Part of the joy of the holiday season is the exchanging of thoughtful gifts with the people we love and who touch our lives. We asked our attorneys for their best tips on holiday gift-giving and any apps or companies they recommend to help lower the stress of finding that perfect gift.
1. The older I get, the more I have started gifting experience-related things – like massages, airline gift cards, gift cards for fresh flowers, axe throwing, golf, etc. It seems like most people have plenty of things and just need to enjoy life more.
– Jennifer P. Keller, President and COO, Johnson City
2. Lula's Garden for client gifts. Beautiful succulents, which stand out from all of the food.
– Kelly M. Preteroti, Shareholder, Baltimore
3. Because of my love of books and the fact that we have an amazing independent bookstore in Birmingham, Alabama Booksmith, where they only sell signed first editions, I routinely load up on favorite books I read during the past year or "coffee table" type books to give as gifts. Since we have some James Beard recognized restaurants in Birmingham, I also send signed cookbooks from these award-winning chefs around the country as gifts.
– Timothy M. Lupinacci, Chairman and CEO, Birmingham
4. Drawstring Christmas gift bags from HX-Life Store.
– Angie Davis, Shareholder, Memphis
5. I'm a huge fan of $5 – 10 Starbucks gift cards. You can buy a package of five to ten holiday themed ones (shaped as snowflakes or presents in past years). You can also use the Starbucks app to send them electronically. I love sending these small tokens with our runners, receptionists, etc., really anyone that needs a little caffeine pick-me-up and holiday cheer.
– Daisy Karlson, Associate, Birmingham
6. I give clients a small case with the Baker Donelson logo on the outside filled with various electronic charging connectors. Very well received. This year I may add a small charging "brick" that you can use if you do not have access to an outlet.
– Sheila P. Burke, Strategic Advisor, Washington, D.C.
7. When buying a holiday gift for a client, purchase something that they will know comes from you. It is okay to be repetitive if the client is looking forward to getting the gift. For me, it is Christie Cookies. They are distinctly Nashville and people look forward to them.
– Mark A. Baugh, Shareholder, Nashville
8. We receive so many "things." We accumulate so much "stuff" because, a lot of times, we love the gift-giver – not necessarily the gift itself. But, the best things in life aren't things. Give something that brings joy then "disappears": a gift card, a candle, a set of stationery, a trip, an experience, a fitness class, a spa treatment, a round of golf, or something delicious.
– Laura E. Collins, Associate, Baltimore
9. Use Amazon Prime and ship it to the office so your family doesn't see the package when it arrives at home. It's like a magical Santa Claus.
– Christy Tosh Crider, Shareholder, Nashville
10. For kids, the World Wildlife Fund "adopt an animal" gift has worked out well for me on several occasions. It's a good blend between an "open-able" gift and a donation to a charity. It comes with a stuffed animal version of the animal being adopted, plus a fact sheet. And you can buy it online.
– Emily R. Billig, Associate, Baltimore
11. For unusual gifts, I go to museums online – even foreign ones – to find a cool gift. My current favorite is the Prado gift shop, where you can search by artist, item, or collection. My all-time favorite is The Met. You can also choose your own local museum to shop live and save on shipping.
– Karen Blake, Attorney, Nashville
12. I always love to send comforting and fun food treats during the holidays, particularly if a friend, co-worker, or client is feeling under the weather. One of my go-to companies is Spoonful of Comfort. They sell delicious soups, rolls, and cookies. I also like sending a bit of Florida to my out-of-state friends. Joe's Stone Crab in Miami puts together incredible packages of their stone crabs and you can even get their famous key lime pie. For sweet treats, I love Tiff's Treats (the cookies are incredible!), mini cupcakes from Baked by Melissa, or a jar of Nam's Bits.
– Dena H. Sokolow, Shareholder, Tallahassee
13. I follow a few "bloggers" and "influencers" who usually create gift guides. One of my favorites is The Everygirl. Great gift ideas and some under-budget, too. I also follow a woman on Instagram who maintains an account called "things.i.bought.and.liked." Her account features items that she has bought and helpful posts about whether she likes or doesn't like them. It helps that she's also pretty funny!
– Locke Houston Waldrop, Associate, Memphis