Blog & Social

Discover unexpected holiday gifts for your guy

If you ask a man what he wants for Christmas, you may hear that he already has everything he needs. But that’s a humbug of an answer! Fortunately, amid the festive artisan booths of the Southern Christmas Show, you’re sure to uncover a manly present that will both surprise and delight him. Our guests have an opportunity to explore hundreds of fantastic vendors – with more than a third of them selling unique, handmade items. With that many choices to consider, you’re sure to find the ideal option to make him merry this season. Here are a few eye-catching options from this year’s show:

1. For the Man Who Loves Cornhole: Choose Coinhole, the ultimate quarter-bouncing party game that turns any party into a competitive showdown. Built from high-quality, durable wood, each Coinhole board is sleek, smooth and ready for endless rounds of fun. This fast-paced game is simple – you only need to bounce a quarter off of a table and into the hole – easy to play, difficult to master and a challenge to walk away from! Coinhole is perfect for your man’s next tailgate, backyard barbeque or low-key night spent hanging out with his buddies. As an added bonus, it is both compact and portable if he needs to take it on the road. Coinhole is a small, family-owned business where every board is made in owner Jackson Martin’s backyard shop in Lattimore, N.C. Stop by Martin’s Woodworking at Booth 1204 to pick one up at the show.

2. For the Family Grill Master: Visit Baste Southern Style BBQ Sauces & Seasonings at Booth 3422 to find small-batch, handcrafted sauces and seasonings that have been meticulously formulated with the finest, carefully sourced and all-natural ingredients. Their unique blend of spices and fresh ingredients is designed to electrify his taste buds and breathe new life into every dish. Baste’s products are designed to infuse meats, vegetables, grilled fish and more with an unparalleled depth of flavor, taking his cooking from ordinary to extraordinary. They can be used as a dry rub or seasoning on meats, poultry or seafood, in marinades, dips and dressings, bread mixtures, when roasting nuts, or on grilled vegetables. The variety of sauces come in spicy, sweet and tangy flavors and also make great condiments! Baste is a family-owned and run small business located in North Carolina.

3. For the Guy Who Likes Genuine Leather: Head to Britt’s Leather Co. at Booth 1311 to purchase practical items he’ll adore like leather wallets, backpacks, laptop mats, duffle bags, journals and belts, as well as fashionable baseball hats. Britt’s Leather is a small, family-owned business based out of Higdon, Ala. that started in 1984. Owner Dylan Britt is a third-generation leathersmith in her family and said the company makes about 90 percent of its products. She and her husband are proudly carrying on a family tradition! The company is known for its 100 percent genuine leather belts that they will personalize for free. All the belts come with snaps, so you can change the buckle.

4. For the Avid Outdoorsman: Hike your way over to Jesse Brown’s at Booth 38 to find the perfect gift for the guy who loves spending time in nature! Recognized as the Southeast’s oldest independently run outfitting store, Jesse Brown’s began in Greer, S.C. in 1970 but found its permanent home in the Queen City in 1973. The shop caters to men who enjoy camping, hiking, canoeing, kayaking and fly fishing and is stocked with tents, rods and everything in between. It also sells lifestyle clothing and many must-haves for the outdoors like men’s boots, hammocks, sleeping bags, coolers and knives. The company is well-known for celebrating all the sports and adventures the Piedmont has to offer, as well as the clothing and gear they require. Find a few of his favorite things like fleece items from Patagonia or JayBeez Teez for a summer of exploration.

5. For the Man with Hometown Pride: Visit 704 Shop at Booth 25 to buy him something that will tell the world he supports his city! 704 Shop is the Charlotte region's original lifestyle brand, bringing together hometown pride and premium streetwear products. Founded in 2013 by three former UNC Charlotte college roommates, the company has a flagship storefront in historic South End, as well as a location at Charlotte Douglas International Airport. As a streetwear brand, 704 Shop’s core products are T-shirts, hats, hoodies and jackets, but they also offer branded accessories such as mugs, tumblers, wallets and lighters. Whether he’s a born and raised Charlotte native, a transplant new to the area or a guy currently living elsewhere but who grew up in the Charlotte region, you won’t go wrong with a carefully designed, fashion-forward gift that represents The Queen City!

6. For the Alumnus Who Bleeds Tar Heel Blue: If there’s a man in your life who is glued to the TV during March Madness while he cheers on the Tar Heels, swing by The Tar Heel Book at Booth 2040. UNC Chapel Hill graduate and North Carolina resident Ron Smith has written The Tar Heels in two volumes, which make the perfect gift for fans of the UNC men’s basketball team. The hard cover, coffee table books, encompass 50 years of research and cover the early history of the men’s basketball team. Each spans several hundred pages and boasts more than 500 images. The first volume follows the team from 1911-1961, while the second volume carries the story through the 1960s. Five more volumes will be published in the future. The sports aficionado in your life will appreciate that these volumes represent Smith’s attempt to write the most comprehensive books ever created about a college basketball team.

Don’t forget to visit our Virtual Vendor List to embrace your role as Santa’s magical elf and find presents from your favorite shops all year round. We can’t wait to welcome you to this year’s show celebrating the traditions and nostalgia of The 12 Days of Christmas!