Looking for local gift ideas? Here’s a list of some of the best choices for everyone on your list, all under $150.
Remember, the holidays are stressful. Be kind to yourself this year and don’t cram all of your shopping into a hellacious spree frantically completed a few days before Christmas.
(1) Candle from Charlotte Candle Company
Make their space feel perfectly cozy this holiday season. Choose from scents like Cinnamon Chai, Frasier Fir, and Cranberry Woods to infuse their home with a little cheer.
Price: Starting at $8. Buy
(2) Charlotte-themed mug or tea towel from local artist Evelyn Henson
If you haven’t taken an Instagram picture in front of Evelyn Henson’s Confetti Hearts wall in South End, please turn your Charlottean card in immediately. Gift them some of Henson’s whimsical work with her Charlotte-themed mugs and tea towels.
Price: Mugs are $19.99, tea towels are $24.99. Buy
(3) Cozy blanket from Thread Talk
These blankets are beautiful, luxurious, and ten percent of all proceeds are donated to fund critical wish list items at over 2,600 domestic violence shelters nationwide.
Price: $130. Buy
(4) Pair of sunglasses from Johnny Fly Co.
Everyone can use a good pair of sunnies, and this local brand offers options that are both stylish and made from sustainable materials.
Price: Starting at $120. Buy
(5) Gift box from Cloister Honey
Perfect for the at-home chef, cheese board fan, or tea drinker. Not sure what to pick? The gift box holds between three and six jars. Select the contents yourself or choose from suggested pairings.
Price: Starting at $47.50. Buy
(6) Funky serving board from Cosmic Creativ
Speaking of cheese boards, Cosmic Creativ turns serving boards and trays into works of art. Each hand-poured tray’s design is one-of-a-kind. Go black and blue for hosting Panthers tailgates or get a geode-encrusted board to elevate your next dinner party.
Price: Starting at $63. Buy
(7) Entire quiche from Central Coffee Co.
Let everyone else bring sad veggie trays and cheese plates to your office holiday party. A quiche from Central Coffee is sure to earn major brownie points with your boss.
Price: $21. Buy at their Plaza Midwood or Southend location.
(8) Gift basket from Reid’s Fine Foods
You’ve got plenty of options to choose from, like the Holiday Cheer basket. It’s packed with cheese biscuits, Taffy Town peppermint taffy, East Shore mustard pretzels, Reid’s chocolate chip cookies, and Belgian chocolate creams, or they can prepare a custom-made basket specifically to your liking. Tasty. (The Merry Christmas basket is pictured here.)
Price: $79.99. Buy
(9) Perfume sampler from Jules & Vetiver
Buying perfume for someone else is risky. Hedge your bets with this sampler. It features five different sprayers and includes a complimentary full bottle upgrade once your sister, mom, or best friend chooses her favorite.
Price: $89. Buy
(10) Personalized stationery from Paper Twist
If you’ve got a friend who just got married, you know she’d love to get some stationery with her new monogram on it.
Price: Get 50 personalized letterpress notecards for $120. Buy
(11) Tea sampler from Birch Fine Tea
Your friend or family member who would gladly choose tea over coffee will love Birch Fine Tea’s offerings. If you’re not sure what they like, choose a starter kit.
Price: Starter kits start at $29.99. Buy
(12) Game day-friendly purse from Policy Handbags
These stylish handbags are the perfect pick for any ladies in your life who frequent Panthers games. The purses meet stadium requirements so she won’t have to cram everything into a teeny, tiny clutch.
Price: Starting at $69. Buy
(13) Accessories from Girl Tribe Co.
From cheeky mugs, shirts, dresses, skincare products, and on-trend jewelry to the CLT hats you see all over town, Girl Tribe Co. is your go-to gift spot for anything and everything that screams ‘girl power’.
Price: Starting at $8. Buy
(14) Handcrafted bottle of liquor
Whether you’re into gin, vodka, bourbon, or rye whiskey, Doc Porter’s Distillery has you covered in the holiday spirits department. Thanks to a change in regulations, you can now buy unlimited bottles directly from the distillery. Drink up! Rum fans will love a bottle from Belmont-based Muddy River distillery.
Price: Starting at $29.95 at your nearest ABC store.
(15) Go-to guide for exploring Charlotte
Our City Notes compiles all the essential information on what to eat, drink, and do in Charlotte into one handy book. Grab it for a friend who just moved here or get one for yourself so you can stop going to the same handful of spots over and over.
Plus, order a copy this month and you’ll get a free sheet of Agenda logo wrapping paper for super easy gift giving.
Price: $15. Buy
(16) One-of-a-kind makeup bag from Windy O’Connor
Add a punch of color to her morning routine with a makeup bag from artist Windy O’Connor. O’Connor upcycles leftover velvet from other works and turns them into brightly colored bags perfect for storing essentials.
Price: $36. Buy
(17) Queen City-inspired T-shirt from 704 Shop
There should be no question about where you’re from when you rock gear from 704 Shop. They’ve got items for men, women, and kids, so buy for everyone on your list.
Price: Starting at $30. Buy
(18) Charlotte-focused reading material
This would make the perfect stocking stuffer. If they love dining at Good Food, Barrington’s, Stagioni, and N.C. Red, you can grab them a copy of Bruce Moffett’s book Bruce Moffett Cooks: A New England Chef in a Southern Kitchen. History buffs will be into Charlotte Then and Now and 100 Lost Architectural Treasures of Old Charlotte. Both are available at Paper Skyscraper.
Price: Starting at $19.95. Buy
(19) Fried chicken map from EDIA Map Makers
This thoughtfully curated map is a fried chicken lover’s dream and it includes go-to spots in both NC and SC. EDIA also offers an NC Beer Map, an NC BBQ Map and a Charlotte Adventure Map. Pick your poison.
Price: $9.99. Buy
(20) Unique necklace from Twine & Twig
Twine & Twig’s eye-catching pieces are made right here in Charlotte, and instantly upgrade any outfit. People will definitely be asking where it came from.
Price: Necklaces range from $20 to $325. Buy
(21) Leather wallet from Buffalo Jackson Trading Co.
It’s time to replace your dad or boyfriend’s tattered mess of a wallet. He’ll appreciate it. Buffalo Jackson’s handcrafted, fine leather goods are designed in Matthews, NC. They offer selections for both men and women.
Price: Starting at $37.95. Buy
Agenda related guide: 8 best reasons to visit downtown Matthews
(22) Dress from Worthy Figures
The exclusively plus size boutique, which is part of Plaza Midwood’s Charlotte Collective, makes it easy for curvy women to find chic looks. Grab her a trendy dress, a cheeky hoodie, or a cozy sweater.
Price: Most items are between $40-$60. Buy
(23) Skincare products from Pink Hippo
Everyone loves an excuse to pamper themselves, and Pink Hippo’s products are all-natural and organic. Choose from moisturizers, sunscreen, and even deodorant.
Price: Starting at $10. Buy
(24) Subscription box from Erin McDermott Jewelry
Jewelry lovers will be obsessed with Erin McDermott’s Mornings to Margaritas subscription box. It arrives monthly and is packed with accessories that are carefully curated to fit their personal style.
Price: $20. Buy
(25) Products from skincare queen Skin By Blair
You may not be able to snag an appointment at Skin By Blair (her waiting list is months-long), but you can gift products from Blair’s line to the beauty junkies in your life. Get Crème de la Blair (her take on the celeb-favorite Crème de la Mer) or a plethora of other products.
Price: $98. Buy
Agenda related story: This new Dilworth skincare practice is so popular, it’s booked out until March of 2020
(26) All-natural dog treats from Pet Wants
Win their dog over this holiday season with all-natural, locally made dog treats from Pet Wants Charlotte. They’ve got everything from biscuits to buffalo ears.
Price: Starting at $1. Buy
(27) Retro Charlotte tee from Glory Days Apparel
If someone on your list has serious civic pride, let them rep accordingly with gear from Glory Days Apparel. The ultra-soft tees, hoodies, and jackets for guys and girls are sure to win Christmas this year.
Price: Starting at $5. Buy
(28) Tub of Queen Charlotte’s Pimento Cheese Royale
Are you really living in the South if you don’t eat pimento cheese? Give it as a gift or bring it to the plethora of parties you have on deck. Queen Charlotte’s got plenty of varieties to choose from, like Her Royal Hotness (made with jalapeños) and Black and Bleu (cracked pepper and blue cheese).
Price: Get a four-pack sampler for $23.96. Buy
(29) Products from Urban Skin Rx
The company was created specifically to tackle the skincare concerns of people of color, but their products work regardless of your skin tone. The Merry Minis Bestseller trio is a great place to start.
Price: $25. Buy
(30) Ingredients to re-create the dishes from their favorite restaurants
You meet them for lunch at, like, three places. If Yafo Kitchen and Midwood Smokehouse are on the shortlist, help them recreate some of their favorite flavors at home. Add Midwood Smokehouse’s spice rub or Yafo Kitchen’s spices to their culinary arsenal.
Price: $9.95. Buy
(31) Custom Charlotte neighborhood map from Karen O’Leary
These custom, hand-cut works of art from artist Karen O’Leary are a super cool, unique addition to any home or apartment. Choose from your favorite of 14 local ‘hoods.
Price: Starting at $159. Buy
(32) Artisan gift box from Lily + Grey
Forget a lame fruit basket. Lily + Grey’s gift boxes are ideal for Christmas gift-giving. Each one has a different theme, so you can choose based on the recipient. We love the “Sweater Weather” and “Spa Day” boxes.
Price: Starting at $55. Buy
(33) Button-down shirt from Ole Mason Jar
A simple, but stylish, button-down from Ole Mason Jar ought is the perfect guy gift. Their local shop was recently recognized at Garden & Gun‘s Made in the South Awards, so you know they’re legit.
Price: Starting at $95. Buy
(34) Art from Shain Gallery
Add some personality to their walls with artwork from Shain Gallery. You know this isn’t the same old home decor that everyone else is browsing at Target.
Price: Prices vary, but the paintings pictured here are all under $150. Buy.
Looking for more holiday guides in Charlotte? Here’s our where to look at lights, top festive activities, and the full Agenda event board with over 50 events to choose from.
