When the weather starts to cool down and the holiday decorations begin to appear, thoughts seem to turn toward holiday shopping. These days it is easier than ever to find interesting and unique gifts online for everyone on your “nice list.” If you have that relative who is difficult to buy for, or that geeky friend who’s into quirky collectors’ items, this list of great places to shop online for deals on holiday gifts is just what you need.
Art / Handcrafted Gifts
One of the most popular gift-giving categories is art, jewelry, and handcrafted artisan items. If you're seeking to gift a unique and beautiful piece of art, without breaking your budget, the following online venues are sure please.
West Coast Artisan Gallery - www.shopwestcoastartists.com/
This online gallery for original West Coast artwork and artisan gifts, West Coast Artisan Gallery offers an interesting variety of handcrafted items such as paintings, sculptures, jewelry, wooden boxes, handcrafted pens, and even all-natural handmade soaps. Each artist has created a collection of unique, affordably-priced gifts that appeal to the art lover in your life. Even better, the prices are listed in Canadian funds so U.S. shoppers come out better with the exchange rate and free shipping.
Etsy - www.etsy.com/
More than just a marketplace, Etsy is a community that connects buyers with artists, designers, and handcrafters from all over the world. Not only can you find a plethora of handmade gifts at reasonable prices, you can even purchase crafting supplies for the crafters in your life.
Deviant Art - www.deviantart.com
In addition to being a community for artists, Deviant Art is also a place to buy art prints in a variety of styles and sizes from traditional to abstract. You can also get mugs, mousepads, and other art gifts. If you are trying to find the perfect present for someone who loves art, consider taking a look around.
Home & Garden Accessories
Another prime gifting category is home and garden. For the family member or friend with an impeccably decorated home or a green thumb, these sites will inspire you.
Plow & Hearth - www.plowhearth.com
This store offers things to make a home cozy and comfortable, pets happy and healthy, and a yard and garden productive and beautiful. With a focus on the comfy hearth and home, they include a section for apparel and footwear that goes with it.
Wind & Weather - www.windandweather.com
Along with gifts for the yard and garden, this online shop offers both vintage-style and modern weather instruments. Gift your loved ones with gifts like wind chimes, bird feeders, or digital weather stations at every price-point.
Gardeners Supply Company - www.gardeners.com/
For the hardcore gardener, Gardeners Supply Company is nirvana. Outdoor gardening, indoor gardening, planters, supports, lawn art, they have it all at affordable prices. Sign up for their newsletter to keep up with sales and promotions.
For the Geek in the Family
Maybe you’re looking for a gift to impress your favorite geek. The following sites offer items that focus on science, technology, science fiction, and fantasy.
ThinkGeek - www.thinkgeek.com
If your nephew collects superhero action figures, your aunt has never met an electronic gadget she could do without, and your husband wears quirky t-shirts, this is the place to shop for them. The variety is nearly endless and the prices are reasonable. And earning GeekPoints will add to your savings over time.
This is Why I’m Broke - www.thisiswhyimbroke.com
Similar to ThinkGeek, this online site is another venue to shop for fun gifts for the nerd in your life. You can even find cute geeky products for pets. They also offer DIY and craft kits with a science or technology connection.
Café Press - www.cafepress.com/
Another place to get the unique, fun, or funky present, Café Press features more than a billion crowdsourced items and the ability to customize them. With infinite possibilities you are sure to find or create something great for one of your favorite people.
Subscription Boxes
Consider gifting a subscription box service for the gift that keeps on giving. We’ve all heard of BarkBox for dogs and MeowBox for cats, but there are also all kinds of recurring boxes for your favorite humans too.
FabFitFun - www.fabfitfun.com/
This quarterly box subscription contains fun things for the person who loves to workout, or interested in beauty and wellness. It also comes with an online community and app for sharing tips, recipes and more. Fill out the questionnaire to make it perfect for the recipient.
Coffee and a Classic - www.coffeeandaclassic.com
Looking for something flawless for the literature lover? This subscription service sends out a box each month that includes a classic book, warm beverage, mug, snack, bookmark, and other bookish items. With this service you’re gifting a great read and relaxation.
Blue Apron Wine - www.blueapron.com/wine
With three bottles delivered each month, this wine subscription can be customized to all red, all white, or combined. More than just wine comes in each box. The recipient also gets tasting notes, pairing tips, plus the story behind each wine.
No matter what you choose and where you shop, the friends and family who get gifts from this list are sure to be talking about them for a long time to come. With this list you will become a gift-giving legend and it won’t break your budget.
Posted by Tim Shepard - Broker on
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