Strategies: Eight great gifts for the entrepreneur on your list
— -- Looking for a gift for the entrepreneur or small business owner on your holiday list? Or making up your own wish list? This year – given the economy – the emphasis is on the practical and affordable, but also the fun and enjoyable. So I've come up with a list of 9 great gifts for entrepreneurs.
1. Wall decals. Most of these are designed for decoration, mostly for kids or dorm rooms. But Wall-Pops makes a type of wall decal you can write on, erase, move without leaving any mark on the wall. They're great as a kind of giant reminder note, and one in white serves as an easy portable white board, terrific for using for off-site planning sessions. Less than $20. www.wall-pops.com.
2. Reading glasses. Got a boomer entrepreneur on your gift list? They probably use reading glasses.A company named ICU Eyewear makes adorable choices. Try out their new eco-friendly frames made from bamboo or some of their stylish ones. I've been using a flashy red pair with rhinestones. Bling! Bling! www.icueyewear.com.
3. Coffee. In these economic times, many people are cutting out the lattes. So how about giving a pound or two of some good coffee you can make in the office? Dunkin' Donuts is a favorite among coffee drinkers and really affordable as a gift. Less than $10. www.dunkindonuts.com.
4. Discounts. Make it more affordable for your favorite entrepreneur to take a break – go out to eat, travel, go to an amusement park or such. Entertainment books provide discount coupons for restaurants, hotels, rental cars, a wide variety of recreational activities. $20-$40, available for most cities nationwide. www.entertainment.com.
5. Headsets. Every businessperson who spends time on a phone needs at least two headsets – one for the office and one for their mobile phone. For the office, Plantronics has a nifty new set – the Calisto – that is a wireless Bluetooth headset enabling you to move around freely, switching back and forth from a land line to a cellphone. About $199. www.plantronics.com.