Handmade Holiday Gift Ideas for Small Businesses: It’s no secret that tons of big stores are getting hit with supply chain problems, which means that small businesses have a competitive advantage this holiday season! If you haven’t already, remind your customers that they should shop small for their holiday gifts this season because they will not only be supporting small businesses but are also more likely to get their products in time for the big day.
That said, sometimes it can be overwhelming to figure out what, exactly, you should sell as a holiday gift each year so I thought I’d help you out! Here are some suggestions that I know will work, based on what I’ve sold in the past and what I’ve seen trending online. Hopefully, this list of holiday gift ideas will inspire (and prepare) you for the upcoming influx of sales!
Handmade Holiday Gift Ideas
Holiday-themed decor
Listen, themed decorations will never go out of style but the key to setting yourself apart is to embrace the season through YOUR unique vision. How can you own the holiday decor trends? What unique perspective can you add? How can you embrace a small niche and use it to your advantage?
Gift Boxes/Subscriptions
It’s fact of life that some people will wait until the last possible second to do their holiday shopping, so if you can make life easier for them you’re more likely to get the sale! Here’s what that can look like:
- Themed gift baskets
- Pre-Wrapped gifts
- Subscription boxes — these are especially great for last-minute shoppers if you can offer a pretty card or certificate that tells the recipient what is coming and when they will receive it.
Smalls
At a time when the labor market has been hit hard, offering smaller items at a lower price point is a safe bet. Besides, small things are always big sellers in a handmade business! Here are a few options to consider:
- Tiny canvases
- Ornaments – think glass, wood, paper clay, papier mache, etc!
- Wooden utensils
- Cake stands
- Candles/candle holders
- Coasters
- Small signs
- Jewelry
- Gift tags
Customizable Gifts
I know, I know… a lot of us HATE custom work! But there are ways to offer customizable gifts that won’t drive you totally crazy, I promise.
- Make sure it’s easily reproducible. Find one thing that’s easy for you to paint and paint a lot of it. For example, I know one fact that is universally true: dog people love their dogs and everyone in their life will know about it. Make it easy to give pup-themed presents by offering generic dog breed prints or small paintings. The same goes for cars, football teams, etc. These sell even fasted when combined with the next tip…
- Prints… with a twist. Offer your favorite, most popular, or holiday-themed artwork as a print! Offer a customization option, for a fee, that won’t take you a ton of time. Things like adding names, dabbing on a few highlights, or even just a signature.
- Ornaments. If you’re super fast with a paint pen, you can create a bunch of “blank” ornaments and simply add a family name for a quick, easy, custom gift. This works for any style of ornament.
Other Holiday Gift Ideas
Worried you’re running out of time to create handmade products? Don’t fret! There are still a lot of opportunities for you.
Event Tickets
Hosting a post-holiday workshop or event? Make sure to market it as a great gift option! Bonus points if you offer a cute card or certificate that contains all the necessary details for the recipient.
Gift Cards / Certificates / Vouchers
You can go the obvious route and sell gift cards that customers can use in your shop or you can create certificates/vouchers for specific items, like a portrait or other custom item that you may not have time for before the holidays. These are easy to market as versatile, customizable gifts that work well any time of year for any customer!
Prints
Whether you offer print-on-demand items or place a bulk order, prints are an affordable, easy way to get your art out in the world and they make a great holiday gift. Read my blog about launching art prints for your business to get started!
While you’re at it, here are a few other things that your art could be printed on!
- Greeting Cards
- Totes
- Throw pillow covers
- Playing cards
- Calendars
Digital Downloads
Really strapped for time? Consider offering digital prints for download as an alternative to the traditional method!
Overstock
Listen, sometimes you just have to work with what you’ve got! You might not have any time to create gifts for the holidays but if you already have a bunch of items that need selling then market the heck out of those! I always recommend that you avoid discounting your products and, instead, offer up a bonus. Maybe you could offer free shipping, add in a free tiny canvas, or even a business card with a QR code or link to a free tutorial that you already have online!
The Key to Holiday Gift Marketing
I’m going to say it right out: KNOW YOUR AUDIENCE!!!
The best way to sell out this holiday season is to sell the products that your customers are looking for and, to find that answer, you’re going to have to do some digging. Send out a customer survey, read comments on other shops’ posts, ask your friends… whatever you can do to see what is popular this season, do it! This trick isn’t anything new (it’s actually the foundation of good marketing) but sometimes we get so caught up in the day-to-day stuff that we forget to check back in with our customers.
What will you be selling this holiday season? We want to know!
