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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.

Friday Roundup – The News You Can Use Edition

December 13, 2013 By Jim Storer

By Shannon DiGregorio, Relationship Manager at The Community Roundtable

It was a big news week here at The Community Roundtable. We announced our newest toolkit offering and discussed changes in TheCR Network for 2014. If you missed the news you’ll find those links below as well as links to some of our favorite stories from around the web this week.

Our Holiday Gift Guide: For the Community Manager in Your Life was one part silly, two parts serious – but 100% built to help you shop!

The WestJet Christmas Miracle ad went viral and brought a lot of smiles (and maybe some tears) to our team.

Our co-founder Jim Storer shared some upcoming changes in TheCR Network for 2014.

This “The Twelve Days of Community Management Christmas” series (Part One & Part Two) is funny and spot on.

2014: The Year of Earned Social Marketing is an interesting look at how social marketing might change in the new year.

We launched our newest toolkit with newly released and archived research from our State of Community Management survey.

I can’t believe there are only three weeks left this year! I hope you have a lovely, warm and cozy, restful weekend – whether you are celebrating the holidays, braving the snow on the East Coast or decking your palm trees with lights!

Holiday Gift Guide: For the Community Manager in Your Life

December 9, 2013 By Jim Storer

By Shannon DiGregorio, Relationship Manager at The Community Roundtable

TheCR  Gift Guide 2013

It’s that time of year! My inbox is full of (dangerous) sale emails and the mall is now a terrifying cross between Mad Max and my nightmares. In the spirit of getting into the spirit we’ve pulled together a list of items any community manager would love to receive – and BONUS! every single one can be purchased on the internet! Read on and find out how to show your favorite community manager a little holiday love.

1. Dammit Dolls – A perfect way to blow off steam at your desk and much cuter than a stress ball. (HT to @dgarberhds for sharing this in the Network!

2. Data Nerd Holiday Cards –  Fun and witty cards for any holiday you might be celebrating from Stephanie Evergreen (@evalu8r)

3. Mugs – Whether you’re herding cats or getting sh*t done you’re going to need a lot of coffee, or tea, or wine (no judgment here…)

4. Balance Ball Chair – Apparently all this sitting is killing us – fight back with a seat that works your core!

5. Treadmill Desk – This takes “walk the walk” to a whole new level.

6. Hand Knit Snuggie – Offices get cold – suit up with your own hand knit snuggie. (Note: this is not available for purchase online, so you’re going to either have to bribe someone over at Ravelry or get to knitting yourself…)

Not pictured, but still great ideas:

7. A gift certificate to a cool local class in their area – help your favorite community manager find an IRL community of their own!

8. And of course a membership to TheCR is always a great idea!

Here is a small virtual gift from us to you:

The Best Eggnog Recipe in the Whole World 

 

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