Last-Minute Gift Ideas To Get In A Jiffy

Emergency Gifting

Have you suddenly been invited to a small party (ahem, Phase 3 is coming) or remembered a little too late a year-end birthday event? Here are some ideas for quick gifting options, with many supporting small local businesses.

Most of us may have forgotten to get a gift in time for an event, luckily here are some ideas for last-minute gifting.

Reusable Masks

Phase 3 might be starting soon but until we get the all-clear, face masks are still a necessity. Want to help your colleague or party host be more eco-friendly or stylish in the coming year? Disposable face masks and government-issued masks begone, here are some pocket-friendly options that also give back to the community.

Face Wedge

Face Wedge offers a variety of mask designs, from silk ones for a luxe look to more understated ones for the workplace. The label’s charming cotton masks are ideal for the young-at-heart, with playful prints like spaceships, dinosaurs and sharks. Face Wedge also works with Seven Clean Seas, a Singapore-based beach clean-up community that runs monthly international coastal clean-ups and educational sessions for remote communities.

Every five masks sold (starting from $12.95 each) will help in pulling out 1kg of trash from our seas.

Minor Miracles

Local fashion designer Dawn Bey’s print and textile label is known for its whimsical designs on scarves, skirts and kimonos. With her retail space at Funan opened just before the circuit breaker, Minor Miracles started producing masks instead.

Each mask ($12) is sewn by fresh fashion graduates whose current jobs prospects have been affected due to COVID-19. All proceeds from the masks are split into different funds to help Singapore’s migrant workers, through the COVID-19 Migrant Support Coalition and Migrant Workers' Assistance Fund.

Support our local community by investing in some handmade masks created and sold by local businesses.

Face masks from Minor Miracles, Face Wedge, and a mask and hand sanitiser care pack in a fabric pouch from LOOMS.

LOOMS

Bubblewrap and textile off-cuts gain new life at LOOMS, repurposed into premium lifestyle goods such as pouches. These are handmade by a production team of stay-at-home mums who started making masks (from $29) during COVID-19.

If experiences are what you’re after, LOOMS provides hands-on corporate workshops where teams can make to make items such as folios and cup holders. An idea for the boss, perhaps?

You can support various causes on Giving.sg, and maximise your donations with the platform’s zero transaction fees that will last until March 31, 2021.

Subscription Boxes

If you know your gift recipient's home address, a gift of subscription boxes over several months creates a prolonged gift experience.

At a party, you might have to show up without your gift in hand, but you can always write your well wishes in a card, with instructions to look out for a surprise to come.

If your friend or loved one loves reading, a book recommendation box is a perfect gift.

Choose from a books-only box from BooksActually, or opt for books with related merchandise from Carpe Librum.

Book Box Subscription

For BooksActually’s book recommendation box, the receiver gets two or more recommended books (from $42 for two books), or up to 30 books at once if you choose to splurge.

Other book subscription box services like Carpe Librum also include book-related gifts like candles and tea in their boxes, on top of two books – all for just $35.

KiwiCo’s maker kits are perfect for anyone who has children.

Children and adults alike can get hands-on with various maker projects with KiwiCo’s kits.

Maker Boxes

For the colleague with children, or for anyone who loves to tinker using their hands, check out KiwiCo’s maker kits. They are designed in various tiers to be age-appropriate and engaging – babies aged 0 to 24 months can toy with items from the Panda Crate, while more advanced Maker and Eureka Crates are suitable for those aged 14 and above.

Each box comes with instructions and materials to turn “artistic visions into design realities” – these include functional music instruments and desk accessories like pencil sharpeners.

The subscription options range from a one-month subscription ($39.70) to a twelve-month subscription (about $33 per month).

KiwiCo’s maker kits come with instructions and materials that boost and explore one’s creativity.

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If you really need to get something last minute, a gift card is a simple and perfect gift for someone.

Gift Cards

For super last-minute gifts, electronic gifts are your best bet. For the buy-your-own option, Grab gift vouchers can be used for various services. Shopping vouchers for mega stores such as Sephora and Amazon.sg also offer a plethora of choice for the receiver.

Or support local attractions such as movie theatre The Projector. A one-year membership offers four free movie tickets, and $2 off regular-priced tickets. Other perks include 10% off the total bill at the Intermission Bar and special treats for Club Members.

To gift adventures and experiences, try Singapore-based services Giftano or Magic Box. SingapoRediscovers-approved travel and attractions portal Klook also has e-Gift cards with cute thematic card designs.

Made With Passion in Singapore

This holiday season, as you rediscover local sites and attractions, why not support local designers too?

As part of the Made With Passion initiative, the Singapore Brand Office and the Singapore Tourism Board, supported by Enterprise Singapore, have come up with a brand mark and campaign to promote local lifestyle goods.

The initiative also includes partnerships with e-commerce platforms Shopee, so you can shop from home. Look out for the Made With Passion brand mark in the product categories of beauty and wellness, fashion and accessories, homeware and décor, and packaged F&B.

Made With Passion local brands include Yeo’s beverages, Supermama porcelain and Camel brand nuts and snacks.

For an extra personal touch, tell your gift recipient to look out for videos of these local brands’ origin stories on Instagram and Facebook at @madewithpassionsg.

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