Gadgets and Gifts for the Studio & Workshop

After years of giving traditions and holidays, it’s challenging to find small, festive gifts that are useful in the realm of work and play. We’ve put together a few of our favorite gadgets and gifts we use in the studio and workshop to give you some ideas (pics below):

A Sampling from the Studio

On-the-go Travel Sleeves – We carry these to-go-cup sleeves in our cars and keep them in our travel bags. These woolen sleeves are the best to stuff into small spots in the car, zip pouches, and inside your travel packs. They’re colorful, rugged, and practical when traveling over the river to Grandma’s house, or to the slopes and trails. They’re made in a historic mill, by fifth generation craftspeople, a real bonus in our opinion.

A Touch of Tape – When we send cards through traditional mail we use different styles of tape to add a touch of color to envelopes and wrapping. We do use brand stickers with our logo too, however, if we know a client or an artist well, we’ll spice things up in our communication. That’s where the tape comes in. We also pay attention to postage stamps which have become quite a personal statement and design option as well.

Travel and Packing Bags – These colorful flannel bags were custom made to be small, cheery, and flexible. Some of the bags are used for packing ceramics and hand-crafted wood items when meeting with clients. The bags keep artisan pieces protected, and separated by type, making it easy to find and share. We also saved some bags for shoes, a necessity when you have client meetings in cities and need to carry dress shoes. We like to engrave when appropriate too, it takes things up a notch and feels more personal.

Cool Coasters – When the sun goes down and the feet go up, we like to unwind with drinks ranging from hot tea to sparkling water or perhaps something more spirited in nature. No matter what the choice is, coasters are everywhere in our house and work. We like the color, the added texture, and the fact that they protect wood and marble furniture. Whether wooden or woven, hand-crafted coasters are ready to entertain a refreshing beverage break.

#Workshoplife

The workshop is full of large machinery that can sometimes make a freight train sound quiet, however, there are small tools and toys for craftspeople who love to tinker in the land of saw dust and sanders. When you’re tired of turning to duct tape as the last gift resort, here are a few tips for the Workshop:

Noise Cancelling Headphones – We searched for a compact yet effective accessory because this one is important. It needed to be relatively small, and at the same time, do the intended job of dimming the saw noise. Spending hours around the sounds of Table and Planer saws may have an impact on hearing over the weeks and months, and at the very least can invite discomfort. We thought it best to be safe not sorry.

Push Block – This lightweight piece is used with table saws to help push the wood through saw blade and avoid getting fingers too close to the blade. Easy and lightweight, you just need to remember to use it.

Orbit Sander – This electric sander works in a circular motion to quickly and evenly sand larger boards. It fits in the palm of your hand, which makes it easy to use. If you need to sand in tight spots or corners for touch up work, you’ll need to resort to traditional sand-paper or a sanding block, since the orbit is round.

Impress Them at the Entrance

It could be the moment of the door opening or the gift opening, either way, first impressions matter. Creating an element of surprise and delight with guests and party-goers can mean the difference in an experience that’s talked about for weeks, or one with not so much as a whisper. Whether it’s the first peek inside a party room or the entrance to a luxury guest suite, we have mere seconds to grab their attention and create an amazing first impression. What combination of colors, textures and visuals will you use to create an enchanting, unexpected moment?

Make an Impact at the Opening
What’s the first thing guests see as they enter the room? Does the scene invite them in or leave them wondering why they came? Try adding a design twist to a colorful floral arrangement by pairing it with an artisan look that’s unique and beautiful, yet doesn’t overwhelm. A distinct ceramic piece, blended inside a hand-crafted gift box with a small bouquet, makes a thoughtful, artistic selection that can be enjoyed as event centerpieces, or on the entrance table as guests arrive in their room. The best part? This gift keeps on giving, it’s meant to travel home to continue the celebration! The hand-crafted gift box can be used to hold blooming succulents in the sun room, or scented soaps and hand towels in the master suite. And each custom ceramic tumbler keeps the conversation going at the bar, or kitchen table, for years to come. (See examples in Tablescapes.)

You Had Me at Hello
The gift tag is often at best an afterthought, or at worst, a complete oversight in the gifting process. Taking the time to select a simple, well designed gift tag can set the stage for a delightful gift experience. Take a few moments to complete the look and create a feeling of surprise anticipation. Delivering your thoughtful message on a custom-designed gift tag can capture a client’s attention from the minute the gift is unveiled. It’s a small detail that leaves a big impression.

Host a New Kind of Jam Session!

This is the time of year when people head home to gather and greet while dipping, spreading and snacking. Whether it’s visiting the old homestead, celebrating a new home, or traveling to a beloved home-away-from-home, here’s how to serve up some fun:

• Add a little jolly to the jellies by creating jam stations at your next brunch affair.

• Keep things berry merry with a variety of sweet berry flavors like these.

• Preserve the elegance of the occasion with hand-crafted serving boards as detailed as the foods are delicious.

• Jellies not your jam? Don’t be blue, add your favorite aged cheese and crackers to the mix.

• Make the most of toast, with options like hazelnut and cranberry bread, vegan cheddar or rosemary lemon crackers.

• Expand your jam. For an extra kick include spicy salsa or chili granola for the breakfast tacos.

• Spread the love. If you’re a guest not the host, help get the party started with a custom gift box filled with the fixins.

Match Their Passion to Make a Memorable Gift

Updated 02.21.23

How do you create a gift experience that tells clients you know them as a person and as a customer? You’ve likely noted your client’s passions by the courses they take, the texts they send, the conferences they value, and even the trips they’ve booked. Whether they’re entering a hotel suite or a meeting room, imagine their delight when they experience a gift created just for them.

Here are a range of options to personalize gifts and create a memorable first impression:

Custom Engraving – A simple, yet beautiful way to personalize is through engraving. Is there a phrase, date, initials, or emblem of significance to them? For a long-lasting impact, hand-crafted cutting boards (and gift boxes) can be beautifully engraved as a genuine gift of craftsmanship. Unique lettering and font styles add to the personalization. This is a straightforward option, with a minimal time commitment, yet it still delivers a custom experience.

Blend a Gift Box – Combine a special element of your brand with an existing gift box. Select a distinct artisan gift box and blend elements together to deliver a more custom feel. For luxury hotels, it may be adding the taste of homemade jams, sauces, or aromatherapy with a hand-poured candle, into an existing gift box. For corporate gifts, it could be the preview of a product sample, a gift card, or unique local flavors to reflect your location. A touch of calligraphy with a personal message on the gift tag goes a long way. This option does require engagement and planning with us in the process to perfect the combination; however, blending creates a sense of craftsmanship and unique gifting without you having to find and coordinate the artisan elements (that’s what we do).

Match Their Passion - Is your client an explorer who likes to hit the trail or walk the beach? Do they enjoy a culinary experience in their kitchen? Perhaps they prefer a black-tie affair? Maybe she’s a whiskey taster, and a sip of bourbon in a cool ceramic cup is the way to go? Custom gift boxes beautifully demonstrate that you appreciate your clients as individuals first. Examples include adding postcards from the national parks, ceramic cups, forged metal slicers, a leather journal, or handwoven champagne towels. All are elements that match a passion. If you know the feeling you want to evoke, artisan gift boxes can deliver. This option works best with advance planning to allow us the appropriate time to select artisan elements to meet your goal. Time to exchange and confirm ideas is part of a successful custom process.

Take the time to give a gift that delights clients at the door. This may be the added touch that keeps them coming back for more.

Roadtrip Ready: How to Prep for Client Meetings

Our schedule for the next week looks like unpacking in four different hotels, spanning seven nights, while logging hours on a variety of interstates and coastal highways between Maryland and Maine. Client meetings are scheduled throughout the trip, so everything is organized in advance. One thing we’ve learned in our planning is that customers today receive information differently, and situations pop up that require flexibility. Since client discussions range from formal to casual, we try to include diverse visuals when packing our travel bags. Here are a few of the basics we consider as we hit the road:

As an artisan business, ours is a visual one, and the textures and finishes make a difference. When customers can hold a cutting board or ceramic cup, see the glaze, and feel the weight of the piece, they have a better appreciation for the work that went into making it. It’s best when a selection of artisan elements comes along for the ride, representing different colors and styles. A gift box also gets packed so clients can see first-hand the craftsmanship in our work.

The black hole of technology has taught us a lesson or two over the years. We always bring a PowerPoint of photos, mixed with access to the website. (All it takes is one big appointment, when the internet isn’t available to access your website, to learn this lesson. Been there, done that.) With the variance in internet speeds, waiting a few seconds for a page change can feel painful enough to make things awkward and there’s just no need. These days, depending on the number of people in attendance, clients don’t think twice about looking at photos on an iPhone either.

We pack beautiful, colorful promotional cards to leave behind and use to write notes (thank you, we dropped by to say hello etc.). They’re bigger than a business card, yet smaller than 5x7. (The website, MOO, has a variety of marketing options when you don’t have an in-house marketing team.) Again, we’re a visual business, and it’s beneficial to share our work in different mediums. We never know which one will resonate best.

The bottom line, be prepared and flexible. Technology breaks, time gets reallocated, and attention spans vary. The more you can adapt, the better your chance of success.

Picking Today's Brilliant Mentor? A Look at Our Podcast Favorites

I’m a big believer in the concept that you are the five people you spend the most time with. That idea, coupled with the reality that you can receive world-class mentoring from business owners you’ve never met, puts podcasts at the top of my list of business tools.

As the devoted podcast listener of our team, I prefer business topics, however, our favorite shows cover a wide array of industries, styles, and personalities. Variety is the spice of life, and I rotate episodes depending on the topic and what’s relevant to our business that day.

You’ll notice none of the podcast choices are specific to the artisan gift business. Almost all are hosted by multi-million dollar, self-made, women (and a couple of men). These brilliant women are CEO’s of companies who share business strategies, finance, social media tactics, real-world life, and mindset issues.

Power up your devices, explore the show content, and find your own gems. This isn’t our exclusive list, but it will get you started:

@goaldiggerpodcast - Jenna Kutcher is an amazing young woman, now mother, and multi-million dollar CEO. She started as a photographer and has grown out of photography and into so much more. Her personal stories about career transition, and genuine questions during her interviews are endearing and valuable. If you research her work, you will see she’s tackled many challenges, and established herself as a bold champion of women of all shapes and sizes. She’s an impressive young CEO. Jenna has a brand sponsorship with Aerie, just one of her lucrative revenue streams.
Here’s Jenna’s interview on how to become an “influencer:” https://jennakutcherblog.com/aligrant/

@msrachelhollis – Rachel Hollis is a warrior who rose from the ashes of a difficult beginning, to mega stardom. (She built her business to the point of retiring her husband from his executive job at Disney.) Rachel is now an author, global speaker (see “RISE” events) and mother of four young kids. Recently, she launched a new line of clothing with Target. Dave Hollis is working with his impressive wife at The Hollis Company. I watch her/them on IGTV, not via podcast, although she does have one. Humor is a mainstay in both her posts/videos and their efforts together. Rachel and her husband make a compelling team, which, as a husband and wife team here at Red & Rugged, is especially interesting to us.
Here’s Rachel on IG: https://www.instagram.com/msrachelhollis/?hl=en

@amyporterfield – Amy Porterfield owns an online marketing business and is the top interviewer out of the bunch. While some of her podcasts are specific to online marketing, many are well beyond that topic and include insightful business interviews. This woman knows how to prepare and ask meaningful, detailed questions. (Her occasional podcasts with her husband, Hobie, are funny too. Even “Rugged” listens to those!)
Here’s Amy’s interview of marketing guru, Seth Godin: https://www.amyporterfield.com/2018/11/238/

@edmylett - Ed Mylett interviews a wide range of world-class personalities in business, sports and beyond. He may appear as more of a macho persona looking at his brand images of big muscles, expensive cars and private jets, however, he’s genuine in his discussions and candid in his comments. His guests are heavy-hitters too. Examples of his diverse guest list include; the US women’s national soccer team coach, a professional wrestling mega-star, and several powerful women business owners.
Here’s Ed’s interview of Olympic champion, Shaun White, one of our favorites. Shaun is just plain funny! This a great combination of business, inspiration, and perseverance.
https://podcasts.apple.com/kw/podcast/how-to-reach-your-ultimate-goal-with-shaun-white/id1181233130?i=1000437045682

@theweddingbiz - Andy Kushner's podcast might seem a bit outside our norm, however, if you look at the star-studded entertainment, event, and creative professionals Andy attracts (David Stark, Marcy Blum, as examples), it makes sense. He’s is a quality interviewer too and has the skill to keep asking the one or two extra questions that really get to the details. So, if creativity is part of your business model, give it a try.
Here’s Andy’s interview with global event planner, and business owner, Lynn Easton: https://theweddingbiz.com/lynn-easton-2-2

If you need a few more podcasts to check out, visit James Wedmores’ Mind Your Business, The Life Coach School by Brooke Castillo, and The Manifestation Babe by Kathrin Zenkina.

Gifts that Revel on the Fringe

There are some days when hanging out on the edge feels like a good place to be. This feels like one of those times.

As we enter a new season, we’ve shifted our gaze to the edge of the artisan market. Specifically, the edge of the hand-woven market, the fringe you might say. Several of our latest additions carry a little sassy extra to catch the eye.

First, these hand-woven coasters have arrived to liven up your beverage choices. Using colorful pattern inlays and hint of fringe, these coasters bring a splash of color and a stylish option to the traditional beverage experience. The good news is they’re durable too, so you can machine wash them. The white fringe around the trim creates an airy feel, and adds another element of interest. It’s the cherry on top…or maybe the bottom?

Next, if you’re looking to add a touch of class to your bar menu, these hand-woven bar towels, with an inset of silver sparkle, are meant to evoke a classic sense of celebration. (And yes, machine wash these beauties too!) Fresh off the loom, they include a light fringe with a silver shimmer. They’re luxurious yet ready for action, heirloom quality you can use every day.

In previous years, these elements may have been an after-thought to the party, not an intentional addition to a festive gathering. No more! On the fringe is a fun place to be.

Look for these hand-crafted fringe pieces throughout our Gift Box Collection.

How Memories of Main Street Create Meaningful Client Gifts

I used to love going down to the Rock Box when I was a kid. It was a tiny store on a small town main street selling rocks of all sizes, shapes and colors. The owners knew me well because of my frequent visits and let me wander free, picking up all the rocks to feel the quartz edges and touch the cold, smooth surface of the colored stones. That experience left a lasting impression on me, a reminder of the joy that comes from connecting with beautiful natural elements.

Today, we’ve expanded on the wares of the little rock shop by working with artisan elements of all shapes, sizes and colors. The feel of woven fabrics, the look of natural wood grain, and the touch of ceramic textures, are a few of the different ways we like to evoke a memorable gift experience. Often, it’s about adding depth and dimension to a gift, the result of a subtle touch or detail to magnify the focal pieces.

Adding dimension to a moving target takes a careful eye, a consistent evaluation of the landscape, and old-fashioned practice. If you understand the broader context, and the art of creating a custom gift box, you can scout the options and identify pieces that complete your preferred look.

Here are two things we strive for in our selection process:

Enhancing with color – how can we add color in ways that enhance the style yet don’t overpower a gift box? Consider pieces that are made from natural, woven or milled fabrics, and bring a unique sense of touch. Fabrics can be light and airy, bulky, silky or rough, depending on the look you’re aiming for. Special thread styles and even fringe can be part of the mix! These pieces can amplify a gift theme, yet minimize the space required inside a gift box. By rolling, folding or tucking them into artisan pieces, they add flexibility too.

Variety in textures - Adding elements such as, wood, metal, fabric, or a special glaze can create a more interesting visual effect. Many times, textures can be layered, such as floral elements resting on wood grain, or glaze drips on ceramics. Perhaps a wool fabric, which brings a much different feel than silky linens, is in order. Mother Nature is also your friend, offering pine cones, evergreens and the delicious smell of eucalyptus. An eye-catching combination of these can go a long way in creating a compelling style.

In the end, the goal is to understand a client’s needs and the experience they want to create. We hope our artisan gift boxes transport people to a wonderful place, maybe a feeling of adventure or celebration? Or maybe to a favorite old shop on main street.

Here are a few other blogs related to this topic:

Creating Festive and Functional Gifts

Let the Textures do the Talking

When Small Details Make a Big Impression

Artisan Displays Along the Backroads & Byways

Traveling across the backroads and byways of the east, we navigated between a few fierce rainstorms to explore new open air markets and main streets. It was part of our quest to see what the summer season had on display. We found the local shops and maker booths brimming with fresh floral vases, colorful books, tools for outdoor adventures, blankets, and artisan sauces and scents reflecting unique cultures. In the midst of this digital world, it’s heartening to see people appreciate beautiful textures and the feel of hand-crafted pieces, whether it’s smooth glassware, a ceramic glaze or supple leather.

Words don’t seem to do full justice to the sights, smells and sounds of our open air strolls, so we’ve selected a few photos to help bring the sensations home for you. (Photos taken in Burlington, VT, Phoenicia Flea, and Kingston, NY)

How to Prep When You're Ready to Press "Record"

The iPhone was in position, we were in our seats, our intro was prepared, and yet, hitting “record” on our first video still felt daunting. It sounds easy to record a 1-2 minute video. While the recording process might be, the rest is not. The prep work should not to be taken lightly.

Here are a few things we learned launching our video channel:

Background work. We took time to learn the how and why of using video. This came in the form of listening to several podcasts, even before watching videos. One interview that was particularly insightful came from Jenna Kutcher’s Goaldigger podcast 246, Hit Record. I’m a big fan of her business acumen. We took to heart her comment that sometimes you just have to press “record.”

This is not the place for snap decisions. We made the decision three months before we hit “record” to launch a video channel. We’ve been asked many of the same questions by clients and artisans, and from our research, this seemed like a good way to answer those questions. Recording itself takes a minute or two, but those minutes take weeks to research, plan and execute.

Say what? Prior to this, we had very little experience with a video platform and the steps to establish a channel (thus the iPhone reference in the intro). This includes determining which video platform to even use. (We chose You Tube.) Our website, and other social platforms, have been our initial priority. I had to add in the learning curve time – and frustration – of technically how to do it. (And we’re not done yet.)

New meaning of App-titude. It’s not just You Tube you have to download, but the YT Studio for editing. Since we don’t have a professional thumbnail, yet, we use what the Studio gives us for three photo choices. (Yes, just wait until you see the first three photos you can pick from as the “face” of your video. Hot tip: make sure you’re smiling when you hit “record.”) Test recordings, editing options (not yet), uploading, adding links, it takes time to learn this stuff.

What’s the story. Next we had to decide what we wanted to discuss on the videos. And not just the first one, but what’s the schedule for the next few months? What are the topics people ask us about, and what specifically will be valuable or interesting to share in a few minutes?

Integrate it into your content. How does this video content integrate into all the other content you produce? For example, how does this upload into a newsletter? And the web site? How will you promote this, and on what timeline? We decided to post one every two weeks, which we realize is like 10 years in internet time, but a reasonable commitment beats and unrealistic one.

Cut! Take 2,3,4… Ugh, can we just tell you it takes a lot of attempts to get one you can manage to use (assuming video isn’t your natural calling). Even though it’s not live and you can delete anything, it’s funny how being on camera suddenly elevates all your personal appearance issues to a new level. And, it’s not just what you say, it’s are you staring at the camera like a zombie? What do you wear? How’s your energy level? What do you say first? How do you close it out? The list is long. We originally wrote a list of points to keep by the video as it was recording so we wouldn’t forget. Then we stared at the list and not the camera, so we had to ditch that idea! (Hot Tip: You have to be willing to laugh at yourself!)

Press the red button. We are novices in this area, however, I’m proud that we’ve made the leap and entered a brand new era for us. We’ll evolve and laugh about this one day, but the plan is that folks out there in internet-land get to know us and learn a few things that are helpful too. We’re willing to try to bring new ideas to you, our subscribers, site visitors, followers and customers. Maybe it works, maybe it doesn’t, but we’ll be smarter business people for it, and have some laughs along the way.

Lights, Camera! Action! See for yourself here… (be sure to subscribe for bonus editions and we’d love a “thumbs up!”)