Gift Ideas for Freelancers & Creative Business Owners
Whilst I know it may seem a little early to be preparing for Christmas, you’d be amazed at how far in advance some people plan their gift giving!
I personally am NOT one of those people. I refuse to do anything Christmassy until December 1st, but I know that many people are a lot more prepared than I am, so I thought I’d share this list over here in early November just to catch the more organised ones of you!
This is a little bit different to my usual blog posts and articles on marketing how tos, freelance advice and brand & design tips, but I think showing appreciation to the business owners, entrepreneurs, freelancers and creatives around you can go a long way at Christmas time! Rather than buying random non-personal things in a panic, or novelty presents that never get used, I am ALL about practicality for gift-giving.
I’m a super minimal person who hates clutter and waste, so I always try to be really intentional when I buy gifts for people. And what better way to be super intentional than to buy your freelance friends something really thoughtful to help support them in their success. Below is a list of my best suggestions… (+ everything listed costs under £100!).
Tech
Wireless headphones
One of my absolute favourite gifts from last year are my House of Marley wireless headphones*; I wear them every single day, whether I’m out with the dogs or recording my podcast. The sound quality is great, they look stylish (and on-brand!), plus they’re made from recycled & sustainably sourced materials.
Portable battery charger
Business owners use their phones a LOT, and when you’re using Instagram or Insta Stories to market your business this drains your battery like nothing else. A slimline portable battery charger* is the perfect stocking stuffer gift!
Extra long charging cable
Talking of stocking stuffers, this extra long 2m iPhone charging cable* is one of my new favourite things! Everyone also loses their chargers so it’s a super handy gift, plus the length is so good for those back of the sofa, hard-to-reach plug sockets.
Tile
Perfect for the chaotic freelancer you know who always loses their stuff, the Tile* allows you to keep track of your things in a super slick, neat way.
Echo dot
Know a busy freelancer who’s always run off their feet? The Echo Dot* is one of the most stylish, affordable ways of bringing the usefulness of ‘Alexa’ into your home! With just your voice, you can ask Alexa to pay songs from the speaker, tell you the weather, call people, set alarms, and control smart home devices.
Office / working from home essentials
Good quality pens
I don’t know about you but a new, premium pen* makes me feel super motivated to work!
desk pad / planner
Everyone loves stationary, but why not skip the plain notebooks and go straight for the actionable kind of planner that will really help with your freelancer’s organisation. Try one of these:
Daily Planner Deskpad (A5) - with to-do list, hydration tracker, goals, gratitude list and more. £4.99
Weekly Planner Deskpad (A4) - plan your week by the day. £9.99
Large water bottle
Even though we all know we should be stopping for regular breaks when working at our desks, it rarely works like that does it? Make sure your freelancer friend is staying hydrated during long stints at the desk with a large water bottle (maybe with a fancy infuser too!)*.
Oil diffuser
Running your own business is stressful, but creating the right working environment can help put you into a relaxed state. Giving a stylish oil diffuser* and some calming essential oils as a home office gift might mean the world to someone!
slippers
It gets chilly working from home in Winter! Warm feet = happy freelancer, so a cute pair of slippers* will always go down a treat.
Cafetiere
A good quality French Press* is the only way to brew a beautiful at-home coffee - a must-have for busy business owners!
Business improvement
Online course
Investing in your skills & your business is something a lot of freelancers forget to do or think they can’t afford to do when starting out, so why not help them out? Give them the gift of up-levelling their business with new skills from a self-paced online course like these ones:
Software subscription
Every freelancer has expenses associated with running their business, and all those software subscriptions can really add up! One of the kindest gift gestures could simply be offering to pay for 3, 6 or 12 months worth of someone’s software subscription for them - it could really help out. Below are some examples that you might be able to help with:
Tailwind* (Pinterest scheduling software)
Later (Instagram scheduling software)
Adobe CC* (design & editing software)
Dropbox* (cloud storage software)
Magazine subscription
This may be something your freelancer hasn’t thought of before, as it may seem too much like a leisure expense and a luxury - but that’s what gift giving is all about! Try finding a trade magazine or something relevant to their business; whether it’s graphic design, interior design, business, or illustration!
Workshop / event ticket
Whether it’s an industry event, conference, tradeshow, or a local workshop to help them improve their skills, any help towards purchasing tickets to these types or events can be so helpful for taking their business to the next step. Try Eventbrite to find ones local to you!
Books
Kindle and / or kindle subscription
I love my Amazon Kindle*! Not only does it make all my books slightly cheaper, it’s also super easy to travel with and bring with me on-the-go. Starting from just over £50, there are lots of different types, but if your friend already has one - why not suggest you pay for a Kindle Unlimited Subscription* for them for a few months? This subscription allows them to read as many books as they like within the £7.99 per month fee - great value for quick readers!
This is marketing by seth godin*
How to style your brand / brand brilliance by Fiona humberstone*
Profit first by Michael michalowicz*
Superfans by Pat Flynn*
Mindset by Carol dweck*
free to focus by Michael Hyatt*
big magic by Elizabeth gilbert*
calm the F**k down by Sarah Knight*
The Multi-hyphen method by Emma Gannon*
On the go
Laptop Sleeve
For many of us freelancers, our laptops are our key business assets! That means keeping them safe from bumps, knocks & scratches in imperative. My favourite laptop sleeves are from Wouf - they’re super protective and come in a HUGE range of gorgeous designs to choose from.
Coffee shop voucher
Sometimes when you work from home you just need to get out of the house. Help a freelancer out and give them a voucher for their favourite coffee shop with internet so they can escape for a couple of hours!
travel organiser
I adore my vegan leather travel organiser from indie makers, Lorton & Horn. I store my passports, flight tickets, Kindle, pen, headphones and charging cables in here to keep everything super organised.
Collapsible travel mug
I have one of these collapsible coffee mugs* that I keep in my handbag at all times; it' folds down super small and I find it way easier to transport than other reusable coffee takeaway cups, and it means I can fuel up while being kind to the planet!
What’s on your gift wish list this Christmas?
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