It’s that time of year again! Trees are up, lights are strung, and kiddos are counting down to Santa’s annual delivery service.
Santa always has a lot of help with holiday gifting, but it’s a challenge for many of us mere muggles. A few of us are lucky to have natural aptitude for gifting. These folks enjoy scoping out sales and surprising loved ones with extraordinary and unexpected gifts. But for the majority of us, shopping can feel like work—and those talented gift givers give us a bad rap. There’s pressure to find the right gift, find it in stock, get it on time, and support the right companies.
Well, we took a break from our hot toddies (ahem, campaigns and coding) to share some of our favorite gifts, from some of our favorite clients, in this year’s edition of the FirstTracks’ Holiday Gift Guide.
2019 Holiday Gift Ideas
1. Rooftop Rosie Apparel
Our Pick:
Rosie’s Fire-Pit Must Have Pullover
If you know the FirstTracks team, you know we are a bunch of softies when it comes to our four-legged friends. Visits to our office include a butt sniffing or two from one of the members of our Barking team. Our favorite dockside restaurant client, Dog Watch Cafe, in Stonington, Connecticut, shares our “must love dogs” mentality. Over the last year, Dog Watch Cafe has launched a special line of apparel as a fundraiser to help rescue dogs from kill shelters or those caught up in the devastation of natural disasters. Dog Watch donates 100% of the net proceeds from the sale of Rooftop Rosie apparel and 15% of the net proceeds from all other Dog Watch Cafe merchandise to the Rooftop Rosie Rescue Fund. Grab some cute apparel for the dog lover in your life and support a good cause!
2. Annalee Seasonal Decor
Are you shopping for a scrooge or need to get rid of the bah humbugs? Or maybe your giftee is into seasonal decorating? Annalee is full of festive gifts that spread good ol’ down-home cheer! This year, Annalee Dolls proudly celebrated its 85th Anniversary. Be part of a merry New England tradition with collectible Santas, elves, reindeer, and more. Delight your neighbor, a favorite teacher, friend, or family member with a sweet collectible ornament or bundled set of Christmas characters to brighten their spirits. Every year when they bring out these heartfelt decorations, they’ll smile and remember you fondly. And don’t forget, Annalee dolls are poseable, offering a wide assortment of decorating opportunities.
Our Pick:
Ugly Sweater Party Elf
3. Hyo Silver Jewelry
Our Pick:
Southwest Style Set
Is jewelry on your shopping list? Should it be?! Go original, unique, and bold with an extra special gift this year. Hyo Silver offers manly accessories and stunning western jewelry that you simply can’t find anywhere else. Recognize the Wild West within and check out Hyo Silver’s distinctive signature style. It is nothing short of extraordinary! For guys, money clips, knives, belt buckles, cufflinks, and some cowboy-inspired pendants are top on the list. For gals, choose from pendants, bracelets, earrings, and rings— or my personal choice, all of the above. Hyo Silver also has some great new curated gift sets that are 15% off the regular price. Let it be known, I love all turquoise. (Don’t we all?)
4. Sofia’s Unique Findings
Personalized gifts steal the show! They show forethought—you didn’t grab that gift on a last- minute Target run. Our new client Sofia’s Findings specializes in unique and personalized gifts. Customized cutting boards, monogrammed glassware, emblemed game sets, personalized corporate gifts, and much more. Sofia’s Findings also offers unique art, including masks, carvings, and wall decor. The owner searches the globe for unique items. We love the finest spirits at FirstTracks, so we can’t help touting Sofia’s Findings handmade American Oak Barrels. They are perfect for aging whiskey, wine, beer, rum, or enhancing the flavor profile of your beverage of choice. Choose from multiple styles and sizes including steel, brass, copper, original, 1 liter to 20 liters. Sofia’s Findings also can personalize your barrel at no additional cost because they make these in-house by hand. This will be in our office sooner than later.
Our Pick:
Personalized Whiskey Barrel
5. Curly Girl Design
Our Pick:
2020 Curly Girl Calendar
Leigh Standley has been a FirstTracks clients for years. Her clever and whimsical greeting cards, prints, wall-art, and calendars are ideal for “imperfectly delightful living.” Leigh is a powerhouse of creativity and CurlyGirlDesign.com is jam-packed with unique and heartfelt stationary and gifts. We adore the beautifully articulated statements that adorn mugs, bottle straws, candles, and canvases. Who doesn’t need some Curly Girl Design to brighten up their holiday season? “Tis the season to be aware of the tiny magic everywhere.”
6. Boot Pro’s Best Fitting Ski Boots
The FirstTracks name is derived from a love of skiing and a deep appreciation for carving into fresh fallen powder. So it was a no-brainer when we began working with Vermont’s best bootfitters. How could we refuse? If you appreciate a snow day you can’t miss with the Boot Pro. This full service ski shop is located at the foot of Okemo Mountain Resort in Vermont. The Boot Pro sells high performance ski gear, apparel, and accessories and are known best for its custom insoles, bootfitting, and world class tuning. Whether you need a helmet, new boots, skis, or advisement on quality equipment, the Boot Pro is your best choice.
Our Pick:
Custom Fit Ski Boots
7. Bari Life’s Healthy Treats
Our Pick:
Protein-Packed Treats
Okay! Maybe some protein oatmeal wasn’t what you had in mind for a sweet stocking stuffer? But think again. BariLife.com aims to serve bariatric patients who require protein supplements, specialized vitamins, and additional calcium. While Bari Life supplements are industry preferred by patients, surgeons, and dietitians, Santa has gotten on board to share these healthy treats with, well, everyone. Bari Life’s protein bars are some of the best we have ever had. You also don’t have to have bariatric surgery to enjoy a healthy alternative to a Snickers. Trust us. Try the Bari Life Caramel Crunch Protein Bar. It’s delicious. Also, don’t miss the Peanut Butter Protein Bar. It tastes just like a Reese’s. And the Mint Protein Bar is as fresh as a York Peppermint!
8. Finding Home Farms
If you’ve seen the movie Elf, you know that syrup is one of four main food groups. Our friends at Finding Home Farms provide some of the best maple syrup—hand crafted 100% pure happiness. But that’s not all that this New York family sells on findinghomefarms.com. Their soy candles and pantry products are also slam dunks (You can’t beat their Lavender Candle). Finding Home Farms jams, maple candies, maple mustard, and other gift items are gifts that say you care about quality and support this family’s ever-changing journey pursuing the American Dream. Don’t miss a chance to visit their sugarhouse in Middletown, NY!
Our Pick:
Organic Syrup & Pancake Mix
9. Custom Courses & Training
Our Pick for Gamers:
Our Pick for Traders:
Our Pick for Fitness:
Our Pick for Pilots:
Want to give the gift of education and experience? Do you have a pilot or stock trader on your shopping list? Maybe you know someone who wants to up their chess game or try pilates? FirstTracks works with numerous clients that offer unique membership and subscriptions to master specific skills. iChess.net offers the largest collection of premium chess content. Check out courses and videos that will get you checkmating the toughest competitors. PilotWorkshop.com delivers online education from award-winning instructors for general aviation pilots. ShadowTrader.net teaches you how to invest in trading markets effectively. Pilatesology.com offers video instruction around pilates for all skill levels. Regardless of who you are shopping for self-improvement through education is a great gift option.
10. Sponsor a Student in Malawi
Shopping for that person who needs nothing? Why not help someone in need as your gift? FirstTracks recently launched the Good Soil Partners website. This unique site lets you sponsor a deserving student in Malawi, one of the poorest countries in the world. Your donation helps to educate, engage, and empower youth and build a stronger future generation. Everyone at FirstTracks loves this gift so much we just bought it for ourselves! Our small company was honored to sponsor a student in Malawi this holiday season. With your generosity, or a special gift to honor someone, you can help Good Soil achieve a goal of 100% sponsorship of their students and help change the future. Sponsoring a student in Malawi makes a truly special gift.
Our Pick:
Sponsor a Student in Malawi
We hope you enjoyed our unique splattering of gift ideas for the 2019 holiday season. In the hustle and bustle of offers and promotions, ugly sweater parties, and endless cookie trays we hope you sitback and enjoy. We are lucky and grateful for the work we do and the company we keep. And now that all your holiday shopping is complete, you can take a moment to reflect, celebrate, and recharge. We wish you and yours the very happiest of holidays!
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