Whether you’re celebrating a special occasion or want to say thanks, finding a unique and personal present for your VIPS can be challenging. Luckily, professionals at local businesses like Glow Gifts, a custom gifting company, are available to help. Woman owned and operated, Glow Gifts launched in 2010 with the mission to offer a fresh take on the traditional gift basket. Taking a more modern approach, Glow Gifts brings together hyper-local, high-quality items with a stylish, elegant presentation.

Glow Gifts allows you to build your own gift or choose from curated sets on their site, and you can work with them one-on-one to create a completely custom gift that will really wow that special someone. Here are four ways to celebrate that go beyond gift cards and flowers, while supporting Portland’s local artisans.

1. Make it personal
Add a personal touch to any gift by monogramming or branding it. For the perfect wedding gift, have a locally made wooden serving board engraved with the newlyweds’ names. Add your friend’s favorite quote or a logo to a whiskey glass. Or customize other choice items such as notebooks, coasters, or wine bottles. Everything ordered from Glow Gifts includes a hand-written message from you and is personally delivered to the recipient’s door, making your gift memorable and unique.

2. Host an event in their honor
Glow Gifts’ items and gift sets make it easy to host an event in their honor. For the cheese-lover in your life, host a hands-on cheese making party with the help of Urban Cheesecraft’s DIY Cheese Kit. Serve with local and delicious Spielman Bagel Chips and a variety of Willamette Valley wines, and throw in a game of celebration-themed Table Topics to spark some lively conversation. Know someone in need of old fashioned relaxation? Plan a day of pampering with the Spa gift set, including a grapefruit & mint soy candle, a FIZZ shower steamer with essential oils, and a selection of Smith Teamaker teas to warm the body and the soul. 

3. Gift an experience
Some of the best gifts aren’t tangible. Elevate a gift set with offerings that allow them to experience the glory of Portland. Delight your favorite foodie (or anyone who likes to eat, really) with a Forktown Food Tour, a guided experience through Portland’s best upscale restaurants and humble-but-delicious food carts. Choose from tours available in the Pearl, NW Alphabet District, Farmer's Market, and North Mississippi Avenue. Or give the gift of live theater at the one-and-only Portland Center Stage with a ticket voucher for any show of their choosing. 

4. Hand-pick a curated gift set
Tailor a gift to their tastes by selecting a thoughtful collection of items. Choose from a number of Glow Gifts’ locally crafted products, including wine and beer, which will be artfully wrapped and delivered to their door. Even simpler, choose from several ready-made gifts that cater to every personality. The Groom set makes an ideal Father’s Day gift for the dad who could use some luxury in his hygiene routine, complete with a wooden dry exfoliation brush, Hillockburn Farm’s cherry almond soap, a teak wooden soap holder, and decadent chocolates from The Chocolate Maker’s Studio. Welcome a visitor or someone who’s just moved to town with the Welcome Home set, featuring the best of Portland-made goodies and even a subscription to Portland Monthly Magazine. Now that’s a gift that keeps on giving!

For more gift ideas from Glow Gifts, visit online at www.glowgift.com. And prepare to be considered everyone’s favorite gift giver!