6 Kinds of Gifts Unaffected by Supply Chain
This year’s holiday season is clouded with a question: Will gifts arrive on time? According to NerdWallet’s 2021 Holiday Shopping Report, 68% of Christmas shoppers expect supply chain logjams to cause items on their list to be unavailable this year.
But there’s good news for this year’s holiday shoppers: You can still shop for, wrap and give presents from a handful of categories without worrying about them getting stuck on a container ship.
“This is a year to be more creative in your gift-giving,” says Kerri Camp, associate professor of marketing at The University of Texas at Tyler. “Money is tight for many people, and the cost of goods has gone up, but you can give things that aren’t as reliant on the supply chain.”
LOCAL PRODUCTS & SERVICES
Now is the time to go local. Tampa Bay’s local businesses have all their goods in stock and they want to sell them. It also supports your community. “We all did a lot of Amazon last year and are feeling like we want to support community businesses so they don’t disappear,” says Michelle Madhok, online shopping expert and founder of SheFinds. In fact, NerdWallet says 35% of holiday shoppers plan to shop small this year. This category also includes experiences: Think tickets to the Henry B Plant Museum or Tampa Theatre, a restaurant gift card or a certificate to one of Tampa’s many spas offering a full range of world-class therapies.
EDIBLE & PERISHABLE GOODS
“We aren’t seeing supply chain disruptions on airplanes, so it’s much easier to get food items,” Camp says. You can also purchase subscriptions for food, flowers, coffee, and so much more at sites like Amazing Clubs, and your recipients will receive fun deliveries all year long. 1-800-Flowers vice president Kathleen Waugh says her company has prepared for strong demand this season. They offer one-stop shopping for products from Harry & David, Shari’s Berries and many other specialty shops. Your recipient can even exchange your gift electronically before it’s sent—perfect for when you weren’t aware of an allergy or food-sensitivity.
HANDCRAFTED GOODS
At Etsy, the undisputed queen of online marketplaces for handmade goods, many sellers make items from their workshops with supplies that are locally sourced or already on hand. Shoppers can also easily message sellers to confirm that items are available for timely shipping. Brandi Ann and Rodrigo Salinas of Forth Myers, who run the Whimsy Tree Lane shop at Etsy, make wooden toys like peg dolls and painted forests. “International stocks don’t affect us because we sell what is already available,” says Brandi. “A handmade business can adjust.”
MADE IN THE USA
At the Made In America Store, hundreds of toys, games and more are ready to ship. “We don’t need anything off a shipping container,” says Mark Andol, founder of the store based in upstate New York, “so my advice for shoppers is to think about buying US-made things this year.” The playthings at Made in America include yo-yos, trucks, puzzles and games—but not electronics, which Camp says is especially beneficial for kids this year. “Kids have been inundated with electronics over the last year and a half, and it’s a good time to get back into arts and crafts, games, books, science experiments—things that enhance their creativity,” she says.
DIGITAL GIFTS
In a perfect world, we'd get to be with the people we love most when gift-giving time rolls around. But sometimes we can't be there, no matter how much we want to be. And sometimes even when we are with the ones we love, a digital gift for a virtual activity sounds like just the thing. “This is the year of the downloadable gift,” Madhok says. You can give an online subscription, custom digital art or even a virtual wine tasting! Madhok recommends pairing digital gifts with something tangible you can wrap, such as combining a Netflix gift card with a fun bowl and popcorn, or pairing a certificate to a virtual wine tasting with a few bottles of wine.
DONATIONS IN THE NAME OF YOUR RECIPIENT
Donating to charity in someone’s name is especially appreciated if it lines up with the recipient’s interests, Thomas says. “We’ve seen a shift away from mass consumerism since 2019, and the end of the year is always a great time financially to give.” The best advice when it comes to this year’s holiday shopping? Be patient with your shopping list, have a backup plan and shop early.
Carrie Rowland is an Accredited Buyer’s Representative,® Certified Probate Real Estate Specialist,® Military Relocation Professional,® Graduate of the Realtor Institute® and a Realtor-Associate at RE/MAX Alliance Group in South Tampa
