Gift Ideas for Creatives

Where to Shop and What to Buy

Thanksgiving is over. The leftovers are in the fridge. The relatives are either camped out on the couch watching football or packing up and heading home. Black Friday has come and gone — but the deals have just begun.

If you didn’t participate in the annual Black Friday frenzy — don’t feel bad. Millions of people rushed into malls, ready to spend their hard-earned dollars on the latest gadget and gizmo. And retailers welcomed shoppers with open arms and deep discounts.

With the supply chain still an issue, many consumers didn’t want to risk ordering online and coming up empty. Stores were closed on Thanksgiving Day. A first for many in several states who had a long-standing tradition of opening their doors Thanksgiving evening. Not this year. This year, with workers calling the shots, employers recognized the need to cater to their employees.

The only stores in my state (Massachusetts) that were open were movie theaters, gas stations, fast-food restaurants, and pharmacies like CVS and Walgreens. And they had shorter hours than in years past. Of course, front-line places such as hospitals, police, and fire departments were open as well. Holiday shopping in 2021 was off to a very different start.

As stores contended with in-person shoppers, millions more were staring at their computers looking for one-of-a-kind gifts. As a creative, I’ve gathered a list of ideas and retailers to help those stumped for ideas:

For the Writer:

1, A new laptop — Suggested retailers: Apple and Best Buy — financing options available

2. Quality stationery — Suggested Retailers: Staples and A Paper Store

3. High-end Pens and/or Pencils — Suggested Retailers: Staples and A Paper Store

For the Artist:

1. Paint Supplies — Suggested Retailers: Blick, Michaels, and Hobby Lobby
2. Canvas — Suggested Retailers: Michaels and Hobby Lobby
3. Brushes — Suggested Retailers: Blick and Michaels
4. Art Books — Suggested Retailers: Barnes and Noble and Michaels
5. Miscellaneous Supplies — Suggested Retailers: Michaels and Hobby Lobby

For the Social Media Creative:

1. Podcasting tools — Suggested Retailers: Staples and Best Buy
2. Phone — Suggested Retailers: Apple, AT&T, Verizon, and Best Buy
3. Camera — Suggested Retailers: Best Buy and Ritz Camera
4. Background materials — Suggested Retailers: Amazon

This is just the beginning of the list. More ideas and places to shop will come in my next post. Stay tuned! Happy shopping!