A (Virtual) Duke Holiday Gift Guide
Find gifts from Duke for your loved ones, or yourself, without a visit to campus
The pandemic has made us rethink how we do a lot of things. And holiday shopping is no different.
While the University Store on West Campus is open to Duke students, staff and faculty, the Duke eSTORE has become a top destination for Duke-related shopping.
“Something that many people may not realize is that a lot of the merchandise we carry, you will not find anywhere else online,” said Duke University Stores Assistant General Manager Terri Laakso, who oversees the online store. “The selection of Duke merchandise at Duke Stores is going to be bigger than what you’ll find at any other store.”
One item of note is the 2021 Duke Calendar, featuring campus vistas and scenes, so turn the page on 2020, and check out a few new and popular gift options – which can easily be shipped to you – from Duke University Stores and other favorite Duke spots.
Holiday Flair
Each year, among the holiday offerings, is a new hand-painted ornament featuring a campus scene. This year’s ornament features Chapel Quad. Ornaments from previous years, dating back to 2014, are available online and feature campus spots such as the Sarah P. Duke Gardens, Cameron Indoor Stadium and the Davison Building.
“Our customers love these,” Laakso said. “We did a basketball ornament last year and it was sold out before Christmas.”
Also new this year is a beautiful Duke-themed star ornament.
True Blue Pets
From time to time, Laakso will invite customers to share photos and then post them on the Duke eSTORE Facebook page showing Duke fans and their pets decked out in Duke gear of their own.
“It’s really fun to see that level of dedication to Duke,” Laakso said. “It’s always a delight to see people get their pets involved.”
Whether a cheerleader dog dress, dog coat, or cat collar, there are plenty of fun items for the four-legged Duke fans there.
Baby Devils
Through Facebook, email or during visits to the store, customers often suggest ideas for products Duke University Stores should carry. One example is this cozy fleece romper for infants.
“We had customers reach out to us and ask if we could sell something similar,” Laakso said. “Their friends’ babies were wearing one from another university and said they’d really love it at Duke.”
The romper is one of several great gift ideas for young Duke fans, like a Nike body suit or plush sloth.
Bring Duke Home
The gift options go beyond apparel. There’s an ever-growing selection of home goods, such as a bottle cap-inspired wall clock, soft throw pillow and decorative sign, all of which are new this year.
Unique Gifts
Looking through the online selection on the Duke University Stores will yield several items that aren’t available elsewhere.
“There are numerous gift and apparel items that can only be found in Duke Stores as well as several logos that are available only on items sold on-campus and in the eSTORE,” Laakso said. “We not only retain some of the higher quality Duke products to sell, but many favorite Duke logos you will only find with us.”
Among these are a retro-style jacket, fashionable rectangle scarf, Duke blue earrings and soft quarter-zip sweater.
Be a Part of the Garden
While you can’t visit Sarah P. Duke Gardens due to the pandemic, you can give your loved ones the chance to stay connected through a gift membership.
The membership gives you access to virtual programs on gardening and nature, a monthly e-newsletter, subscriptions to Better Homes and Gardens and Martha Stewart Living magazines, and special admissions privileges and discounts at around 320 other gardens in North America.
Visit gardens.duke.edu/membership for more information.
Show Your Lemur Love
The Duke Lemur Center has several gifts available online, ranging from crewneck sweatshirts to plush lemurs. Fans of the critically endangered primates can also take part in a wide array of virtual programs, such as private virtual tours and opportunities to talk one-on-one with lemur experts.
And for a one-of-a-kind gift, get a piece of artwork created by the lemurs themselves.
Got something you would like for us to cover? Send ideas, shout-outs and photographs through our story idea form or write working@duke.edu.