GIFTS THAT GIVE ALL YEAR

Wrapped the shirts? Boxed the video games? Re-gifted those chocolates? Check.

Still have a list to fill? Time running out? No worries; a year’s worth of smiles is a mouse click away. Gifts that keep on giving are among the most loved, and these days there are more options than ever. Subscriptions: they’re not just for magazines anymore.

And if you’re determined to have something to wrap, we’ve got a few hints for under the tree that will herald the gift to come.

SOCK SUPPLY

“Socks are kind of the new tie,” said Jonathan Howard of Californiabased Sock Panda, an increasingly popular online sock subscription service with 10,000 subscribers and growing — a quarter in Canada. Sock Panda delivers colourful and wacky, or sharp, stylish motifs to your door every month according to one of four selected style profiles. Whether simple colourful argyles or a fire-breathing unicorn riding a dolphin, there are sock designs for everyone on your list — a surprise every month. (Your purchase also helps Sock Panda donate socks — some 100,000 to date — to homeless shelters, lowincome senior centres, hospitals, and under-privileged classrooms throughout the United States.)

Sourced from a leading Peruvian sock manufacturer, one or two high-quality pairs are shipped each month for women, kids (who get two pairs, plus surprises) and men, who are the biggest clientele.

“Men make up approximately 55 per cent of all the socks we send out,” Howard said, adding that 70 per cent of those are from women “trying to step up their man’s sock game.”

Prices start at US$10/pair per month (plus $3 for international shipping).

Under-the-tree hint? The wildest sock you’ve got

www.sockpanda.com

FANTASTIC FOOD

Why not take your pal to Thailand, Martinique or Brazil for dinner?

OK, but you can still give them the sights, smells, sounds and flavours of fave destinations with Food Trip To, a Montreal firm that delivers a world of flavours right to your door. For about $40 every two months, Food Trip To ships a turnkey gourmet box that includes: recipe cards — from cocktails to dessert; six traditional products selected by a team of gourmet travellers; cultural cards about the country; anecdotes; movie recommendations; an exclusive video to introduce you to the country; a musical playlist; and more. Under-the-tree hint? Napkins www.foodtripto.com

WINE NOT?

For the oenophile on your list, consider Wine Collective, which curates wines from around the world to ship to your recipient. Starting at about $50 a month, packages include two bottles, professional wine-tasting notes, food-pairing suggestions, and a history of each wine. Whether newbies or sommelier-savvy, they’re sure to enjoy — and will maybe even invite you for a glass. Under-the-tree hint? Wine glass www.winecollective.ca

NETFLIX

If your recipient is from Mars, or not one of the estimated 6 million Canadians who know how to Netflix, then why not fix them up with a gift subscription? With packages ranging from $9 to $14, you can offer them series binging the chance to “Netflix and chill.” Grab a gift card at most major retailers and let them sign up, or sign them up yourself and pay the bill via credit card. You can even create their personalized viewing list from the thousands of available movies and shows. Under-the-tree hint? Popcorn www.Netflix.com

SMOOTH SHAVES

If a Netflix chill night means razor burn, then maybe your intended needs a shave. Head for Dollar Shave Club and get new razor blades delivered to his door monthly. (For a hearty laugh check out founder Mike Dubin’s cheeky video introducing the club and mocking competitors’ products.) Your buddy gets a free compatible handle and an array of cartridges ranging from $3.50/month for five Humble Twin blades — “The ’82 Wagon that starts when the temp’s below zero” — to the $9.50/month for four Executives — “This blade comes from the future and lives in outer space...”

Under-the-tree hint? Shaving cream

www.dollarshaveclub.com

CANINE TREATS

Don’t be a Grinch; be a cool Dog Uncle (or Aunt). For $20/month, Barkbox delivers fun and tasty treats to your doggie’s door. Each themed package contains at least two innovative toys, two all-natural bags of treats, and a chew. Under-the-tree hint? A bone www.barkbox.com

MONTHLY MAKEUP

Make up for your procrastinating gift-giving ways with some, well, makeup! Ipsy will deliver a makeup bag to your door each month, stocked with concealers, lip gloss, eyeliner, mascara, blush and other products selected according to a personalized palette and style guide. Prepay for a year — for about $20/monthly — and every four weeks a tailored parcel of health and beauty products is delivered to her front door.

Under-the-tree hint? Makeup remover pads

www.ipsy.com

LOCAL PRODUCE

If you’d like to double your impact, give a gift of yummy organic produce — and support local urban responsible agriculture — courtesy of Montreal’s very own Lufa Farms. Starting at $15/week, fresh fruits and veggies are picked straight off a rooftop greenhouse and immediately shipped to your local pickup spot on a weekly basis. It’s a delicious way to send holiday cheer. Lufa sells a lot of gift subscriptions this time of year, with many people buying for multiple recipients at once — or for their kids at school.

Under-the-tree hint? Plastic fruit

www.lufa.com