This holiday season at Connamara, we wanted to share some of our favorite products we’ve tried this year with our clients, prospective colleagues, and future employees. So, we turned to our very own Connamarians for some authentic, handpicked gift recommendations.
For The Office
We’re a 100% remote company, logging in from all over the world – and have been for most of our 25-year history. Upgrade your setup – in-office or WFH – to make every day a little easier.
- Flexispot Sit-Standing Desks (~$200). The company offers dozens of colors and customizable features to get your posture and comfort level just right.
- SightPro Magnetic Privacy Screens for Mac and PC (~$30) are perfect for working in a coffee shop, coworking space, or airplane. At Connamara, we take security seriously, and SightPro’s models prevent the most curious of eyes. When you’re done using them or want to clean them, the magnetic aspect allows them to be popped off easily.
- Evoluent Vertical Mouses (~$80-$110) may be one of the most expensive clickers on the market. However, the ergonomic design prevents arm twisting and can lessen repeated stress fractures caused by power computing and coding sessions.
- Bose QuietComfort 45 Bluetooth Headphones (~$300) are a top pick on many lists this year. Extremely comfortable and offering 22 hours of battery life, you can dial in and get everything done.
- Kinesis Freestyle Pro Keyboard (~$170) was shouted out by multiple Connamarians for its ergonomic split design. It may take some getting used to, but worth it in the long run for your posture.
Thinking, Learning, Growing
Connamarians are about growing our network, our knowledge and our company engagement.
- High Output Management by Andrew S. Grove: We’ve talked about the impact this book by the former chairman and CEO of Intel has made on our company before. But, it’s basically required reading for our team. Using his real-life experience, Grove offers practical advice on effectively managing and optimizing business operations.
- Crazy Aaron’s Thinking Putty ($14-$28): Fidget toys are a must for working through creative problems or keeping your hands busy during video calls.
- Measure What Matters by John Doerr: One of Connamara’s favorite books to recommend, Doerr explains his system of OKRs (Objectives and Key Results), with case studies and real-life examples.
- Linq Card (various): This year, our leadership team began using NFC-tapping digital business cards through Linq. Not only do we save some trees, but we’ve built a networking system that allows us to share contacts and details about events. Trust us; your colleagues will be impressed at just how easy it is to tap a business card and store details automatically.
- Stadium Connamara Swag Shop (various): Our custom swag store, with the help of Stadium, allows us to send corporate swag all over the world. For companies looking to build a variety of corporate gifts, we recommend Stadium.
For the Kitchen
A lot of us are obsessive about our beverages we drink throughout the day – we wouldn’t have it any other way.
- Breville Bambino Espresso Machine (~$300): When Connamara had an office, we had a larger, Barista Express machine from Breville. But now that most of us work from home, our most dedicated coffee drinkers prefer the more compact Bambino. This is a great starter machine for those just getting into at-home barista-ing.
- Intelligentsia Black Cat Espresso (~$16): We are nothing if not loyal to our very favorite beans from Intelligentsia. When we had an office, this was our go-to obsession. Since we’ve gone fully remote, many of our employees still stock their home office kitchens with the timeless blend.
- Soda Stream (various): There isn’t much to say about Soda Streams that hasn’t been said already. But, it’s worth noting that long after the hype of the at-home soda device, our Connamarians still list it as a must-have in their work kitchens.
- Fellow Stagg Electric Pour Over Kettle (~$165): Chemex users and tea drinkers will love this aesthetic kettle. It doesn’t just boil: control the temperature so you can optimize your beverage.
- Triple Tree Manual Coffee Grinder With Ceramic Burrs (~$18): Coffee-making is a ritual, and hand-grinding your own beans means uniform-sized grounds. Plus, your loved ones will be able to sleep in as you quietly prep your beans.
Try Something New
These big-ticket items are most personal to us.
- Prusa MK4 3D Printer (~$1099+): We love to 3D print things, and this Prusa is the gold standard of machines. Engineering minds will love the advanced features.
- Pickleball Lessons (various): The hottest new sport sweeping the nation demands lessons. (And see #5)
- Complete Cake-Decorating Airbrush Kit (~$129) You don’t even need to know how to bake a cake to learn how to decorate them. This 24-color airbrush decorating kit is not just a fun toy – you can take the worry out of grocery store misspellings and impress your friends and family.
- Discovery Call with Connamara (TBD): Treat your team to a custom software solution in 2024. To start the process, schedule a call with our Sales Team.
- Tickets to Boca: The International Futures Industry Conference 2024 (starts at ~$1950): Join us as we make our way down to Florida on March 10-13 for a week of insights, networking, and valuable learning events. Our sister company, Connamara Technologies, will be hosting a Pickleball Lesson with Refreshments on March 13. We look forward to seeing you there!
