Beyond the Affiliate Links: What Real Curation Looks Like (A Holiday Gift Guide)
|
Time to read 9 min
A Guest Post by Gladfellow Owner Jeff Galfer
Every year as the holidays approach, a familiar set of traditions returns. The days grow shorter. The leaves change color. Decorations appear. And, of course, countless “curated” gift guides flood your screen.
Over the past decade, the word curated has lost much of its meaning. Many of these so-called guides claim to showcase an editor’s favorite finds, yet in reality, they’re often driven by paid placements or affiliate incentives rather than genuine discovery.
At Gladfellow, we’ve never believed in that approach. From the beginning, our mission has been simple: to curate in the truest sense of the word — to seek out exceptional pieces from remarkable craftspeople and share them with those who appreciate quality and character.
In this piece, I’d like to take you behind the scenes of that process — and explain why so many “Top 10 Gifts for Him” lists miss the mark, and how true curation can make all the difference.
Why you should trust us:
- We test each product vigorously and stand by their quality.
- We are consumers ourselves, having bought and used the very products we sell.
-
We have an established presence in the EDC community and are known for our taste, attention to detail, and care for our customers.
Want to know more? Visit Gladfellow.
Table of Contents
The Traditional Curation Process How Gladfellow Curates Tokyo Pipe Co. at Our Core The Snowball of Curation Jeff's Honest (and Real) Recommendations The Wife Buying for Her Husband Who is Impossible to Buy For The Wife Buying for her Husband Who Can't Sit Still The Husband Who Simply Does Not Know What his Wife Will Like The Person Who Has Everything The Person Who Returns Everything Conclusions Frequently Asked Questions
Give small makers and true craftsmen a fighting chance this holiday season.
Discover thoughtful gifts built to last — chosen for story, quality, and soul.
Skip the affiliate hype and shop real curation from people who actually care.
The Traditional Curation Process
To understand how we curate at Gladfellow, it helps to first look at how the majority of editorial curation works today.
While there are certainly exceptions, most editors discover products through one of two channels: a public relations representative who pitches the product, or a direct paid arrangement between the brand and the publication.
In both cases, the editor typically receives a free sample and earns a commission through referral links included in their articles. Each time a reader clicks through and makes a purchase, the publication receives a percentage of the sale.
Those commissions can range anywhere from 5% to as high as 20%. When combined with the cost of sending free samples, this curation model quickly becomes unsustainable for many small, independent brands.
Beyond the ethics of recommending products based on compensation, this approach towards curation creates another issue: it sidelines many exceptional makers who can’t afford to participate. As a result, the same well-funded names appear on list after list, while truly remarkable brands go unseen.
How Gladfellow Curates
Unlike paid editorial curation, our process is rooted in something far simpler — and far rarer: genuine appreciation.
If we love a product, we invite the brand behind it to join our store. If we don’t, we don’t. It’s that straightforward. True curation at its core.
While this might sound obvious, it’s actually quite uncommon in today’s e-commerce landscape, where commissions, partnerships, and paid placements often shape what customers see.
At Gladfellow, we approach curation as consumers first.
We shop. We meet the craftspeople. We study their process. We learn their stories. And when we find something made with integrity and intent — something we’d be proud to own ourselves — that’s when it earns a place at Gladfellow.
Tokyo Pipe Co. at Our Core
When I launched Gladfellow in May 2023, I wanted to build the store around one of my favorite purchases of all time — the Tokyo Pipe Co. Field L in brass.
I can’t even recall exactly how I first came across it, but the moment I saw it, I was captivated. The design had a vintage spirit paired with modern precision. It was solid brass — a material I’ve always admired — sturdy, well-built, and endlessly reliable.
What drew me in wasn’t just its look or function, but its character. It could be polished to a shine or left to develop a rich patina. It required care and attention — part of the joy of owning something made to last. And with a simple motion, it created fire — a small, beautiful act of utility and ritual.
That single lighter became the foundation of Gladfellow — a symbol of craftsmanship, longevity, and quiet refinement. It’s where our story began.
The Snowball of Curation
From there, the path forward became clear. The brands that would ultimately come to define Gladfellow were chosen by asking a simple series of questions:
Is this product exceptionally made?
Is the brand preserving its value — or diluting it by selling on mass-market platforms like Amazon?
Does the brand have a story worth telling?
Are the craftspeople behind it among the best at what they do?
Each brand that answered those questions with a resounding yes earned its place.
Individually, they represent excellence in their craft. But together, they form the foundation of what Gladfellow has become — a store defined not just by the products we carry, but by the integrity, artistry, and character they share.
My Honest (and Real) Recommendations
Our store now offers hundreds of products, and I rarely single out just a few. But since this article is about genuine curation and honest recommendations for holiday gifting, I think a few thoughtful suggestions are worth sharing.
I'll break these into easy to digest suggestions with a short explanation as to why I think it would be a great gift.
The Wife Buying for Her Husband Who is Impossible to Buy For
Men like fire and you won't find a better selection of beautifully machined lighters anywhere else.
This year, my recommendation is the:
Kiribi Tsuchime Brass & Black Butane Lighter
Defined by its art deco aesthetic and iconic cap toggle shaped to resemble the wings of a samurai's "kabuto" battle helm, the Kiribi Kabuto pipe lighter collection is simply stunning.
The Tsuchime black & brass version pairs a hand-hammered brass body with deep black accents, creating a bold contrast that highlights the Kabuto’s iconic design.
Over time, the raised portions of the black will wear (patina), showcasing more and more of the classic brass underneath.
There are many luxury lighters on the market. Kiribi has made something that is truly unique and a real conversation starter at a fabulous price point.
The Wife Buying for her Husband Who Can't Sit Still
I'm a trinket person and I love fidgeting with interesting metal objects - particularly when I find myself unable to sit still and need just a little action to ground me.
A brand I have come to know and love is Fiddle Foundry. Steven makes some of the best spinning tops and fiddle trinkets on the market and I can't recommend his products highly enough.
This year, my favorite of his is:
Fiddle Foundry Fiddle Coin
Flip it. Twirl it. Spin it. The choice is yours.
Masterfully crafted from tellurium copper and naval brass, this 1.5-inch, ~70 gram marvel is designed for both flipping and spinning, featuring a precision 2mm ceramic bearing for smooth, effortless motion.
Each piece is individually crafted (no two are the same), hand-machined, and hand-finished, showcasing a unique hammered copper surface and a forced patina that exudes timeless elegance.
Proudly made in the USA, this one-of-a-kind fidget coin combines artisanal craftsmanship with functional beauty, making it an elegant addition to any EDC collection.
The Husband Who Simply Does Not Know What his Wife Will Like
While Gladfellow naturally leans toward the fellows, we carry plenty that suits anyone. And few things transcend gender quite like something that simply smells good.
This year, my favorite smelling incense are:
TOKYO KODO Incense - Cacao
The very name cacao (the chocolate tree) is rooted in a Greek word meaning “food of the gods.” Revered since ancient times as a sacred offering in rituals and ceremonies, cacao has long carried an aura of mysticism.
Today, chocolate has transcended those origins to become a beloved indulgence across the world, adored in all its forms.
This incense channels the mysterious energy of cacao, transforming the essence of chocolate into an invisible fragrance.
It’s difficult to describe a smell, so I’ll describe what it evokes: calm, warmth, safety, energy, and home.
These sticks strike that rare balance — rich and inviting without ever tipping into the heavy, head-shop territory. Simply put, I cannot recommend them enough.
The Person Who Has Everything
I have friends and family who quite literally have everything. It's impossible to buy for them and nothing ever seems to surprise them. In these unique situations. there is no better place to look than vintage.
Vintage is often one-of-a-kind. There is a good chance the receiver does not already have it. And there was a quality and craftsmanship many vintage goods had that no longer can be replicated.
This year, my favorite vintage good is:
1920's Demley NY Mechanical AutoDice
This remarkable mechanical dice roller features two internal D6 (six-sided) wheels that spin with the push of a button, effectively simulating the experience of rolling dice.
Originally crafted in the 1920s, the Demley Auto-Dice stands out as a unique piece of functional art, perfect for tabletop role-playing games or as an eye-catching conversation starter in any game room or collection.
These are extremely rare - particularly one in good, working condition. You will not regret it.
The Person Who Returns Everything
One of the things I’m most proud of at Gladfellow is our exceptionally low return rate. Our customers love what they receive — and they tend to keep it.
We all know someone who can’t help themselves — the friend, the sibling, the relative who’s impossible to please. Nothing ever seems quite right.
So here’s a short list of pieces that almost no one sends back — items that consistently earn a “keeper” status.
If your most particular gift recipient unwraps one of these, I’m confident they’ll join the club.
The James Brand The Pike Folding Knife
ZeroFeud/Gladfellow Keycap Fidget Clicker
Hassler Instruments Bolt Action Spring Bar Tool - Gladfellow Edition
ReyLight Pineapple Mini Flashlight MK3
Conclusion
I love what I do. I love to shop. I love discovering and recommending great products. I love meeting the experts who make them — and the customers who appreciate them. I love everything about this store.
This holiday, give yourself a break from affiliate links. They hurt small businesses and the craftspeople behind the goods you’re buying. They inflate prices, reward middlemen, and funnel money to the same few giants.
Instead, give us — and the brands we believe in — a chance. I promise you won’t be disappointed in what we’ve built.
For years, I’ve said that possessions are not just things. The pieces we curate are companions for life — objects that join you along the way, collecting stories and memories of their own. They’re meant to be used, cherished, and eventually passed down for generations to come.
Frequently Asked Questions
Regarding curation, how does Gladfellow choose a brand to list?
We have high standards for inclusion. We are serious about quality, value, and (to some degree) exclusivity. If your brand sells on Amazon (or a similar marketplace), engages in steep discounts merely to drive extra sales, or is not committed to maintaining the price/value of your products, we may not be the right fit.
That being said, if you have a product that is expertly made, unique, and not sold in the traditional marketplaces, we'd be very interested in meeting you.
Does Gladfellow pay for affiliate links?
No, we do not. We expect editors - like ourselves - to love the products we carry and list them organically.
Who is Jeff, the owner of Gladfellow?
Jeff Galfer is the founder and owner of Gladfellow. A longtime collector of luxury accessories, he created the brand to share his appreciation for expert craftsmanship and thoughtful design. His eye for detail comes from a career as a multidisciplinary artist — an accomplished actor, writer, producer, and photographer.
Who We Are
About Gladfellow
Known for their carefully curated goods of expert craftspeople from around the world, Gladfellow has been the home for sophisticated, boutique luxury accessories since its inception in 2023.
Shop Small
Support Small Businesses
Personalized Service & Support
Curated For You
Top Quality Store