2020 Holiday Trends to Help You Get a Jump on Gift Giving

Shopping for holiday gifts will be a little different this year than it has in the past, with the impact of the novel coronavirus still yet to be fully determined. Online marketplace Etsy recently released a report showing the expected trends and themes for this year’s holiday gift-giving season, and they even included a very handy list of upcoming holidays for us all to reference.

Whether you celebrate all of the below or just some, you’ll probably want to make a note of these in your calendar:

• 12th October: Thanksgiving (CA)
• 31st October: Halloween
• 5th November: Bonfire Night (UK)
• 14th November: Diwali
• 26th November: Thanksgiving (US)
• 27th November: Black Friday
• 30th November: Cyber Monday/Week begins
• 6th December: St. Nicholas Day (DE and much of Europe)
• 10th – 18th December: Hanukkah
• 14th December: Christmas Jumper Day (UK)
• 21st December: Winter solstice
• 24th December: Christmas Eve
• 25th December: Christmas Day
• 26th December – 1st January: Kwanzaa
• 26th December: Boxing Day (UK, CA, AU), Second Christmas Day (DE)
• 31st December: New Year’s Eve

Not all of the holidays are relevant to everyone, but after the year we’ve had, I don’t think anyone would blame you for wanting to celebrate them all!

This year has seen a push towards snagging bargains whenever possible to save money, but has also seen people lean more towards supporting small businesses over big companies.

Buy Early

With in-person shopping being a viral minefield at the moment, people are deciding to buy much earlier than they have in previous years. This means that if there’s something particular you’re set on getting, you’ll probably want to get it as early as possible to ensure you don’t miss out. We’ve also already seen an increase in average delivery times this year, and that’s only predicted to keep going up as we inch closer to the holiday season.

Stay Safe

It’s important to make sure you’re following any and all safety guidelines when doing your holiday shopping this year. Buy online where possible and arrange for the gifts to be delivered directly to the recipient. Some sellers, such as some of the ones on Etsy, even offer to handwrite a note to be included in the package for that extra special touch.

Support Small Businesses

The pandemic has seen lots of small businesses struggling, and this year there has been a push for people to support their local small businesses versus the giant corporations most usually turn to. The good news is that with a lot of sales moving online, you can now help support small businesses that may not even be local to you. That makes it easier than ever to help out the little guys.

Top Gifts for 2020

2020 as a whole has looked totally different to previous years, so why should gifting not follow the same trend? The actual gifts given may be a little unique, too.

Themed Decor

This year has opened the door to themed decorations. Lots of Etsy sellers are now offering tongue-in-cheek ornaments with phrases such as “the year of the lockdown” or “the year we all stayed home.” With people having to spend more time in their own houses, it’s also predicted that they’ll spend more money on decorations this year, so a nice (or funny) throw pillow might go over especially well.

Tech

We’ve used tech more than ever this year: as a way to keep in touch with friends and family, and just as a way to keep ourselves entertained and to help stave off cabin fever. Naturally, it’s the one type of gift that’s predicted to be topping everyone’s wishlists. Whether that be tech to help people work or study from home, stay connected to their loved ones, or just have fun, just know you can’t go wrong with electronics this year.

Personalized Gifts

One easy way to support small businesses while getting the perfect gift for someone is to have a look at personalized gifts and crafts stores online. Not only might you find something you didn’t even know you needed to buy, but there’s also going to be a lot less chance someone else has already gotten them the same gift.

Hampers

Care packages are predicted to be a popular gift this year. With people not being able to meet up and spend time with their loved ones, a cute way of letting them know you’re thinking of them is to put together a little gift hamper. From snacks to fluffy socks and cozy blankets, a care package is an excellent unique gift that you can always trust them to love.

Gift Subscriptions

Whereas in previous years you might have wanted to give an experience like a vacation as a gift, you may want to consider something more along the lines of a gift subscription this year. With everything up in the air as far as in-person activities go, gift experiences can be risky, as there’s no way of knowing how long it will be until the recipient will be able to redeem them. As mentioned before, a lot of retailers have taken their businesses online, and with that comes a whole host of new subscription box ideas. From succulents and crafting kits to cocktail making sets and baked goods, there’s something for everyone on the web. Plus, subscription gifts have the added benefit of keeping people entertained while being stuck indoors, giving them something to look forward to for at least as long as the subscription lasts.

Although this holiday season won’t be the same as last, there are still plenty of ways to make the most of it. Start early, stay safe, and celebrate.