Designers - what gift would you find handy?

last month

I have a friend who is both a wonderful person and a wonderful designer. I'd like to get her something in the $40ish range, and she already has beautiful clothes and house accessories.

Is there a new design book that you love? An organizer that's helpful with clients? (I know she uses software but don't know what kind, so I'm thinking some kind of nice bag for carrying samples? A handy portfolio?)

I can always do self-care type stuff, but thought I'd check here too.

TIA!

Featured Answer

PRO

McDonald Enterprises

last month

Designers usually have the dinky little promo brand giveaway tape measures for measuring rooms. A really GOOD tape measure is a joy to work with.

Stanley FATMAX 40 ft. x 1-1/4 in. Tape Measure 33-740L - The Home Depot

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Comments (6)

Tish
last month
The $40 is the issue. My belting leather sample bag was 10x that.

In weather like this, some Static Guard plus a great lip balm, and maybe a non greasy hand cream, would be a big hit. Just pulling off the coat has all my clothes snapping and popping. I don’t want to handle door samples or paint decks with greasy hands, but it’s hard to find something non greasy that works.

Or maybe a handsfree phone mounting kit.

A good stylus for an iPad.

A universal charger with many voltage outputs. I run out of laptop battery too much and would love to charge between site visits.

Send her name to the local Sherwin Williams rep so she gets the complimentary designer suitcase kit.

Write a testimonial for her website, and frame it for her office.
chicagoans thanked Tish
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herbflavor
last month
are you in Chicago..find a nice throw..I have several...its cold..[its snowing] they are nice to interchange...use in bedroom/family room/ living room..everywhere.
chicagoans thanked herbflavor
Kendrah
last month
This isn’t design-ish but amaryllis or paper whites if she isn’t allergic are a wonderful gift. So nice to be able to watch something grow this time of year.
chicagoans thanked Kendrah
bpath
last month
last modified: last month
McDonald, thank you for the rec of the tape measure. I had to look up reach and standout and I feel more enthused about replacing my lost tape measure!

herbflavoe, my realtor’s gift one year was a throw. Most Chicagoans are drowning in throws. Most throws get donated to the senior center or care home.
chicagoans thanked bpath
chicagoans
Original Author
last month
Thank you all for the ideas!

@herbflavor yes I'm in Chicago and actually read this while huddled under a throw. @McDonald Enterprises great call on the tape measure - looks handy! I've seen her measuring in my house and it seems like she has a nice one. (Plus, her husband gave me a laser measurer when I bought the house, so I'm guessing he got her one as well.)

I realize my budget is an issue, but we keep our friend gifts on the lower end (we've already done a grab bag gift exchange.)

I've decided to go another direction since I really don't know what she needs as far as gifts for a designer. She and I bike alot and we also play Mah Jongg, so I upped the budget a bit and got her a blue tooth speaker that goes on the handlebars for our long trail rides (she plays music from her phone) and some Mah Jongg cocktail napkins.

Thanks again!