With the holiday season upon us, it's time to start chipping away at your shopping list.
Whether you're looking for a unique gift for that special someone, or inspiration for your own wish list, we've got you covered with more than a dozen products from consumer startups in Chicago.
From Oprah's favorite cocktail maker, to lab-grown diamond jewelry, check out our annual Chicago startup holiday gift guide below.
Unique jewelry from Local Eclectic's independent designers
Six-year-old jewelry startup Local Eclectic sells rings, necklaces, bracelets and other jewelry from dozens of independent designers across the world. The startup, which has taken off on Instagram with its roughly 640,000 followers, sources its jewelry from emerging designers that often can't be found at major retailers.
What to buy: The Rose Gold Rainbow Moonstone & Topaz Dancing Fairy Ring Stack (pictured)---$115
Lab-grown diamonds from Mine
Chicago startup Mine launched this year to offer diamond buyers a more sustainable and ethical alternative to natural diamonds, which can be sourced from conflict regions. Mine's diamonds are grown in labs overseas and designed in Chicago where the startup sells rings, necklaces, bracelets and earrings at a more affordable price point ($300 and $600).
What to buy: Mantra Cuff bracelet (pictured)---$385
A celebrity holiday shout-out from Cameo
Not every Cameo is a breakup video from Sugar Ray's Mark McGrath. Send your loved ones some holiday cheer this year with a video from Cameo, the VC-backed Chicago startup that lets fans buy celebrity shout-out messages. The startup, founded in 2017, features celebs like Queer Eye's Bobby Berk, former NFL Star Brett Favre, and characters like Happy Gilmore's Shooter McGavin.
What to buy: A Cameo from The Grinch---Free (in partnership with Universal Studios Hollywood)
Oprah's favorite cocktail maker
Bartesian is a countertop device that creates cocktails on demand. The Chicago startup which has been called the “Keurig for cocktails,” was recently named to Oprah’s 2019 Favorite Things list. Bartesian uses Keurig-like capsules to make drinks like an old fashioned, margarita, or gin martini. Each pod offers the appropriate amount of bitters, extracts, juice concentrates and other ingredients needed to make the perfect cocktail. Users provide their own alcohol, and simply push a button to make their drink.
What to buy: The Bartesian---$350
Cook smarter with Tovala's smart oven
Chicago startup Tovala offers a countertop oven that makes cooking restaurant-quality meals a breeze. Its smart oven, and accompanying meal delivery service, allows you to scan a QR code, place the meal in the oven, and Tovala will use the right combination of steam heat, baking and broiling to cook up a delicious meal.
What to buy: Tovala Smart Oven---$99 Black Friday deal (with a minimum of 6 meal deliveries). Regular retail price: $299
Some hair care from a Shark Tank star
Chicago hair care startup Curl Mix offers a range of beauty products for women with curly hair. The company appeared on ABC’s Shark Tank earlier this year and turned down an offer from longtime Shark Robert Herjavec, who said he’d invest $400,000 at 20%. Each of the company's products feature 12 ingredients or less and include natural oils from flaxseeds, grape seeds, aloe vera and avocado.
What to buy: Vanilla Berry Wash + Go System with Organic Castor Oil for Strengthening Hair---$80
Sweatpants you can wear to work
Public Rec makes sweatpants for men that are so stylish, you wouldn't even know they were sweatpants. The Chicago startup took off on Kickstarter in 2015, and today offers a range of products like pants, shorts, jackets and other items that can be worn both on the couch and in the office.
What to buy: All Day Everyday Pant (pictured)---$98
CBD from a serial entrepreneur
The CBD industry has skyrocketed in 2019, and one local entrepreneur is creating CBD gels, oils and creams specifically for women. Coco Meers, who previously sold her startup PrettyQuick to Groupon, launched Equilibria earlier this year alongside her business partner Marcy Capron Vermillion. The company looks to help women add CBD products into their daily routine to help with things like anxiety, sleep and menstrual cramp relief.
What to buy: All is Calm Holiday Box (pictured)---$205
A mystery tackle for your favorite fisherman
Skincare built for a man
Launched by three former Trunk Club employees, Bottlecode is helping men finally get skincare right. It works with customers to personalize their skincare regimens based on skin type, environment and lifestyle, and offers products that help with razor burn, blackheads, baggy eyes and more.
What to buy: Skin Type Starter Kit---$20
Denim dudes will love
Founded in 2015, Mugsy Jeans set out to create a stylish jean for guys that didn’t compromise on comfort and durability. It has created a proprietary denim blend that's flexible, durable, stylish and retains its shape after multiple wears. The startup recently opened its second retail location at The Shops at North Bridge. Mugsy’s first store is in the Fulton Market neighborhood.
What to buy: Clarks ThermoStretch jeans---$118
Build a better indoor garden
Chicago startup Rise Gardens has created an indoor, IoT-connected hydroponic system that is attractive enough to put in your living room and simple enough for anyone to grow a perfect head of lettuce. Founded by Hank Adams, a board member of 1871 and the former CEO of Sportsvision, Rise Garden is made out of hardwood and heavy-gage, powder-coated steel. It has a built-in water pump, seed sockets and a programmed LED light system that automatically shifts on and off to give plants the perfect amount of light.
What to buy: Rise Garden Single-Level Indoor Garden---$449
Send a purposeful gift
Chicago startup Packed With Purpose sells themed gift boxes filled with products from social impact vendors. Offering both corporate gifts as well as personal gift boxes, Packed With Purpose works with more than 100 companies, including Aspire Coffeeworks, a coffee company whose coffee is made by people with disabilities, and Bare Soaps, a soap maker that supports economic development in Uganda and India.
What to buy: Chicago Gourmet Goodness---$45
A workout at your office desk
Cubii is an under-desk elliptical trainer that helps you stay active even while you sit. The Chicago startup helps users burn an average of 150 calories per hour all while sitting at their desk at work or watching their favorite show on TV.
What to buy: Cubii Jr.---$249
