Kitschy, goofy or practical, stocking stuffers can require a bit of creativity to surprise and delight the recipient.
That's the job of Jenna Pugh, who heads Nod Products in Hopkins, which creates more than 50 small gift ideas perfect for stocking stuffers. "We create innovative, on-trend products at affordable prices," she said. The goal is to make items that can easily be priced under $20, although Nod has a few for $25.
The company's best sellers include wine bags ($5-$7) that include a set of wine glass markers. The notched markers also fit on the rim of a pilsner glass or a Solo cup. Other best sellers include waterproof playing cards and a deer head bottle opener.
Nod's fitness-tech/outdoors gifts include solar powered phone chargers ($19), LED light shoe clips for nighttime joggers/walkers ($8), a fitness waist band for a phone and keys that fits under a shirt ($10).
Host or hostess gifts get a dose of party kitsch with cactus, flamingo, sea shell and pineapple-themed glass markers, wine bottle stoppers, party picks, ice trays, and bottle openers,
Nod's products are sold in the Twin Cities at Bachman's, Electric Fetus, General Store, GoodThings, Jerry's Wine & Spirits, Kowalski's, select Lunds & Byerly's and Yum Kitchen.
Pugh expects 2018 to be a tipping point for the year-old company. Twenty new products launch in January. "We're at $700,000 in sales for the year and we expect to do another $500,000 just in the first quarter of 2018," she said. One new item: A Bloody Mary tree garnish sold in sets of four.
"It's nice that we can brighten someone's day with something so simple," Pugh said.
