In 2020, our ultimate Christmas wish is for social distance and this virus to be gone (cue Montgomery Gentry’s song!) But, whatever the new year brings, we know what we don’t want to see gone—the small businesses that create the products we love in the communities we live in.
It’s been a tough year for all of us. With that in mind and small business in our hearts, we’ve curated a series of gift guides featuring some of our small business clients and a handful of local businesses in each of our four studio cities.
Gifts for Book Lovers
We’re big readers at Circa, and we love our local bookshops: Parnassus in Nashville, Bookbug in Kalamazoo, and M. Judson in Greenville. Here are our top recommended reads of the year (handpicked faves from our staff’s quarterly book club selections).
For the Creative Professional
Herding Tigers
By Todd Henry
“Doing the work and leading the work are very different things. When you make the transition from maker to manager, you give ownership of projects to your team even though you could do them yourself better and faster.”
Our entire team is reading this book as our Q4 book club pick. Henry offers great advice for all creatives wherever they are in their career.
The Brand Flip
FOR THE EAGER ENTREPRENEUR
Marty Neumeier
“A brand isn’t what you say it is – it’s what they say it is. People are no longer consumers or market segments or tiny blips in big data. They don’t buy brands. They join brands. They want a vote in what gets produced and how it gets delivered. They’re willing to roll up their sleeves and help out – not only by promoting the brand to their friends, but by contributing content, volunteering ideas, and even selling products or services.”
Marketing Made Simple
FOR THE RELUCTANT MARKETER
By Donald Miller
“Every day, brands lose millions of dollars simply because they don’t have a clear message that tells consumers who they are and what value they will add to their customers’ lives. This five-part checklist helps marketing professionals and business owners effectively develop, strengthen, and communicate their brand’s story to the marketplace.”
Better Business Writing
FOR THE ACCIDENTAL COPYWRITER
By Bryan A. Garner
“When you’re fumbling for words and pressed for time, you might be tempted to dismiss good business writing as a luxury. But it’s a skill you must cultivate to succeed: You’ll lose time, money, and influence if your e-mails, proposals, and other important documents fail to win people over.”
Gifts for a Happy Home Office
Ah, 2020, the year we all mastered this work from home life, right? Working from the comfort of our home is relative. For some of us, work-from-home quickly became work-from-couch, and even for those of us who managed to create a decent home office (that didn’t destroy our posture), chances are it could use an upgrade.
These comfort-focused gift options are perfect for anyone in a work-from-home rut!
The Oil Jar
Soothe those rough Zoom meetings with custom aromatherapy.
These oils smell great and will boost your immunity, a definite plus after 2020. We love Blaire’s expertise in integrated health (with years of experience and a masters in nursing).
Factory Coffee
STAY CONVENIENTLY CAFFEINATED WITH A COFFEE BOX SUBSCRIPTION.
Baron Fig
TAKE BETTER NOTES, FOCUS ON WHAT MATTERS.
Brooklyn Bandanas
BE BE BE PREPARED—THE MOTTO OF THE BANDANA.
A to Z Children’s Books
TO DISTRACT THE KIDS DURING CONFERENCE CALLS.
The Tattered Traveler
LANDSCAPE ART TO ADORN YOUR HOME OFFICE.
Romeo Apothecary
SASSY SUCCULENTS TO LIVEN UP YOUR SPACE
Gift an Experience
Virtual classes and in-person activities make great gifts for do-ers, adventure-seekers, and try-something-newers.
HIIT by Heidi
GO ON A DIGITAL FITNESS JOURNEY
HIIT X Heidi, our Nashville fitness fave, now offers an eight-week workout program so you can get in shape with Heidi Egloff no matter where you live.
Anne Blair Brown
Learn the art of impressionist painting
No matter where you are on your creative journey, Anne Blair Brown is an extraordinary guide. Perfect for budding artists or anyone that enjoys painting (or wants to learn), Anne’s courses are now digital, so you can learn from anywhere.
Holiday Special: Anne is selling original paintings with Leiper’s Creek Gallery to support Second Harvest Food Bank of Middle Tennessee.
Projet Chocolat
A MEMORABLE EXPERIENCE
Sophia Rea creates a memorable experience introducing others to the delectable world of chocolate. Available for Zoom special events and private tastings, we guarantee you this will be the most delicious gift of the year.
The Cook's Station
FOR THE FOODIES
The Cook’s Station is the destination for anyone with a passion for food. From beginner classes of learning how to make sushi to cake decorating, your foodie friend will thank you!
Send a Gift Card
If you’re struggling to shop this year, digital gift cards are a great way to shop local from a safe social distance. We’ve hand-picked some of our fave local places with easy, e-gift card options that you can buy, personalize, and schedule for e-delivery from the comfort of your couch.
Twenty Sided Store
FAMILY GAME NIGHT ANYONE?
Twenty Sided Store is a Brooklyn-based one-stop gaming shop, and their online store makes a 20S GC perfect for gamers everywhere.
The Book Shop
FOR THE READERS
Terrapin Kalamazoo
WORLDWIDE IMPORTS
Terrapin sells clothes, jewelry, and wares with an Earthy vibe and global flair in downtown Kalamazoo. Their curated gift sets are perfect for anyone who is a traveler at heart.
West End Coffee Roasters
FOR THE CONNOISSEURS
Gifts That Give Back
Generosity abounds at the holidays, and with the added challenges of this year, charitable gifting is an especially thoughtful gesture. With so many important causes in our communities, no matter who you’re shopping for, odds are there’s a cause close to home that’s near and dear to their heart.
Here are some of Circa’s favorite local non-profits and online shops with charitable benefits we love.
The Humane Society
Fighting Animal Cruelty Wherever it’s found
The Humane Society of the United States is one of the largest and most recognized organizations working to prevent animal cruelty—pets, farming, science, and wildlife—and our local chapters rely on public donations to fund all of their services.
Gift Your Local Humane Society Chapter:
Safe Harbor
ELIMINATING DOMESTIC VIOLENCE
Safe Harbor offers a continuum of services for survivors of domestic violence and their children in South Carolina counties.
St. Luke's Diaper Bank
PEACE OF MIND
Can-Do Kitchen
A LOCAL INCUBATOR FOR FOOD BUSINESS
Bread & Honey
SOULFUL INSPIRATION
Spiritual blogger, minister, and mother of six, Farrell Mason shares weekly prayers, reflections, and family wisdom on her blog, Living Soulfully. Proceeds from her store—a collection of original books and small gifts —are donated to childhood cancer research.
The Tennessee Kidney Foundation
EMPOWER AND SUPPORT
More to read …
Logo File Field Guide
Learn about logo files and how and where to use them. If you just got fresh brand assets from Circa, consider this your official logo un-boxing cheat sheet.
Working Hard from Home
Collaborating remotely with your team can be tough. While digital teamwork will never replace in-person in our book, with practice, it can be a great way to work.
Building An A+ Asset Library
We’ve prepared the following checklist of asset essentials to always have on hand that will make your marketing efforts quick and easy.