With the holidays fast-approaching, you may be searching for unique gift ideas for your friends, family, or maybe as a little treat to yourself! Whoever you’re shopping for, we’ve got you covered when it comes to vegan-friendly products and other gift recommendations, so you can feel good about what you’re gifting.
Gift Ideas From Local NJ Businesses
If you’re shopping for unique holiday gifts, why not take the opportunity to support a local business? Good news: you can shop many small NJ businesses online from the comfort of your home! Here are some of our favorites whose offerings would make a perfect holiday gift.
LisetteArt Shop
Founded by an animal-loving NJ-area artist, LisetteArt Shop only sells goods that are ethically made with vegan-friendly materials. If you have someone on your list who’s hard to shop for because they already “have it all,” one of Lisette’s original, one-of-a-kind art pieces or unique accessories may be just the thing to delight them. And the best part: when you purchase from Lisette’s shop, a portion of the proceeds go toward helping animals! Check out the Giving Back page on their website to learn more about what animal organizations they support.
Binnie & Clode
Named after its founder Frederico’s two beloved cats, Binnie & Clode Co. produces small-batch, premium candles and more in Rutherford, NJ. All products are vegan, cruelty-free, and come with the bonus of knowing 5% of all profits are donated to animal rescues and/or environmental organizations. Not to mention shipping is carbon neutral! If you need a gift for someone who loves to make their space or themselves smell good, one of Binnie & Clode’s heavenly-smelling candles, diffusers, room sprays, roll-on fragrances, or beard oils will surely make the perfect gift.
Lotus La Vie
For the skincare lover who also cares about animals and the planet, Lotus La Vie’s luxe skincare products make the ultimate gift. All items they sell are cruelty-free, vegan, non-toxic, and packaged in eco-friendly, 100% recyclable glass packaging. Offerings include body butters and scrubs, face and body oils, luxury creams, and soap bars all made from high-quality, earth- and skin-friendly ingredients. Items are made in NYC, so this one’s not quite an NJ recommendation, but still awesome!
Family Band Hot Sauce
Shopping for a foodie friend or family member? They might just love a small-batch hot sauce from Family Band Hot Sauce. All of their hot sauces are made in New Jersey and are all-natural, vegan, and gluten-free. With creative, mouth-watering flavors spanning all different levels of heat like Caribbean Scorpion, Black & Blueberry Habanero, and Ghost Chipotle, you really can’t go wrong. Purchase online (free shipping over $50!) or in-person at Schaefer Farms in Flemington, NJ.
Misunderstood Whiskey
The Misunderstood Whiskey brand was started by two friends in Montclair, NJ, and has grown to be enjoyed nationwide! Though the business began in New Jersey, all products are blended and bottled in Bardstown, Kentucky, and are gluten-free and vegan-friendly. The brand recently launched their Oatrageous oatmilk-based line of liquors as well as Misunderstood Oat Nog. These or the Misunderstood Ginger Spiced Whiskey would make perfect holiday gifts for the fancy-cocktail connoisseur or whiskey enthusiast in your life.
Geaux Jewelry
Not only does Geaux Jewelry offer beautifully handcrafted sterling-silver and bronze charms, but what’s really cool is that the brand’s designer, Margot Goldberg, can custom-design pieces to bring a client’s unique vision for a meaningful gift to life. If you’re shopping on short notice, items available for purchase on the brand’s website include vegan- and animal-themed charms, charms featuring spiritual and faith symbols, cords and chains, and more. If you want to check them out in person, head over to the Events page on their website to find out where in NJ they’ll be next.
Glow Skincare Studio
Some may balk at the idea of giving or receiving a gift certificate for the holidays, but who could complain if it’s for a soothing massage or facial at Glow Skincare Studio? This vegan-owned wellness studio in Haddonfield, NJ, is the perfect place to recover from the stress of the holiday season. Treat yourself, or grab a gift certificate for someone who could use a little rest and relaxation. All treatments are toxin-free, cruelty-free, and fully plant-based. It’s worth the trip no matter where in NJ (or beyond) you’re located!
Other Gift Ideas
Experience Gifts
I’m a big believer that some of the best gifts aren’t physical items at all. I love a good experience gift that allows me to spend more quality time with friends or loved ones. Take me to a concert or a show, on an excursion or weekend getaway, or to a fancy (vegan) restaurant for an elevated meal, and I’m a happy girl. If you’re trying to figure out what to get someone in your life who isn’t big into physical gifts, treating them to an experience instead may be the way to go.
Donations
In a similar vein, someone who has concerns about accumulating more “stuff,” or the environmental impacts of said stuff, may appreciate a donation to one of their favorite charities in lieu of a physical gift. If you know that someone on your list is especially passionate about a cause or organization, making a donation on their behalf or even offering to volunteer with them could be an extra special gift.
Hand-Made Items
Got a talent for knitting, baking, or art? Maybe you’re great at flower-arranging, jewelry-making, or woodworking? You might want to consider putting your talents to use to create a heartfelt gift for someone in your life who would appreciate knowing their gift was made by you, especially for them. Thoughtful personalized items or items tailored to people’s specific likes and interests can make great, memorable gifts that will be loved for years to come!
Comentarios