Our Favorite Things

Great gifts from small companies

The recipe for the perfect gift? Something “desirable, but not needed,” says Diana Martin, president of concierge service Prezents in Costa Mesa, Calif. The possibilities for corporate holiday gifts are near-endless, so we scoured the markets for items that are unusual, fun, and useful in this season’s hottest gift-giving categories: home decor, technology, and travel. And all are made by small companies. If nothing on our list suits your fancy, take heart. Says Martin: “As long as a gift is personal and as unique as the company giving it, it will be successful doing what it is intended to do: express the goodwill and appreciation of the giver.”