This is not your usual marketing email.

It is not a list of gifts generated by the marketing folks, nor is it the overstocked product the supply chain folks want cleared.

Times are tough, and we are mindful that our business doesn’t operate in a vacuum. These are recommendations for practical, useful gifts pulled from my personal order history (well, the last 422 orders, anyway). They are all items I have bought multiple times, use frequently, and have given as gifts. They are also affordable, universally useful, and excellent value.

The first is a small socket set – I have purchased seven of these. It is one of the tools I use most, and one stays in our kitchen. The ratchet is beautifully made, polished, and plated. It just feels right for a small tool. It is supplied with an extension, a hex bit adapter, and a selection of useful driver bits. It will handle virtually every household task that requires either a screwdriver or a wrench. I have multiple socket sets (up to 3/4" drive), and this one is by far the most useful.

The second is our inexpensive battery tester. It just always works (it does NOT need batteries!) and ensures you don’t send a battery off for recycling before its time. It will test all regular household batteries, button cells, and 9-volt ones too. I keep one with our stash of batteries (home and cottage) and one in the shop.

Divider boxes and stacking jars are another favorite – 52 sets there. They are not only good for organizing your shop, they make excellent gifts when loaded with hardware or tools that you choose for the recipient. I have built and given screw assortments, picture hanging sets, bit and driver sets, and drywall anchor sets. Curating a selection of hardware or small bits is really giving the benefit of your experience and judgement as to what the receiver can use.

At the “upper” end of the gift scale is the set of four bistro knives – 13 sets so far. The finely serrated edge slices easily through any skinned or fibrous food with ease. Far better than typical kludgy oversized wood-scaled steak knives, they do not look out of place at a barbecue or in the dining room (we have far more of the former…).

Of course, I have many other favorites among the other 1500 items in my order history, but these are the ones that have the highest success rate as gifts!

Cheers –

Robin C. Lee
Chief Executive Officer