BANKNOTES minted by #paid

DTC holiday gift guide 2021

Episode Summary

19 eCommerce and DTC experts share their top three gift recommendations for this holiday season. Keep reading to discover 50+ unique gift ideas for your holiday shopping.

Episode Notes

There are plenty of holiday gift guides online filled with generic gift ideas, but they rarely encompass varying sectors (like beauty, food, drinks, clothing, pets, kids, home, etc).

We wanted to create a gift guide that solved these problems, so we talked to 19 leaders in the eCommerce and DTC spaces and found their top three gift recommendations for the holiday season...(Continue).

Episode Transcription

There are plenty of holiday gift guides online filled with generic gift ideas, but they rarely encompass varying sectors (like beauty, food, drinks, clothing, pets, kids, home, etc).

We wanted to create a gift guide that solved these problems, so we talked to 19 leaders in the eCommerce and DTC spaces and found their top three gift recommendations for the holiday season.

Keep reading to discover 50+ unique gift ideas for your holiday shopping.

Emily Singer

1. Anything from East Fork— They carry products (like spices and tea) from third-party brands, which makes it an underrated one-stop shop. Their mug is deserving of the hype, and the breakfast bowl is an underrated workhorse.

2. Everything from Diaspora Co.— Giving Diaspora spices feels like a fun way to set someone up for better meals in the year ahead, and it's really fun to see people's reactions when they smell Diaspora's spices for the first time (their cinnamon and ginger, in particular).

3. Brightland olive oil— In a similar vein, Brightland's infused olive oils are a treat. Rosette (garlic) and Ardor (chili) are particularly fun during the winter months.

Vikki Ross

1. Nigel Slater's The Christmas Chronicles is a delicious read. Not for the recipes (I don't cook), but for the writing. It so beautifully sets the scene for my favorite season. The cool of a crisp winter's day. The warmth of a crackling log fire. The scent of sugar and spice. 

2. Diptyque's Feu de Bois Candle makes you feel like you're fireside. This glass-contained candle keeps you warm during winter, while it crackles like an open fire. 

3. Unwrap a new notebook with all the promises of new thinking and neat writing in the new year. It's the holidays so it has to be special and sparkly, like this silver Soho Notebook from Smythson.

Taylor Sicard

1. KOTN makes the most comfortable and ethically sourced cotton-based products made with Egyptian cotton and the best basics (sweats, t-shirts, etc.) as well as luxurious-feeling bedding. 

2. Brightland — A staple for anyone that cooks; this is the best olive oil I’ve ever tasted. 

3. Homesick candles are the perfect gift for anyone! Find that special place or memory from their life and surprise them with the gift of nostalgia.

Clayton Chambers

1. Ugmonk Analog Starter Kit (Maple) — Analog is a physical tool made that contains three card packs and a wood cardholder to help you focus on your most important tasks.

2. J.Stark Tote Bag — This tote has pockets to carry your everyday items. This could include your lunch, wallet, light sweater, phone, keys, and water bottle.

3. American Trench socks — There are various beautiful colored socks to keep you warm during the winter days.

Chase Diamond

1. Bylt Lightweight Hoodie — You can find comfortable outerwears that are great for working from home or working out.

2. Drink Hydrant — This is the perfect, refreshing hydration mix that gets me through my workdays.

3. Madhappy Hats — Everybody loves themselves a great dad hat. Am I right?

6. Amanda Goetz

1. Outdoor Voices — The fitness apparel is great for everything from yoga and cycling to hiking and dancing. More so, this is an entire community of wellness enthusiasts who inspire and lift each other up in their fitness journey. 

2. House of Wise — This female-founded (by me!) brand produces high-quality, full-spectrum organic CBD products to help women find balance in their sleep, stress management, sexual wellness, and strength

3. Eight Sleep — The Eight Sleep mattress is an absolute game-changer for a good night's rest and comes with gifting-friendly options like sheet sets, comforters, and pillows. 

7. Jason Wong

1. The Soothing Eye Mask — It has a cooling gel pad inside that you can heat up or cool to depuff your eyes. It gives me the best sleep ever.

2. Jambys —  This is a store for home wear clothes that make me feel like I’m wearing literal clouds. I can't live without them.

3. Italic’s down alternative duvet— this duvet comes in various colors, sizes, and materials.

8. Natalie Sportelli

1. Veja  — Veja is a French footwear brand that uses organic materials and fair trade sourcing to produce cool, casual, and athletic sneakers. It’s been around since 2005, but I’m now seeing Vejas pop up everywhere in the subway and neighborhoods around NYC. 

2. Cancelled Plans  — This female-founded candle brand makes candles that smell great, last a while, and are affixed with funny, relatable names like “Alone time” and “Do not disturb.”

3. Olive & June  — An at-home nail care brand that offers make-your-own packages for DIY manis and pedis along with online classes on how to do your own nails for those that need a bit more help.

9. Kristen LaFrance

1. Outdoor Voices CloudKnit Sweatpants — These are by far the best fitting, most comfortable sweatpants that can work both at home and on the move. Great for any gender!

2. House of Wise Stress Drops — These full-spectrum CBD oil drops work extremely well to decrease stress, and come in beautiful packaging with a great story, too! Spoil someone and splurge for the 3-pack of gummies.

3. Brightland Olive Oil Set — We've spent more time in our homes this year, meaning many of us have a re-found love for cooking. Brightland's olive oils are high quality, feel divine, taste great, and look amazing on your counter. Perfect for post-holiday health focus!

10. Nik Sharma

1. Snif Candles  — Snif works with one of the best facilities to produce their extravagant and proprietary scent formulas. By popular demand, they've now brought their incredible scents to candles, to illuminate an entire home with their scents. They smell so, so, so good.

2. Spritz Society — No one really wants to drink any malt-based liquor drinks anymore like White Claw, we want beverages with real flavor. Spritz is made with Sonoma CA wine, and real fruit flavors. It tastes divine, and it's low in calories. 

3. A Kids Book About Safety — Written in collaboration with an emergency preparedness expert, JUDY and A Kids Book About put together a new kids book to teach them about what to do in the event of an emergency.

11. Amanda Natividad

1. Culture Pop soda — I love gifting edible products, especially if I'm not confident what someone wants. And since this is a probiotic soda (healthy soda) that is legit delicious, it feels like a special treat.

2. House of Wise Gummies — For those who are curious about CBD but unsure where to start, a set of gummies is a nice gift. Plus, the box/packaging is a pleasant experience so it's nice to receive.

3. Dossier — Nice perfume in beautiful packaging that won't break the bank. Plus, their scent names and product descriptions have all the info you need to choose which perfume may best appeal to you.

12. Lauren Kleinman

1. Clevr Blends The Starter Kit - This Clevr’s most popular bundle includes 2x SuperLatte of your Choice (matcha, Chai, Golden, Coffee, or Rose Cacao) and a rechargeable frother. I can’t live without my Clevr Matcha in the morning; nothing compares!

2. Brightland - The Festive Capsule — Brightland’s signature capsule this holiday season. This capsule encompasses the DUP, the PAIR, 1 couplet 1 spout, and 1 mini whisk. All of my favorite Brightland essentials in one! 

3. Noémie - The Single Mini Trois Diamond Earring - this gift is so elegant for the woman in your life. You can’t go wrong!

13. Kurt Elster

1. Truff Hot Sauce — At $35/bottle for their White Hotter Sauce, it's the kind of thing that I would love to have but wouldn't necessarily buy for myself. It's a luxury hot sauce.

2. Pit Viper Sunglasses — I own too many sunglasses, but none are as fun as Pit Viper’s. I appreciate how weirdly practical Pit Vipers are. Many are polarized and some are even Z87+ safety rated.  

3. Veer Cruiser — Shopping for the parent who has everything? I bet they don't have a Veer Cruiser, it's an impressively over-engineered stroller wagon hybrid.

14. Savannah Sanchez

1. BlendJet — Blend your smoothies on the go! Portable, rechargeable, so convenient. 

2. Peel — If you're going to get the new iPhone 13, you're going to need a new case for that. Peel has the original Super Thin Case.

3. Leaf Shave  —  Make a sustainable swap this Christmas with the Leaf Shave Razor, the first pivoting head metal safety razor.

15. Rachel Cantor

1. The Made In - Square Baking Dish or their new pie slab which is a Nancy Silverton collab. It’s high-quality bakeware, made from porcelain and made in France. It’s beautiful, classic, and stylish. Perfect for holiday desserts.

2. My second brand is Brightland. You can't go wrong with their olive oil. Seriously, it's so good. The honey duo is my new, fave gift. Both flavors are so pure, but the Orange Blossom is the standout. I'm adding it to everything — tea, cottage cheese, apples, berries

3. Three Ships Skincare has some great bundles that are perfect for gifting and self-care during the holiday season! I love their grape stem cell moisturizer. It's creamy, not too thin or thick, and smells amazing. The products are not too pricey and ingredients are 100% plant-derived.

16. Rebekah Kondrat

1. For me (because everyone should buy themselves a gift): Sarah Flint Natalie shoe in gunmetal (aka the Meghan Markle shoe) because it goes with everything and is oh so comfy.

2. For my mom: Brightland mini essentials, because she’s an excellent cook and the bottles are beautiful pieces of art.

3. For hubs: several more Rhone Reign tees because according to him it’s his favorite workout shirt.

17. Jaime Schmidt

1. The Snaxbox by Snaxshot — You can give the gift of the trendiest snacks while supporting an awesome founder, Andrea Hernandez.

2. Chunky Knit Weighted Blanket by Italic — all the feel-good benefits of a weighted blanket without the retail markups. And you’re guaranteed to find other quality gift options while browsing the Italic marketplace.

3. Something handmade — a food product, piece of art, or craft is always a refreshing alternative. Try your hand at something creative, and you might discover a hidden talent or passion in the process!

18. Eli Weiss

1. Huron — The best-smelling personal care in the game. They always offer a fantastic customer experience.

2. Madhappy — I love their mission and the quality of the goods!

3. Muddy Bites — This delivered one of the most delicious snacks I’ve had all year and something I love sharing with friends and family.

19. Andrea Hernandez

1. Fallen Grape — Soon to launch, this is a natural wine brand with minimum intervention; the taste is reminiscent of summer to me.

2. Condesa Gin — Distilled in Mexico; a beautiful brand that has made the perfect gift for friends. Not only for drinking but literal shelf stopper. I recommend the prickly pear blossom flavor.

3. Nunchi cakes — Divine! I was gifted one while in LA and fell in love with their beautiful jelly aesthetics which have been trending all year.

With so many incredible DTC brands on this list, you really can’t go wrong. Get something for everyone on your list by taking cues from these 50+ holiday shopping gift ideas and make holiday shopping that much simpler.