Last-minute easy holiday gift ideas and shopping tips!

The holiday season is a magical time of the year, but it can be a bit overwhelming when it comes to the added pressure of buying gifts for others, especially if you’ve procrastinated on shopping a little longer than you planned for (which seems to happen every year).

So if you haven’t been extremely diligent about prepping gift lists and hitting up those seasonal deals in advance, we’ve compiled some creative, fun, and most importantly—easy—gifts to gather so close to the holidays.

Make sure you keep reading for some last-minute shopping tips as well!

For the wine connoisseur (and party host)…

A bottle of wine is a classic, timeless gift that is sure to be a crowd pleaser and will always go to good use. The trick of making a simple bottle of wine stand out as a thoughtful gift is to get a quality wine with enticing packaging. Even more so, you can add in an extra personal touch with fun wine glasses, wine corks, or bottle openers.

Enovation Brands has a widespread collection of different Italian varietals, all in such beautiful and distinctive bottles. Their unique packaging always steals the show during our Total Wine & More tastings, and consumers are pleasantly surprised when they find their taste and quality to be just as nice as their design!

*SHOPPING TIP #1: Stock up on wine bottles and keep them in your home, or even in your car, to be prepared in unexpected occasions where you’re in need of a gift – for the spontaneous holiday party that you were just invited to, or for the coworker who decided to get the whole office presents. Many stores like Ralph’s have extra discounts for buying in bundles of 6 bottles!

*SHOPPING TIP #2: Take advantage of the abundance of in-store samplings that are happening to be able to taste products and learn more details about the brand before purchasing for gifts! You may even receive extra coupons or be notified of specific product deals.

For the mixologist…

The self-proclaimed cocktail guru, or the one who is always hosting get-togethers at their place, could always use a nice bottle of spirits for all their mixing needs.

You can create the perfect mixologist’s gift basket by adding in a bottle of liquor, like Beluga Vodka or Henrick’s Gin, along with a mixer and cocktail recipe book or your favorite recipe printed out on festive stationary.

For the beer enthusiast…

The craft beer market is booming, and there are always new and innovative varietals being released. *SHOPPING TIP #3: Most stores that sell craft beer (i.e. Ralph’s, Total Wine & More, Trader Joe’s, Cost Plus World Market, etc.) allow you to purchase individual bottles and create your own 6-pack. This is the perfect opportunity to get creative and choose the most unique ones you can find!

Some stand-out, crowd favorite craft beer suggestions:

• New Belgium – Hemperor HPA  | Voodoo Ranger Juicy Haze IPA
• Mike Hess Brewing – 4:59 Little IPA | Habitus Double IPA |Grapefruit Solis Indian Pale Ale 
• Dogfish Head – Dragons & YumYums | Seaquench Ale

For the fine liquor aficionado…

Top shelf whiskeys are always a go-to for refined palettes. Most bottles are also pre-packaged in classy boxes, which creates an added gift element.

Kavalan single malt whisky is unique in that it ages in the hot and humid climate of Yilan, Taiwan. “Prized for their great maturity and complex aromatic profiles, Kavalan whiskies are amongst the most highly awarded at international competitions, with 188 medals won since 2006.”

CNN’sTravel section even featured it in an article, How a Taiwanese whisky became a global favorite, noting that it goes down smooth and sweet, like honey.

For the health nut…

Any gym rat or clean eater with a busy schedule knows the importance of convenient protein,especially when it can be found in all-natural, no-sugar added snacks.

Makeup a fun gift basket with a variety of different protein snacks, like Buff Bake protein sandwich cookies or Health Lab protein and probiotic balls. Add in a cute water bottle or anything workout-related, like a gym tote or sports tank!

For the adventurer/one who has everything…

If you know someone in your life who seems to have everything they need or is an adventure seeker, gift them an experience! Perhaps you can even find something that you could do together, like a spa package, wine tasting, skydiving or yoga. Groupon is a great site to find discounts and deals for all different sorts of activities in your area.

*SHOPPING TIP #4: If you are doing any extra online shopping, make sure you are getting the best deal possible. Some brands have special sales and deals going on that aren’t publicly advertised on their site, so do your research for any hidden coupon codes! Browser extensions such as honey automatically find you all discounts for any e-commerce website that you’re searching on!

Many of the brands listed above have been marketed in the field with Mirus Promotions, Inc. If you want to learn more about how we can support and grow your brand through field marketing, contact us today to set up a call!