12 Favorite Things of 2020 Introduced to Me by Publicists

This year, companies pulled out all the stops when it comes to sending samples. I’ve been blown away by the generosity of brands in the travel, health and food spaces when it comes to sending journalists gifts and products. There’s hardly a morning that goes by that FedEx or UPS doesn’t drop off at least a box or two, so in a way, it’s felt like Christmas for months now. I’ve shared some snapshots of fun and creative deliveries through Instagram stories as well as in my Office Hours series, but today, I wanted to round up some of my favorites. Each of these 12 things (one for every day of Christmas, as the song goes) were first put on my radar by publicists. Some I’ve written about, others I’m still waiting for the perfect opportunity to cover — but all of them I’ve enjoyed so much, I’ve also purchased them myself and recommend to all my family and friends.

Red Land Cotton Sheets

I first learned about this company from my sister-in-law, as they are based very near to where we now live in northern Alabama. When I connected with PR to pursue this story, she sent me a set of white cotton heirloom sheets. I’m now ruined on sheets from any other store; I’ll wash these again and again to keep them on our bed at all times.

Ember Mug

A sweet friend who happens to work in PR sent me this gadget as a housewarming gift. I never knew I needed a temperature control mug before — but now, I can’t live without this. I enjoy drinking my coffee extra hot and slow as I work on my stories each day, and this is the perfect way to keep it at the precise temperature I like it. (I imagine it would also be the perfect gift for busy moms who are always reheating their coffee in the microwave.)

Effie’s Homemade

Move over, any other cracker ever made. I was introduced to these heavenly little squares that are almost like a cookie as part of a cheese-tasting experience box, and I’ve bought them over and over ever since (pro tip for any fellow Southerners: They’re often on sale at Publix). The oatcakes were my favorite until I discovered the pecan biscuits.  

Clio Coffee

No offense to any Keurig lovers out there, but to me, any coffee that comes from a pod has always tasted repulsive. Until I met Clio. This sleek little gal was originally something I didn’t expect to like — but since I got sent a sample to try early this fall, it’s had a permanent home on our kitchen counter. I love how it makes a cup of espresso or an Americano in 30 seconds and tastes so delicious (so much so that I’ve set up a recurring subscription for the pods).

Methodical Coffee

We still do have a regular coffee maker that grinds fresh beans before it brews. Ever since I sampled Methodical Coffee in a gift box from a publicist earlier this year, it’s been my go-to order every other month. The bags are so pretty, I leave one out on the counter. The Blue Boy variety is about the smoothest coffee you’ll ever sip.

Sapsucker Water

For starters, this is just a fun name to say. I’m not one to drink anything other than coffee, water or wine, and LaCroix makes me gag. But I gave this sparkling tree water, made from maples in Canada, a try after a publicist friend sent me a few cans, and I couldn’t believe how refreshing it was. It’s hard to explain, but it’s less effervescent than other sparkling waters, making it easier to drink, and just has a hint of sweetness that’s the perfect afternoon pick-me-up.

Post House

So this isn’t a product, technically, but it’s a place I really fell in love with while visiting Charleston last month. Navigating a world that necessitates learning to travel safely with COVID, this 7-room boutique inn — put on my radar by a lovely local publicist — is pretty much my ideal hotel. The restaurant downstairs is fabulous, the interiors are seriously inspiring, and the European-meets-Southern vibe is so special. (Stories in the works!)

Monos Luggage

On past trips, I’ve been the only one in the crew without an Away bag, or so it seemed. Not a huge fan of the company itself, I never felt the need to upgrade my carry-on to one by the brand. And now, I don’t have to, because I discovered Monos thanks to PR. These gorgeous bags come in so many pretty colors (I have Blue Haze) and have an aerospace-grade laptop holder built in, which is going to be the feature that saves my aching backpack shoulders on my next trip.

Soma Pajamas

This has been a favorite brand of mine for a few years now, so I was happy when the publicist for the company reached out to share about their Cool Nights pajamas, which are made with the most buttery-soft fabric. Since they come in tall sizes, they are the first pair of PJ pants I’ve owned that are actually long enough! And the wide waistband makes them oh-so-comfy. My sister-in-law, niece and I all now have this matching pair (kids’ version here!).

Theraderm Skin Care

Early this year, after interviewing a few different dermatologists represented by a PR firm, they sent me a Theraderm anti-aging set as a thank-you. After using it for only a few weeks, I was hooked, and this has become my go-to skin care routine. I love using the fruit exfoliant every day, and my skin has never looked brighter or clearer.

Evergreen Waffles

Truthfully, I’m not sure I’ve ever bought a box of frozen waffles — they just really weren’t my thing. But when a publicist friend sent me a sampler of Evergreen to try, I was pleasantly surprised by how delicious they were, especially the pumpkin pecan flavor (and once my husband discovered them in the freezer, we fought over the last one). The list of real ingredients is stellar, and they make a great breakfast or snack ready in less than 5 minutes. (Story with a big national brand very close!)

Goat Butter

Sometimes you sample a product that’s truly so good you can’t remember how you managed without it. This sounds dramatic, but it was the case when the publicist for Meyenberg reached out pitching a story about baking with goat butter. I agreed to give it a try, and was so impressed with the quality and taste, I immediately pitched Real Simple on the idea and wrote this piece in a matter of a few days.

The moral of this story is, if you have a good product, it’s easy to help a journalist fall in love with it — if they are able to see it, taste it, feel it, experience it on their own. I don’t speak for all writers when I say this, but for me, I do not want to write about a product I can’t personally vouch for. I learned this lesson early on in my freelance career (the hard way), and it’s been important to me ever since.

I’ve so appreciated the effort that publicists have put in this year getting products in front of me. Keeping in mind that it takes some time for writers to sample items they’re sent (I rarely rip into something the day it arrives; often it’s a week or two, or more, depending on workload that week), it really helps to follow-up a couple weeks later to get their thoughts and share potential story angles. Even better, suggesting ways that particular item can play into current trends can be really useful, as it’s rare for me to be able to pitch a story on one product (although it does sometimes happen, in the goat butter example). There’s a great opportunity to jump into this especially as we head into a new year when trend prediction stories will be hot.

Fellow writers, what are your favorite products you’ve tried this year? If you’re a publicist, would love to know what product samples you’ve had the best ROI on this year. What questions do you have about sending samples to journalists?