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Gift Ideas from One of a Kind Show – Chicago

One of a Kind Show – Chicago

As you all know, I LOVE the One of a Kind Show – Chicago. I’ve posted, talked, and gushed about it for years…so much so that a group of us head there together each December. I find the best, most unique gifts. And since the holidays don’t automatically end on December 25, I thought I’d give you a few gift ideas from the vendors I love at the show.

Gift Ideas

Have a sweet teen in your life? Try whimsyjewelry.com. When I was at her booth, she told me she was inspired to create her active girls necklaces after watching Zendaya in The Greatest Showman! I not only bought a gift for my niece but a super cute girl jump-roper necklace for ME!

For little people, it can be hard to find the right thing that is also ok for the parent. Enter Ames-based The Bubble Haus. They have the cutest soap paints you’ve ever seen. Your little creative can make art AND get clean using them.

What about that hard-to-buy-for sister/aunt/mom/girlfriend? I can tell you sapahn has JUST the right thing for her. They have all the options you’d ever want for her…or that really stylish him!

Hey guys, trust me she called and she REALLY wants one-of-a-kind jewelry. No matter her style, one of these makers has just the right thing for you. Check out:
lockedandlayered.com
my-prysm.com
allisonmooneydesign.com
crosslyne.com
facebook.com/vintageliz
shoprachb.com

How about that foodie person? If you follow Favorable on Facebook, Instagram, or LinkedIn, which you should, you’ll know this next one. Simply Stoneware has GORGEOUS graters that are unlike anything you’ve seen. They’d be GRATE (pun intended) paired with ginger, garlic, or a chunk of parmesan.

Have that guy who has everything? Well, he doesn’t have a Mistura watch, I promise you that. These incredibly unique watches are even more beautiful in person than you’ll see on the website!

I really could go on and on about all the great makers at this show. Remember, even if you can’t get something for the holidays, you can shop these great small business owners for birthdays, anniversaries, bar/bat mitzvahs, and any other occasion…or you can just call me and I’ll have just the right gift ideas for you.

Until we chat again, Happy Holidays and Happy New Year from Favorable.

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What’s Your Plan for 2023?

It’s budget time!

If the calendar year is your budget year, you are probably waist-deep in the budgeting process. I know I am.  How fun! Revenue projections…  Scheduling major projects and expenses…   Non-profits are holding 2023 dates for fundraisers…  Companies are planning new product announcements… Everyone is looking at marketing and communications, from simple social media tweaks to website overhauls.

There is so much to consider.

Make sure you don’t overlook retention costs and their positive impact on your budget and bottom line.

How are you budgeting for employee, client, customer, or member retention?

According to Forbes, a small increase of only 2% in customer retention is the same as a 10% reduction in costs. That’s hidden savings in your budget that’s easier to implement than going line by line trying to reduce costs.

What can you do?

To make your retention strategy even easier, Favorable offers a turnkey solution. I have worked with many companies to formulate a yearly Connection Plan. My tactical Connection Plan targets thanking and engaging your company’s most important people, including clients, customers, and staff, at a precise pace and schedule.

It’s a true win-win.  I can simplify your budgeting process while also improving the retention rate of your clients, customers, and staff through simple connections and tokens of appreciation.

Until we chat again,
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SIX MONTHS to the Holidays?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?

It seems weird (read: terrifying!) to say it, but we are officially SIX MONTHS away from Christmas and less than that to the holiday season. And with the holidays can come stress. A survey by the American Psychological Association, 38 percent of people said their stress level increases during the holidays. Another survey, by Principal Financial Group, revealed that 53 percent of people feel financially stressed by holiday spending.

But financial stressors aren’t the only ones that happen around the holidays. Pressures on you to be happy, to be everywhere, to find just the right thing…the list goes on and on. What can be done to try to alleviate this year’s stressors when buying gifts for family and friends?

  1. Plan ahead. Start thinking now about who you have to buy gifts for, make a list in your phone’s notes or other list app, and when you are out and about, look for gifts and BUY NOW!
  2. Talk to your family. Do you HAVE to buy gifts this year or can something else be done instead? A trip later in the year? The whole family gives to a charity close to your heart?
  3. Create a reasonable budget…and stick to it. You know where your finances are. Figure out a reasonable budget, whether by person or overall, and stay within it.

And don’t forget your clients, employees, and customers either. Although I would suggest giving gifts at a different time of the year than the holidays if you feel it is best to recognize and thank these people during the holidays, a very similar 3-step process can be followed.

  1. Plan Ahead. Will you get gifts for all your clients or segments? Will it be one gift for all or a selection of gifts to choose from?
  2. Create a budget. What makes sense as a per-person dollar amount to spend? Is there a limit in your business on what you can spend per client? And back to #1, how many gifts are you buying?
  3. Start ordering early. Don’t let what happened last year affect you this year. Order early to get the best option for gifts and shipping costs.

The best way to avoid the stress of holiday gift-giving for everyone, client, family, or friend? Hire Favorable early and all the gifts are done for you and within that budget! Fill out the contact us form and we can meet to talk about who you need to buy gifts for and the budget for each of them. Then I take ALL THE STRESS away from you. 😊

Until Next Time,

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How to Gift

My gut has always been what I go with when it comes to gifts. I’ll be out for a totally different shopping reason and see something that screams, “MUST GET THIS FOR [insert friend or family member here]!” so I do. Who laughs at my think ahead ability: my husband. He laughs not only because he believes I just buy to buy, but because I have a LARGE gifts-for-other people box. (“Of course it’s for other people! Things you buy for you are called POSSESSIONS., ” says he.)

gifting boxI keep these gifts in a giant plastic box. They come out when a birthday, Christmas, Hanukkah, graduation, etc. happens. Yes, I have forgotten that I have these items at times. But that just means it goes to the next occasion.

I also buy things just because I think they are cool and place them in the gifts-for-other-people box. You’re invited somewhere and need to have a gift for a housewarming, birthday, anniversary?! Check that box for what will work. Major stress-out averted!

But how do I know what to pick up?

I love getting to know what makes a person tick and then shopping for the perfect thing in support of that. I get asked all the time “Where did you get that,” or “That’s just what I needed. How did you know?” I have an uncanny knack for finding great gifts. I get an adrenaline high and so much satisfaction and happiness from seeing people’s reactions to gifts they love.

I also have 5 Things That Make Buying a Gift Easier.

  1. Think about what you have seen the giftee:
    • do,
    • drink,
    • dwell in,
    • dine on, or
    • dress in.
  2. What is the thing you have seen them enjoy THE MOST?
  3. Google a word or phrase that corresponds to what you are thinking of giving and see what unique fun thing pops up.
  4. Pick something in your price range and that the giftee will feel comfortable receiving.
  5. BUY THE THING. Don’t wait too long to make it happen because that severely cuts down your options.

Until next time,

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