlotte, North Carolina
What: “A bike shop for the rest of us.”
Gift Ideas: Any bike enthusiast would have a field day with a new bike or that elusive accessory they’ve been hunting for. Ultimate Cycles prides itself on providing its customers with the items they need, not just what’s flashy or trendy.
Ivy and Sage
Where: Gilbert, Arizona
What: A collective of small businesses, this shop offers a wide variety of items, ranging from home decor to clothing to specialty food.
Gift Ideas: With such a big range of items, there are tons to choose from! Locals in the Gilbert area can browse their rotating supplies in person. Those of us not in Arizona, however, can take a look at their Custom Collection, which is choc-full of handmade items that can be engraved and edited upon request. For a sentimental relative or a friend who likes something personalized, this is a great place to shop.
Queen City Crunch
Where: Charlotte, North Carolina
What: A family recipe for pretzels turned into a commercial success!
Gift Ideas: Queen City Crunch offers their famous pretzels in 4 flavors: the OG, the Dill, the Heat, and Cinnamon Sugar. No matter if your dad is a savory fan and your little brother is all for sweet, there’s a pretzel for both of them! Queen City Crunch ships nationally, so non-North Carolina residents, have no fear! Even more exciting: a portion of their proceeds go towards Families Forward Charlotte, a non-profit organization that helps families in poverty in the Charlotte area.
Hazel + dot
Where: Tampa, Florida
What: A unique gift shop with a touch of local flair.
Gift Ideas: For the best friend who has everything or your mother-in-law who is never easy to buy for, this shop has something that’ll make them smile. From cute coffee mugs to themed wine glasses, custom embroidered towels to Tampa-themed pillows, hazel + dot has it all.
Everett’s Foods
Where: Minneapolis, Minnesota
What: A family-owned and operated butcher shop.
Gift Ideas: For the chef in your family, any item from here is sure to delight. Everett’s offers every cut of meat any carnivore could ever want. Pair the food with one of the family’s recipes–available on their website–and give the gift of a good meal!
Red Hot Tiki
Where: Gulfport, Florida
What: A gourmet spice market.
Gift Ideas: Red Hot Tiki has a little bit of everything when it comes to spicy. Hot sauces, hot jams, hot jellies…they’ve got it all! Satisfy your favorite cook or spice aficionado with a surprise from this small business. Pick up in-store if you’re local or ship your spicy treats all over the country!
Avoid Late Gifts
No matter where you’re ordering gifts from, don’t wait too long. 51 percent of people reported waiting until Christmas Eve to purchase gifts–don’t be one of them! December is always a busy time for shipping and this year is no exception. Ordering with enough shipping time is especially important for small and local businesses like the ones we’ve mentioned.
We hope you’ve found something gift-worthy on our employee curated list!