Side Hustler’s Gift Guide 2021
Below are this year's top 10 gifts (priced low to high) for the solopreneur, small biz owner or side hustler in your life (or maybe even in you!).
—STOCKING STUFFERS
01
"I Am" Daily Affirmations App
I discovered this app through a friend and now it's a part of my daily routine and homescreen. Everyday at 10am it sends me a positive message or affirmation for the day. It also comes with a widget that can be fully customized with different backgrounds and fonts. Considering how much time we (and especially entrepreneurs) spend on their phones, this creates some peace, pause, and reflection amidst the chaos of emails, notifications and social media updates we're used to.
02
Digital Business Cards
More digital business card products that use
NFC technology have been popping up lately.
I've heard mixed reviews on how well different
products work, but I still think it could make
a great stocking stuffer for a small business
owner to try out. And no, this doesn't mean business
cards are going away. It's still a great option
to have a QR code on your printed card for those without
the NFC technology or simply a traditionally printed
card (because is it really that hard for us to type these days?).
But, an NFC card could be a fun tech add-on and gift
for the tech-saavy small business owner.
—PLANNING + PRODUCTIVITY
03
Ugmonk Analog Starter Kit
While I've moved most of my calendars, task lists and planning to cloud-based tools like Asana, there's still a very analog part of my brain that I've found the perfect everyday tool for. And how fitting, that it's called "Analog" by Ugmonk.
It is a beautifully designed productivity system that serves as a physical companion to your digital tools. It helps you prioritize and focus on your most important tasks for the day or week by way of beautiful cards to write lists on. It comes with a gorgeous holder that allows you to prop a single card at a time to focus your work.
As a nomad, I take my Analog system everywhere I go to create ritual and routine around my work no matter which city or coffee shop I find myself working in.
04
Cloth + Paper Planners
Ok, but if you are a fully analog kind of person and love a planner...look no further.
If you know me, you know that I have been a
stationery addict for FOR-E-EVER.
And this is basically the line of stationery that I wish I created.
It's ultra minimalist yet features fully
functional products that I've been using forever
from Asia---from thin Japanese pens to brush pens
for highlighting to transparent neutral toned
post-its and stickies. They even have a
subscription box and beginner bundles to
get anyone started on curating their dream planner. Their monthly subscription box would make a stunning holiday gift for the new year.
05
Twemco Wall Clock
I am so obsessed with these vintage wall
clocks made by a small Hong Kong company since 1968.
They come in a bunch of beautiful colors and languages
(I really want the Chinese or German one). They'd make
such a cool addition to a studio, office or home and
they'll keep the entrepreneur in your life on time and
in style.
—SELF-CARE
07
Meal Service
So I am terrible at cooking and making sure
I eat and drink when I'm focused on a project, as I think many entrepreneurs can relate.
I also personally hate cooking, so I think a
great gift for the busy business owner (or anyone, really)
is a meal subscription package. It'll give them one less thing to worry
about and make sure the are taking care of themselves while taking care of
business.
I linked Freshly here because their meals are
just heat and eat in 2-3 minutes.
I'm the type of person that doesn't even want you
to give me the ingredients and a recipe.
But there are a ton of other services that
provide you different cooking and dietary options.
I found a really great review of all of them
here.
08
Massage + Cupping
Still on the list this year and every year, because self-care is so critical to the stressed-out solopreneur or small biz owner...and a spa day or massage session always makes me feel 1000% percent better.
09
Naipo Massager
So many of us entrepreneurs are working long hours,
sometimes sitting at a computer and it wrecks your
neck, shoulders and back—
most especially under the stress of running
your own business.
One thing I've found helpful for winding down at the end of
every long day is this electric massager. It heats up, has lots of
different buttons for changing speed, direction and pressure
and I use it for feet, calves, hands, arms... I mean, just do yourself (or your giftee)
a favor and grab this on Amazon.
(P.S. It's almost always on sale, so don't buy it full price.)
—BRAND YOU
06
Moo Gift Card
Moo offers so many high-quality printed products
for small businesses. It's where I'd say 90% of my clients
print things.
A gift card from Moo could go a long way for an entrepreneur to print business cards,
gift certificates, packaging and more.
