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The 2020 Community Manager Gift Guide

December 14, 2020 By Jim Storer

Gifts they’ll actually want. (We know because they said so!)

Self-care was the theme for CMAD 2020 and we had no idea how much we’d actually need it (2020, amirite?). During Connect, we dove head-first into self-care again with the Wellness track, which included: journaling prompts from the amazing Tara King, yoga from the incredible Linh Le, a “Mental Health for Community Managers” roundtable from the one and only Peter Broadley, and a soul-searching session that helped us unlock our inner superpowers by the quiet-but-mighty Laura Portalupi.

With everything *gestures wildly* that happened in 2020, we thought this year’s gift guide should be a mix of business and pleasure, wellness and fun, naughty and nice. This post isn’t sponsored and it doesn’t have affiliate links, we just really, really like them and know you will, too. When you can, shop small this year. When you shop small, you support a person, a family, and a community.

For the person who loves to-do lists, post-it notes, and checklists:

The Productivity Planner takes advantage of the Pomodoro Technique (beloved by TheCR team member Emma!) empowering you to focus your mental energy on the most meaningful tasks ahead. So, you can take advantage of every moment of every day. Get it here.

Image source: Intelligent Change (intelligentchange.com)

Notes for the Daily Struggle will keep you company on the Mondayest of Mondays. “If all else fails, scream into the void” is a sticky note message we can get behind. Use these sticky notes to help you get through the day or as a cry for help. Whatever helps you get through the day! Get it here.

Image source: Emily McDowell (emilymcdowell.com)

For the person who loves a good snack attack:

Universal Yums gift boxes. Try unique snacks from around the world. Sweet, salty, savory, and sometimes downright weird, your tastebuds will go on an around-the-world-trip even if you’re stuck at home. Choose your own adventure on their website.

Image source: Universal Yums (universalyums.com)

Ollipop – the soda alternative that’s sneakily good-for-your-gut prebiotics. I discovered this soda in California and I’ve been hooked ever since. I don’t know if this defeats the purpose or not, but I’ve been known to use the Orange Squeeze and Vintage Cola as a mixer for an *adult* beverage. Get it here.

Image source: Olipop (olipop.com)

For the person who could use some help unwinding after a long day/week/year. 😂

We love new workout gear as motivation to move. Yoga With Adriene has hundreds of free yoga videos. Use the money you’d save on classes to upgrade your mat and equipment (and then maybe make a donation to your favorite nonprofit!). Get it here.

Image source: Gaiam (gaiam.com)

If your hips are tight from sitting at a desk all day, this meditation pouf provides enough lift and stability so you can bring your awareness to something other than how uncomfortable you are during meditation. Get it here.

Image source: Brentwood Home (brentwoodhome.com)

We hope these gift ideas inspire you to give a unique gift to your favorite community manager this year. Have a small business or special gift you think our community managers would love? Share it in the comments!

Happy holidays from all of us at The Community Roundtable!

Community Manager Gift Guide 2019

December 5, 2019 By Jim Storer

Did you read this Atlantic article about how gift guides work?

Well, fear not.

We are NOT in the gift guide pay for play game. Nary an affiliate link graces this post, just seven great gift ideas for the dedicated community pros in your life.

  1. Ivy’s Tea – Ivy’s Tea Co. is a pop culture and Hip-Hop inspired holistic health brand. We can safely say their tea is delicious – and lives up to their motto of “Drink Tea Like an Adult. You cannot go wrong with their signature Rise & Grind blend, but everything we’ve tried is delicious.
  2. SonSon – Known for their amazing bowties for dapper adults and kids, SonSon has also curated an amazing list of <$10 gifts.
  3. SkinButtr – Possibly the best smelling body butter in the world. Gift a tub to the cmgr in your life who is constantly typing their days away and give their hands a treat.
  4. Expedition Subsahara – Everyone knows the sign of a true genius is a messy desk. Sometimes you need to sweep that clutter away, and Expedition Subsahara makes the perfect lidded baskets to hide away desk mess.
  5. Dammit Dolls – It’s a fact – community managers are stressed out. Help give your favorite coworker a safe outlet for any work-related rage with a Dammit Doll.
  6. Snacks – Show your appreciation with something they can eat! Our favorite holiday go-to is picking something up at a local shop – always 110% better than whatever you could order on the site named after a big river… We recommend searching for a local business near you (or near the recipient) but if you need to mail a gift our favorites that ship includes: Sweet Lydia’s Handcrafted Confections,  Sappho Chocolates, and the Tipsy Scoop.
  7. Cosmic Help – Look, we can’t promise that gifting a gorgeous crystal for their desk will improve their karma, but it can’t hurt yours.

Did we miss something awesome? What’s on your wish list this year?!

PS – We’re serious, we have nothing to gain from those links above, these are just genuinely nice/cool/fun things we actually like.

PPS – Happy Holidays! If we could, we’d send ice cream (boozy or not) to each and every one of you!

2015 Community Manager Gift Guide

December 9, 2015 By Jim Storer

By Shannon Abram, Relationship Manager at The Community Roundtable

Every year we like to share some ideas for the best gifts for the community professionals in your life. After all – what better time to some your resident community expert that you appreciate their hard work than after a long year of creating content, moderating forums, engaging executives and generally kicking community butt?

This year I asked my colleagues at TheCR what they considered to be their most indispensable item during the day! Enjoy our 2015 Community Manager Gift Guide!

Community Manager Gift Guide

  1. Paper Mate Flair Porous-Point Felt Tip Pens – Our favorite tool for color-coding our to-do lists and doodling our community dreams.
  2. Laptop Bag – Your laptop is your link to your community – give it a stylish carrying case!
  3. Earbuds – One team member swears these are the best earbuds out there for both marathon conference calls and rocking out to your favorite tunes.
  4. Hydro Flask – It’s important to stay hydrated when slaying community dragons. No judgement on what you choose to fill this with…
  5. The Best Hoodie Ever – Seriously. One of us (ok, it’s me) has this in five colors. It’s cushy, warm and perfect for keeping the chill off when your co-workers are aggressive with the thermostat. Available for men and women.
  6. Unicorn Tee – We know that every community manager is a magical unicorn – let the world know! Available for men and women.
  7. Mug Warmer – How many times have you feel down a community rabbit hole only to resurface and discover your once-tasty hot beverage is now cold and sad? Never again!

So tell me – what’s on your wish list this year?! Will you be picking up anything from our community manager gift guide?

PS – No endorsements or affiliate links in this community manager gift guide (other than the shirt that we sell ourselves) we just really, really love this stuff.

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