Be a Gift-Giving Pro: Shops & Gift Ideas for Every Type of Friend [Editor’s Picks]

The holiday season is here, and your shopping list is in urgent need of attention and inspiration. So, if you set out to get the most personal, thoughtful gifts for your friends and family — only to end up scrambling at the last minute for personalized keychains or some other less-than-ideal present — we hear you. Fortunately, there’s no need to panic this year because we’re here to help you with gift ideas for every type of friend you might have — especially those who are difficult to shop for.

To that end, we’ve created a curated list of online stores that are not only unique, quirky or just plain endearing, but that also show their commitment to their customers, as well as to values such as supporting small businesses, artists and craftsmen; sustainability; and ensuring high-quality goods. Moreover, we feature the stores and shops that people love the most — with lots of followers on social media — as well as some undiscovered gems that are sure not to disappoint. So, check them out below and fill in the blanks on your holiday shopping list.

Gift Ideas for the Friend Who Loves Fashion

• Summersalt
  • Luxury clothing & accessories
  • Social media followers: 385,000

For a special, luxurious gift for your loved ones, Summersalt offers cozy, comfortable and perfectly fitted options from loungewear to sleepwear. Collections include cozy cashmere sweaters and chic loungewear for your friend to relax in and feel glamorous. And, for that friend who loves summer — even in December — they also have a stylish swimwear collection.

• Logan + Lenora
  • Travel bags & accessories
  • Social media followers: 81,000

For your friends who love to travel, Logan + Lenora has amazing travel bag collections that are created with a sustainable fabric made from recycled plastic and crafted locally in Denver. Whether you’re looking for fanny packs, pouches, or even stylish and comfortable work bags for those who have plenty of stuff to carry, Logan + Lenora has it all.

• Rothy’s
  • Shoes & bags
  • Social media followers: 740,000

Rothy’s sells sustainable and fashionable shoes and bags. The company is committed to sustainability and uses a signature thread made of recycled plastic in its bags and accessories. Its products are also washable and durable, so they last a long time and serve their purpose. For your friends who are wary of what they wear and want to minimize their environmental impact, this might be the perfect gift.

• Cuyana
  • Luxury clothes & accessories
  • Social media followers: 396,000

Cuyana is the place to shop for luxurious, timeless gifts for your sophisticated loved ones. Its items are made with premium materials — including cashmere and leather — and incorporate exquisite craftsmanship. From bags, wallets, and jewelry cases to clothes, scarves and beanies, you’ll have plenty of items to choose from.

Gift Ideas for the Friend Who Loves Self-Care

 

• Olive and June
  • Nail polish & accessories
  • Social media followers: 543,000

For the friend who’s in love with nails, Olive and June has the perfect gift. In addition to its predefined sets and holiday specials, you can also customize your own set to create the perfect gift for your loved one. Here, you can find everything mani and pedi — from care and essentials all the way to polish and press-ons.

• Homesick
  • Organic, scented candles
  • Social media followers: 214,000

Nothing says cozy more than scented candles. And, for your friend who loves to relax and recharge with a self-care routine, Homesick’s natural soy, wax blend, scented candles and fragrance oils are the perfect gift. A high-quality fragrance is a powerful tool for relaxation and creating a comfortable and luxurious atmosphere in your home at any moment.

Gift Ideas for the Friend Who Loves Tiny Surprises

• Small Packages
  • Care packages
  • Social media followers: 7,900

Care packages are the perfect way to show your loved ones you, well, care about them! And, Small Packages is truly an undiscovered gem that we’re so excited to bring to you. They’ve designed care packages for many different occasions — whether it’s something great to celebrate or something not so great that your friends might be going through. The company even has a special holiday self-care package that makes for a perfect, all-encompassing gift when you’re unsure of what to choose.

• GiftTree
  • Gift baskets
  • Social media followers: 26,000

Gift baskets are timeless and bring together a little bit of everything for a prolonged feeling of joy in discovering every piece of content. Plus, the baskets from GiftTree are fit for various interests, profiles and budgets, so start browsing to find the perfect option!

• Cratejoy
  • Miscellaneous gift boxes
  • Social media followers: 240,000

Cratejoy is a simple and elegant solution for when you’re feeling clueless about what to give. The company has all sorts of crates — one-time only or subscription-based — ranging from arts and crafts (both for kids and adults) and toys to plants; gourmet food and drinks; self-care; and more. This can be the place where you find something for everyone on your list.

• Chatbooks
  • Photo books & prints
  • Social media followers: 978,000

Chatbooks helps you turn a priceless memory into a tangible, unique gift. These gifts are perfect for many occasions and fit for many friends, including parents and grandparents. Create photo books in different shapes and sizes — from pocket-sized mini books to lay-flat photo books to place on your coffee table. Or, for someone who just loves a good gallery wall, get your pictures printed on adhesive tiles.

Gift Ideas for the Quirky & Whimsical Friend

• Grommet
  • Unique & seasonal items
  • Social media followers: 752,000

The Grommet has a little bit of everything: they curate unique items from local or small companies and make sure they reach you. If you’re unsure what to get for a certain friend, here you can find gift ideas for the holiday season, as well as ideas for practical, unusual, thoughtful or personalized gifts.

• AlwaysFits
  • Seasonal & funny items
  • Social media followers: 308,000

For the eclectic friend who appreciates quirky Christmas gifts, AlwaysFits is the go-to. From ornaments to cards, T-shirts, oven mitts and candles, this place is filled with funny and “punny” amazing finds; super cute illustrations; and many more items meant to make you and your friends smile. Really, you just have to see for yourself.

• Pink Olive
  • Cute & aesthetic items
  • Social media followers: 53,000

Pink Olive is a whimsical shop that’s filled with adorable finds and perfect gifts for everyone, from your nieces and nephews to your best friend. Its candles, accessories, stationery items, calendars and — of course — holiday specials are thoughtful and creative. As a result, you can find an amazing variety of items in eclectic collections — some which you might love even for yourself.

Gift Ideas for the Friend Who Loves Food & Drinks

• Vosges Haut-Chocolat
  • Artisanal chocolate
  • Social media followers: 82,000

For the friends who love chocolate, go above and beyond the simple pralines box. Vosges Haut-Chocolat is not just a delicious treat, but an actual experience of true passion and exquisite artisanship. They are alchemical, experiential chocolate makers, and their collections come in beautifully designed boxes that harness the power of stories and storytelling to inspire their clients.

• Gold Belly
  • Local food & desserts
  • Social media followers: 855,000

Gold Belly is a central station for many independent small businesses catering wholesome food and sweets. For the friend who loves food, you can sure strike gold with a delicious gift on Christmas Day. You can even send some cozy and tasty treats to loved ones who live far away to give them a sweet reminder of your friendship.

• Art of Tea
  • Teas & accessories
  • Social media followers: 63,000

Lovers of tea will rejoice at any gift received from The Art of Tea. It offers loose-leaf, packaged teas, tea-ware and complementary gifts, such as ceremonial tea sets, candles, mugs, sampler packs and even subscriptions. Plus, its aesthetic packaging doubles the luxury of the teas, making for a perfect gift for lovers of high tea.

Gift Ideas for the Friend Who Loves Plants

• The Sill
  • Plants & accessories
  • Social media followers: 983,000

For your plant-lover friends, a lovely green addition to their collection would make for the perfect gift. The Sill has gorgeous plants and accessories, including subscriptions, gift sets and merchandise. It also sells uniquely designed planters and vases; ornaments; and wreaths for the festive season. If you’re unsure what to go for, a unique gift set for a plant parent or a monthly green subscription can be a wonderful surprise.

Gift Ideas for the Friend Who Loves to Play

• Speks
  • Magnets & toys for stress relief
  • Social media followers: 41,000

Toys are not just for kids. In fact, they can be the perfect gift for your stressed-out friends or those who love a good, oddly satisfying product. Speks designs high-quality, tactile products made of magnets and silicone to help you let go of stress; challenge your creativity; and give you a friendly reminder of the importance of remaining present and grounded during all your meetings. These desk toys are next-level in terms of quality and safety, so if you know someone who is at a desk a lot, this might be just perfect for them.

• Jiggy
  • Artistic puzzles & accessories
  • Social media followers: 63,000

Jiggy offers stylish and inspiring puzzles that you can enjoy while putting them together, as well as afterwards as an expression of art and of your triumph! The purpose of Jiggy is to inspire you to take everything one piece at a time — and to experience art in the same way. Every puzzle comes with a reusable glass jar, a tube of puzzle glue, a tool to spread the glue and a print of the artwork. So, this might be the perfect gift for your friend who loves new and eclectic art, as each design is curated from artists, graphic designers and illustrators.

Gift Ideas for the Friend Who Loves Decorations

• Decocrated
  • Home décor subscription boxes
  • Social media followers: 93,000

For your friend who loves interior decoration, Decocrated is a home décor subscription box that caters to seasonal design and offers unique, inspired pieces. Besides the subscription itself, members also gain access to a members-only shop, where they can find exclusive items for their homes.

• Lux Eros
  • Handmade ceramics
  • Social media followers: 15,000

An undiscovered gem, Lux Eros offers handmade ceramics that are locally created in California. Its designs are whimsical and creative, and you can get anything from mugs and plants to vases, burn bowls and candles.

• VivaTerra
  • Artisanal decorations & home items
  • Social media followers: 40,000

VivaTerra is a retailer that brings together talented artisans and products created with mindfulness and care. From decorations and ornaments to rugs and chairs, the company offers products that serve a variety of purposes, all of which also beautify the living space. So, for the friend who loves unique items and truthful craftsmanship, its products might make for the perfect gift.

• Animi Causa
  • Small & fun decorations
  • Social media followers: 6,000

Another underdog, Animi Causa brings together a collection of unique and eclectic small decorations, ranging from vases and scratch maps all the way to quirky little kitchen items, such as fun ladles, pitchers, lid sids, tea infusers, coasters and more.

• Rifle Paper Co.
  • Holiday-themed items
  • Social media followers: 1,315,000

From ornaments to headbands to dog collars, Rifle Paper Co. has everything and anything holiday-themed. Find elegant Christmas cards, cozy candles, advent calendars, gift wrap and more — all with whimsical designs and bold colors to bring a smile to your loved one’s face on Christmas morning.

Gift Ideas for the Friend Who Loves Cozy Fabrics

• We Are Knitters
  • DIY knit kits
  • Social media followers: 1,381,000

For the friend who loves to try new hobbies and DIY projects, We Are Knitters has the perfect gift. Its kits include everything you need to knit your own products: Each kit is designed based on the level, and each one includes yarn (wool or cotton); beechwood needles; patterns with step-by-step instructions; a tapestry needle; and We Are Knitters small merchandise, such as a label and a sticker. In particular, shawls and blankets are the perfect warming gifts for a complete beginner.

• The Tartan Blanket Co.
  • Cozy blankets, scarfs & accessories
  • Social media followers: 58,000

The Tartan Blanket Co. has a selection of blankets, scarves and cashmere accessories that make for perfect gifts for the cold season. And, while these cozy fabrics and textiles are great on their own, The Tartan Blanket Co. also put together special gift boxes for the holidays for everyone on your list. So, find the one that suits your recipient or build your own gift box for that someone special.

• Riley
  • Luxury bedding & bath items
  • Social media followers: 355,000

Riley brings luxury bedding (and more) a little closer to the consumer through the highest quality at affordable prices. It curates the finest textiles from Portugal and works with local and global craftsmen to create luxe collections. From sheets and bed covers to robes and spa towels, gift something from Riley for both the items and the experience it offers.

Have you found all you needed for this year’s Christmas shopping list? We hope this post has helped you with both resources and ideas for all the names on your list. Happy shopping!

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