10 Personalized Gifts College Graduates will LOVE!

Personalized gifts for your college graduates just got easier to find! Here are 10!!

Are you sentimental? Do you cringe at the thought of giving a gift card or cash, even if that’s EXACTLY what the college graduate has requested? ME TOO!!

When it comes to gifts for the pivotal points in a person’s life, I want my gift to be meaningful — yes, cash and a gift card can be that — but also MEMORABLE!! Now if you’re able to gift enough money to well, say buy a car or cover the downpayment on a condo, then that certainly passes the meaningful and memorable test. But what if, just what if you’re part of the real world and your gift is more in the “Under $300” or even in the “Under $100” categories?? Sorry, but that typically won’t be remembered in 5 or 10 years. Just try to remember what $200 gift (or below) you gave for Christmas three years ago. Tough right!

So here is a shortlist of 10 personalized gifts that your college graduate will (A) use all the time, and (B) remember. Note: If you’re gifting to someone who WON’T remember your gift from this list then maybe they shouldn’t be getting a gift at all. Yup, I said it!!

Some of these gifts are items you can get from ASC, others aren’t. I’m truly trying to provide you with a great and usable guide to help make your college graduation gifting earlier. Oh, most of these are for the ladies but some will be good for those boys of your’s too!

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Gift guide: initials and monograms are memorable

The great thing about monograms and initials are that they ALWAYS circle back. They happen to be in style NOW but who knows about three years from now? What is a fact is that even if they go out of trend in a few years, they will be back. Buying traditional styles will ensure that when they do come back, your gift will see a new life. AND you’ll be remembered again for the thought of giving something truly personal.

Here are a over 10 options in a variety of price ranges that are completely on-trend NOW for your college graduate and will be for a very long time:

1. Initial disc pendant necklace

Here is the One in a Million Initial Pendant Necklace from Kate Spade with a first or last initial at the reasonable price of $58 available through Nordstrom.

2. Engravable chain bracelet

This dainty bracelet combines the tradition of engraving with a style that is popular with college-age ladies. This is the Linear Friendship Chain Bracelet by Monica Vinader is $275. It’s also available through Nordstrom and can be engraved through your own jeweler or at select Nordstrom locations.

3. custom cosmetics bag

Personalized gifts aren’t just jewelry. Here’s a request straight from my own daughters. They have been trying for years to find a cosmetics bag that is big enough to carry all of their essentials. Style is important too, so together we came up with a couple of styles that I can make and modify for your graduate. You can create a look that you think best reflects your graduate’s taste and style! (Prices will vary depending on materials. Range $90-$150)

Note: These can be personalized with initials using either fabric paint, gold foil, or heat press or left completely blank as in the second image..

You can email me to start discussing the design you would like!

4. personalized portfolio

Personalized gifts are great for a new professional. A personalized portfolio is also super practical. The one shown below is a pattern that I purchased to make. I haven’t made it YET but will be soon. When I do, it can be customized in the color and personalization. Here, what you see is a heat stamp. This can be done or it can be a gold foil stamp with the graduate’s initials. LOVE!! (Price will vary depending on materials.)

If you’re interested in having one made for you or your graduate, email me!

5. business card holder

Here’s something that is truly personal and unexpected for your graduate. It’s a two-part gift. First, a business cardholder. I’ll give you a few options in different price points.

Here’s one I found on Amazon that comes in an array of colors. It’s just $5.99!!!

This next one is available from Nordstrom.com. It’s the Tory Burch Perry Zip Leather Card

The last one I’ll share is a bit more of a luxury that some may be fortunate enough to be in a position to give. This is the Chloé Marci Leather Flap Card Holder available for $260 at Nordstrom.com.

6. Calling cards

The business card holders above weren’t personalized, that was just Part (A). For Part (B), together we design a calling card for your graduate. Yes, this “harkens” back to the old days when the glamorous women from the era of “Breakfast at Tiffany’s” would have calling cards to hand out. Today, this doesn’t seem to happen. Yet, when our college graduates are networking possibly prior to having business cards from their new jobs, they really can use a way to distribute their personal contact information.

Calling cards of today won’t look like those of days gone by. Think of a design with their name, email, cell, LinkedIn, and other (clean) social media channels that are relevant. In addition, if your graduate creates an online resume and portfolio (which they really should do), then the link can be included as well.

Together, these are not only practical gifts, but one they won’t get from someone else! Reach out to start planning!

7. professional Tote Bag

Tote bags are a MUST have in the working world. They are the briefcases of yesterday for the young professional woman. Here are three options, by price point, that will hit the mark with your graduate!

First up is the rag & bone Field Leather Tote available at Nordstrom.com. It’s a perfect balance between classic and trendy that your graduate will absolutely be unable to live without once they start using it. The price is $495 but as I write this it’s on sale for 40% off!!!

The second option is a crazy functional leather tote from Dagne Dover. If you’re not familiar with this company, check out their story by listening to No LImits with Rebecca Jarvis. This is the Dagne Dover Large Allyn Leather Tote Interior and comes in at a reasonable price of $345. You might be saying to yourself, “Reasonable???”. For a well-made leather tote bag that will last for years and years, yes this is a reasonable price. Just consider that a Louis Vuitton Neverfull (also a fabulous college graduation gift) comes in at approximately $1,400 and up depending on your size. This bag is a great purchase!

I mean seriously, look at this interior!

8. Custom made tote bag

But wait, these aren’t personalized. No, they aren’t. No worries, I can take care of that for you. If you do want a tote bag that’s personalized and possibly a little less than what I’ve shown above BUT for less but still want it to be special, just email me. We can design one together and personalize it for your graduate. A leather tote bag that I design for you will be in the range of $150 to $300 depending on your selections. Add in canvas, and that price can go down.

9. bags for travel

Now that college is over, your graduate will have a LOT more reasons to travel including job interviews, wedding events, year abroad, business trips, and friends get-together weekends. That’s why having a really great quality carry-on is vital. TUMI is well regarded as an amazing brand for luggage. Yes, this guy — the TUMI V3 International 22-Inch Expandable Wheeled Carry-On — comes in more than any of the other gifts ($594) I’m showing you here BUT if you can swing it, this will last your graduate years!

Not sure about spending that much but love the idea of getting them a bag for travel. Try this packable TUMI Voyageur Just In Case^® Packable Nylon Tote. It’s perfect for them to store in their suitcase and then pull out when their shopping trips work out too well! This bag is just $100 or $80 if you get it on sale, which happens to be at the time of writing this post!

10. Personalized luggage and card tag holders

So “How,” you ask, “Does this fit into personalized gifts??”. Well, I have a solution! I make luggage tags and cardholders that can coordinate with the bags AND are personalized for your graduate! WIN-WIN! Just email me and we can get it started!

recap: 10 personalized gifts for your graduate

That’s it but this has been a LONG post so let’s recap for you the personalized gifts that are a sure fire win with almost any graduate:

1. One in a Million Initial Pendant Necklace available at Nordstrom.
2. Monica Vinader Engravable Linear Chain Bracelet available at Nordstrom.
3. XL Custom Cosmetics Bag available through ASC.
4. A personalized portfolio case available through ASC.
5. A business card holder, with three options: Amazon, Tory Burch Perry Zip Leather Card, and the Chloé Marci Leather Flap Card Holder.
6. Personalized calling cards available through ASC.
7. A professional tote bag, with two options: rag & bone Leather Field Tote Bag and the Dagne Dover Large Allyn Leather Tote.
8. A custom-made tote bag available through ASC.
9. TUMI bags for travel in two sizes: TUMI V3 International 22-Inch Expandable Wheeled Carry-On and the TUMI Voyageur Just In Case^® Packable Nylon Tote.
10. Personal luggage tags and business card holders available through ASC.

Each of these are personal, meaningful, and memorable. Your gift will be well-used and fit into their new lifestyle perfectly as they embark into a new phase of exciting adventures!

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