Whether it’s wine, clothing or organic cosmetics, Wisconsin-based entrepreneurs are making an array of products that could make perfect gifts. And with the holidays and gift-giving season quickly approaching, Wisconsin Inno wanted to give our readers some local inspiration.
Below is a list of Wisconsin-made products from local startup and tech companies that offer a range of different gift ideas, and we’ve listed items from affordable to splurge-worthy.
But if you’re still having trouble finding the right gifts for the people in your life after reading this list, consider turning to GiftGuru, a Madison startup that helps you “effortlessly” manage your gifting all in one place.
Halo Vino $5-$15.99
For the wine-lover in your life, consider buying them a set of Halo Vino’s wine tumblers. The reusable, dishwasher-safe tumblers are made from BPA-free, recyclable plastic. The startup's mission is to limit the number of plastic cups entering landfills. Halo Vino, based in Milwaukee, makes its tumblers shatterproof and they even float in pools.
American Provenance $7.50-$30
Making all-natural, minimal-ingredient personal care items, like deodorant, shaving products and lip balms, American Provenance is selling several gift boxes with their signature line. Founded in Blue Mounds by Kyle LaFond, a former middle school science teacher, American Provenance makes its products without chemicals, additives or artificial ingredients.
Nutkrack $8-$26
Based in Madison, Nutkrack makes candied pecans made with just salt, sugar and canola oil. Nutkrack, founded by Eric Rupert, is now available in more than 30 locations in Madison and at several other stores throughout the state, such as Beans & Barley in Milwaukee and Relish Kitchen Store in Sheboygan.
Meeper Bot $17.99-$10,000
This Whitewater-based company makes robotics kits for kids. The kits can make automobiles, circuit boards and other robotic accessories.
Au Naturale $18-$250
Specializing in bold, long-lasting and all-natural cosmetics, Au Naturale offers foundations, mascaras and lipsticks. The company’s cosmetics are developed in a proprietary lab in Green Bay and are all vegan, organic and paraben-free. Au Naturale sells holidays gift sets as well as individual cosmetics.
Wantable $25+
To help someone in your life add some stylish pieces to their wardrobe, send them a Wantable gift card. With cash to spend, gift recipients can take Wantable’s style quiz and be connected to stylists that will curate a box of garments tailored for them.
WiscoBoxes $37-$90
This e-commerce gift box startup exclusively sells items from artists and makers in the state of Wisconsin. WiscoBoxes sources items from nearly 50 vendors in more than 70 towns in the state. Many of the gift boxes are themed, and include the Purebred Cheesehead for Green Bay Packers fans and Something Blue for weddings.
Call of Duty $63.99-$71.99
If you didn’t already know, much of the development of the popular Call of Duty video games is done in Madison by Raven Software, a video game developer that’s also behind award-winning games like Star Wars Jedi Knight II and Marvel: Ultimate Alliance. The Call of Duty franchise is a first-person shooter game set during World War II, the Cold War, modern times and futuristic worlds.
The Honest Bison $99-$324.99
Whether you’re a chef or a steak-lover, you’re bound to appreciate one of The Honest Bison’s Chef Boxes. Each box comes with several cuts of assorted steaks, burgers and bacon. The Honest Bison specializes in 100 percent grass-fed bison, venison and elk meat, much of which is sourced from a 50-acre ranch in Cadott, where the company herds its cattle.
Bright Cellars $100-$1,200
Now that you bought that wine-lover in your life wine tumblers, consider getting them a Bright Cellars giftbox so they can take the startup’s quiz to start discovering wines that match their taste buds. Located in Milwaukee, Bright Cellars delivers wine based on a machine-learning algorithm that picks brands you’re likely to enjoy.
