Holiday shopping can be a challenge. For some people on our list — from those who already have it all to those who say they want nothing — it’s just tough to know what to buy.
In other cases, we may simply struggle to come up with the perfect gift idea for someone special.
Whatever the reason, these off-the-beaten-path retailers offer gifts that anyone on your list is sure to remember.
1. Brookstone
This online and brick-and-mortar retailer sells gadgets and gifts of every kind — from gadgets you can control with a smartphone app to body massagers.
Brookstone’s products tend to be on the more expensive side, but the retailer often offers sales leading up to the holidays.
Additionally, you can often find discounted gift cards for Brookstone — and some other retailers on this list — at gift card marketplaces like Raise.com and Cardpool.com. The comparison website Gift Card Granny will tell you which marketplace is selling which retailer’s gift card at the best price at any given time.
2. Etsy
This online marketplace allows artists, crafters and other creators to sell handmade items — and resell vintage items — directly to e-shoppers.
From custom jewelry to retirement gifts, Etsy offers almost too many handmade options to choose from. If you’re not sure what you’re looking for, check out the gift guides or consider a gift card.
3. Old Time Candy Co.
Chances are good that this online store stocks the candy your gift recipients remember eating as a kid. You’ll find sweets from every decade from the pre-1920s through the 1990s.
4. Out of Print
This online retailer sells great gifts for the bookworms in your family and circle of friends. Its mission is to transform “literary classics into bookish apparel and accessories.”
If you know a gift recipient’s favorite writer or book, you can shop by book author or book title.
5. Simplehuman
This company describes its products as “tools that help people become more efficient at home.” Its focus on simplicity and functionality makes Simplehuman a good place to shop for people who are hyper-organized or who recently moved into a new home or will soon do so.
I can vouch for the wall-mount paper towel holder and sensor-operated soap dispensers, which help keep my counters cleaner for longer.
6. The Grommet
This website — a personal favorite — describes itself as a place to find undiscovered products that are “worth buying.”
The Grommet is also unique in that its products are sorted into categories that represent personal values — such as “Made in the USA,” “Sustainable Living” and “Independent Makers,” for example. For more ways to shop this site, check out the gift guides.
7. The Unemployed Philosophers Guild
This website is a great place to shop for intellectual gift recipients who appreciate philosophy, psychology, politics or puns.
RetireMints, anyone? The sweets promise to “put that needed pep in every retiree’s step.” What about Trump’s Executive Orders sticky notes? They promise to “make your memos great again.”
8. ThinkGeek
This online store sells all kinds of things for all kinds of nerds. You’ll find everything from a Star Wars Death Star waffle maker to Harry Potter lounge pants.
9. UncommonGoods
This online store’s unique gifts reflect its focus on creative design, craftsmanship and innovation. Take for example plush internal organs, dachshund-shaped oil and vinegar bottles, and an “F bomb” paperweight.
If you get stumped, the gifts section allows you to narrow options based on details such as the person for whom you are shopping or the amount you want to spend.
10. Vat19
Perhaps you’ve seen this company’s TV commercials featuring its 5-pound gummy bears. Its website explains:
“At Vat19, we only have one rule: If we sell a product, it’s got to be curiously awesome.”
From Vat19’s home page, you can shop by category, recipient or price.
For more gift ideas, check out:
- “15 Terrific Gift Ideas for People Who Have Everything“
- “8 Holiday Gifts for Women Under $30“
- “9 Holiday Gifts for Men Under $30“
What’s your favorite place to shop for unique gifts? Let us know by commenting below or on our Facebook page.
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