With only a few short weeks of the holiday season left before we say goodbye to 2021, it's crunch time for finding those gifts for hard-to-buy-for friends and family. We all struggle a little over the holidays - sometimes you just can't find that spark of inspiration.
Well, let us help you find it. We asked our team to write their wishlists for the holidays, so that you can find some amazing stores to shop with that you may not have found otherwise.
Today's list comes from Nick Radford.
Nick is a Staff Engineer at Govalo, based in not-so-sunny San Francsico’s Bay Area. While he wears many hats, most of the time he works on the Govalo Shopify app that merchants use to configure their stores’ integration with our platform. Outside of programming, he’s a big fan of performing arts. In fact before March 2020, he was in two improv comedy groups in San Francisco, performing 5 or 6 shows a month! He also loves listening to a variety of music, watching classic sci-fi flicks, and enjoying a good whiskey over a game of pool.
#1 - Brooklinen - High quality linens and homeware
It’s really no surprise that a few people on our team are looking for some Brooklinen under the tree this year. Their linens and homeware are made with the best materials at a fair price, cutting out the luxury markups so anyone can enjoy the feeling of fresh, high quality linens. Brooklinen’s sheets combine that feeling you get when you stay at a really good hotel with timeless style so you aren’t buying sheets every time you want to change up your room’s decor. They also sell bundles so you can not only save money, but also ensure your bedding matches perfectly with the rest of your room. The ideal gift for really anyone - especially if you know a new homeowner in need of some really good sheets.
Click here to shop - Brooklinen
#2 - Acaia - Professional grade coffee tech
Acaia started in 2013 with a really simple, but challenging, mission - combine sleek design with top-of-the-range technology to improve how we brew and drink coffee. Their original Kickstarter project started with their Pearl scale, and from there they’ve continued to innovate. They collaborate with industry experts and manufacturers to continuously improve their products, and hand-build everything so you know you’re getting equipment designed to last. If you’re on the lookout for the perfect gift for the budding barista looking to step up their home coffee game, this is a sure winner.
#3 - Vida - Designer-led apparel and accessories
Vida is a global partnership of creators - makers, designers, photographers, and every other artistically minded vocation you can think of. Their team handles the production and business side of things, allowing their community to focus on and pursue their passion to make a real living. They work with a worldwide community to create unique design-led apparel, accessories, and homeware that are not only unique, but made with high quality materials and for every piece sold they donate to literacy and education programs around the world.
#4 - United By Blue - Sustainable apparel and lifestyle products
Ocean pollution is one of the most pressing sustainability issues, and United By Blue believe they can help by mobilizing the global community, changing habits, and using commerce for a strong, positive purpose. For every product purchased, United By Blue removes one pound of trash from oceans and waterways, which combined with their community work is making a difference. They sell a range of sustainably manufactured clothes, accessories, and lifestyle products like utensils and water bottles that help their customers to reduce waste and live a little more eco-friendly.
Click here to shop - United by Blue
#5 - Verve Coffee Roasters - Beans, brew equipment, and more
In 2007, founders Ryan and Colby opened their first Verve coffee shop in Santa Cruz, and today they’re one of the best coffee roasters and brewing supply shops on the internet. Inspired by neighborhood street-level cafes in Europe, they wanted to recreate that feeling of community that comes with a cup of coffee - celebrating how coffee unites us internationally. Their ethically sourced coffee beans come in a range of different flavor profiles to suit all palettes, so no matter if your intended recipient likes a dark, chocolatey roast or a lighter, fruity brew, you’ll find the right blend for them. They also sell a variety of brewing equipment, with plenty of education to go along with it. A great gift for a caffeine lover looking to try something new.
