’Tis the season to be shopping!
With the holidays just around the corner, Coconuts has put together a list of ideas for budget gifts below $250 that you can get for your friends and family.
If we’ve learnt anything from our tumultuous year, it’s the fact that a little support can go a long way. That’s why we’ve made independent, local businesses—many of which were especially hard hit by the economic downturn—the focus of our list.
So, clear that Amazon wishlist. From artisanal dried fruit-infused chocolates to customizable minibus sign key chains to jewelry, all from Hong Kong born-and-bred businesses, Coconuts has you covered for the stressful holiday shopping season.
Fabric book sleeves
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These Booksazon’s stylish book sleeves are perfect for your bookworm friends. The Instagram shop offers a range of sleeves with different fabric designs to choose from, like floral patterns, animal prints and geometric prints. A book sleeve costs around $110 excluding shipping. Note that they are currently limiting operations but will accept a small number of orders before Christmas—just message them to ask.
Handmade jewelry
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Ceramic Craft is the place to look if you’re searching for affordable handmade jewelry. The team behind this local store designs dainty pieces that can round out any outfit, like these simple paper plane earrings, this dreamcatcher-inspired necklace, and for a festive touch, these adorable gingerbread man earrings. Most of their products are priced from around $60 to $100.
Dried fruit chocolates
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Miss Fruit’s handmade, dried fruit-infused chocolates take sweet treats to a whole other level. They offer a selection of desserts from handmade chocolate bars ($68) to lollipops ($18), which make great party favors or stocking stuffers. While chocolate variations are also available. The store also have a range of all-natural dehydrated fruit.
Scented candles
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These candles are basically a work of art. Colorful dried flowers and little wax cacti adorn the candles crafted by With Studio, which also offers regular candle-making classes. Help brighten a friend or a loved one’s mantlepiece with these candles starting at $160.
Minibus sign keychains
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Nothing feels more like Hong Kong than being on a minibus traveling at breakneck speed—and nothing captures this spirit more than the bus’ iconic red and blue signs. Mak Kam-sang is the city’s last calligrapher behind these nostalgic signs. Mostly priced below $50, these keychains are great gifts for anybody who might be leaving Hong Kong and want to take a piece of the bustling city with them.
Personalized chocolates
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Why say things with words when you can spell them out in chocolate? Check out Sayvour, which specializes in customizable boxes of chocolate that you can personalize to your liking. Besides for letters and other fun designs, you can even have your own photos printed on the treats.
Home-made dehydrated fruit
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Delight your health conscious friends and loved ones with these all-natural dried fruit snacks this holiday season. The shop, run by a full-time mother, offers a selection of dried fruit from kiwi to strawberry to orange. One 30g bag costs $38. If you’re feeling indecisive, go for a mixed, 50g bag for $68. The shop also sells tea bags made out of dried fruit.
Customized dog bowls
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Is your friend crazy for accessories for their pets? Or is your good boy especially deserving of a gift this Christmas? Boxie offers customizable ceramic food bowls and treat jars that can be personalized with lettering. The bowls come in colors including forest green, pastel pink and gray, and cost around $250.
Animal patch t-shirts
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Plain white tees are out; Plain white tees with adorable, understated embroidered prints to rep your animal loving instincts are in. Oh My Tee’s collection of graphic t-shirts feature iron-on patches of grumpy Schnauzers, flying Bulldogs and apathetic Persian cats. T-shirts cost $120 each.
Custom-made phone cases
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This one’s for the cheesy romantic in you. The team behind Gifts ForU can turn any photo of you and your loved one into a simple cartoon-like drawing, which they’ll then print onto a phone case for about $200. They also make customizable AirPod cases, puzzles and canvas prints.
Wooden coasters
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Add a touch of rustic charm to your friend or loved one’s home with these Litle HK’s wooden coasters. The standard coasters come with different Bible verses ($88), or you can also customize your own ($118). Litle HK also sells handcraft jewelry—check out their designs on their website here.
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