Here are the best and affordable places to shop in the comfort of your home

It’s the most wonderful time of the year. This is a season that you find salespeople standing along corridors to waylay people into their shops with a promise of discounts.

Also, with office parties and Secret Santa popular this month, it is the perfect time to shop for gifts.
“Just what I have always wanted!” How often have you heard this pleasant response from someone you have gifted? Not as often as you’d hoped?
Showering your loved ones with the perfect presents can be both exciting and stressful, as we know.
Where do you get an item that is quirky, eccentric or practical for your beloved? We have curated a list of places both physical and online that you should consider checking.

House of Leather

House of Leather & Gifts is an established company that has been in existence for more than 20 years. Here, you are likely to find an array of unique products for the home, his and her gifts, as well as toys for the children.
They are located at Crossroads Mall- Karen, Muindi Mbingu Street, Kenrail Towers- Westlands, NHC Building- Aga Khan Walk, Elysee Plaza- Kilimani Road, Ridgeways Mall- Kiambu Road and The Panari Sky Centre- Mombasa Road.

Maasai Market

The vibrant Maasai Markets, which are basically open markets across the country offer opportunities for handicraft shoppers to buy some of the rich collection of African arts and crafts at reasonably low prices.
Curios, baskets, kikoy clothing, bead work jewellery, among many other interesting African handicrafts are what you can find there.
Notably, there is usually no market on Mondays but here is where you could go on any other day of the week.
Tuesday- Kijabe Street Park next to Nairobi River and Prestige Plaza along Ngong Road
Wednesday- Capital Centre along Mombasa Road
Thursday- The Junction Mall along Ngong Road
Friday- The Village market along Limuru road & Lavington Mall
Saturday -The High Court parking opposite Re-Insurance Plaza & Prestige Plaza along Ngong Road
Sunday -Yaya Centre in Hurlingham

Purpink Gifts & Florists

Purpink is an online and physical gift shop that sells flowers, floral hampers and gifts. They also offer original gift ideas, many of which are designed and produced in-house by the team. They also customise meaning that you can have a gift made exclusively for that person you want to gift.
For instance, a trendy and classy lunch bag for men is made of canvas and is available in different colours including green, red, khaki and black. You can personalise it with the name of the recipient to make it an extra special gift for Sh 2,500. Purpink also offers a range of personalised cards to choose from.

Keswick Book & Gifts

This gift shop stores Christian resources, among them Christian literature books, Bibles, customized pens, key holders, mugs, notebooks as well as books by some of your favourite Christian authors.

Soove

Established in 2017, Soove, which is pronounced as Suu-v, is an online gift shop that honours itself for spreading love and good wishes to loved ones through unique gifts and curated hampers for special occasions.
Their selection of gift items is a blend of quality internationally sourced brands as well as locally made products.

Inscribe Kenya

With a same-day-delivery policy, Inscribe Kenya personalizes gifts to your loved ones by inscribing messages on items like photo and message frames, key holders, stationery, drinkware, wall hangings, among many others. They are located along Kenyatta Avenue, but also offer online services.

Utamaduni Craft Centre

Just like Maasai Market, Utamaduni Craft Centre located on Bogani Road is an artisan market where you can get some of the best art and craft items that are carefully crafted to perfection. They include handicraft, drawings, woven baskets and containers, pottery among many others.

Wazawazi

Located at Valley Arcade, Wazawazi is a Kenyan brand that specialises in the design and manufacturing of leather goods in Kenya, creating leather handbags, men's leather accessories and leather home decor accessories.

Spinners Web

Spinners Web in Loresho is a collective of different shops that have a range of products such as jewellery, pottery, handicraft, décor items and flowers, making you spoilt for choice when trying to pick a gift item for your loved one.

Lulu Kitololo Studios

Lulu Kitololo Studios provides a wide selection of stationery, gifts and wall art, at their brand-new studio, in Nairobi on James Gichuru Road, though many of their products can be found online.
The vintage Swahili Combs spiral notebook in turquoise and orange from Lulu Kitololo Studios is a perfect gift for a planner. It goes for Sh 2000

Polka Dot Gift Shop

Located along Lenana Road, Koinange Street and Monrovia Street, Polka Dot Gift Shop stocks a variety of designer, customised and personalised gifts that are genuine products from top brands in the industry ranging from beauty & personal care, books, watches, designer bags & purses, diaries & note books, drawing art & painting, food & beverage and greeting cards.

Signature Kenya

Signature Kenya offer products for individuals and businesses ranging from note books, ebony pens, leather folders, iPad holders, tea storage sets, candle holders, paintings, stationary sets, among others. They are located along Peponi Road in Westlands.

Smart Lady Home

From cushion covers to plush carpets, Smart Lady offers a boho-chic vibe if you’re looking to help a friend or family’s home decorate their homes this festive season. They are located at Westfield Mall along Gitanga Road and Sasa Mall along Moi Avenue. Alternatively, you can reach out to them and have your items delivered to your doorstep.

Blueline Gift Shop

Located in Westlands’ Muthithi Road, Blueline offers items such as customized T-shirts, pens, calendars, diaries and note books among many others. They also offer a detailed gifts catalogue from which you can choose your preferred gift, especially perfect for colleagues.

Mjine Home
Launched in 2018, Mjine Home is an African inspired Eco-friendly and cruelty free handmade scented candle company in Kenya that is purely online. All their products are sustainably sourced to make the world a better place- making your gift a win-win!

Planty Kenya

Treat your plant-lover family member or friends to a variety of indoor or outdoor plants from @planty_kenya on Instagram. They have a succulent gifting series that include succulent plants and a personalised card. Additionally, they sell vases and planter stands, and offer advice on how to take care of the plants.
The Cheekman from Planty Kenya is a perfect gift for the season, especially if you're someone's secret Santa. Cheekman with inch plant is Sh 2,100 while Cheekman only will have you parting with Sh1,950

Kanyiva Studio

Kanyiva Studio offers modern, Kenyan-made and functional baby essentials as well as home and nursery décor pieces that would be ideal Christmas gifts for that friend who just got, or is about to receive an additional member to the family.

Greenspoon

The festive season can be hard on some people because of lack of finances, especially now that we are still dealing with the economic downturn fronted by the Covid-19 pandemic.
Greenspoon is an online store that can help you bring a smile to a loved one by sending over food or grocery basket from them. They also offer sustainable gifts such as recipes that your loved ones can try at home, and quality ingredients, delivered to their doorstep.

JooJoo stores

Launched in early December, this platform is an online market for Kenyan artisans and fashion houses to display their merchandise and for customers to access affordable and quality products. You can buy Ankara dresses, Maasai sandals, organic beauty products and exotic jewelry at competitive prices. At the moment there is an ongoing sale and you can enjoy up to 20 percent discounts on some products. One of the items on bargain is a pair of natural stone turquoise tear-shaped earrings going for Sh1560 down from Sh1960.

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