At Mill Avenue's ICON, 5 ideas to get you thinking about gift season

Charles Goffnet says he and Brand X T-Shirts co-owner Shane Henson knew that, despite featuring an array of bars, eateries and shops, Mill Avenue was missing something.

 "We felt there was a need for an accessory shop," says Goffnet.

And so the pair opened ICON (414 S. Mill Avenue, Suite 120, Tempe) next door this past August.

The shop offers a bit of everything, from the practical (public restroom survival kits) to gag gifts (like instant ramen packs labeled ‘Wasted and Broke').

"It's just a bunch of humorous, kitschy items," says Goffnet. "Fun stuff to enhance and bring a smile to your face."

ICON's inventory is ever-changing, and the pair is always looking to bring in new products to provide customers with some excitement.

Goffnet was game to list some must-have items for students:

Sunglasses, $9

There's nothing more useful in a desert city than a pair of shades. At $9 a pop, ICON has a large collection of colorful pairs to keep the sun out of your eyes.

Hats, $8, Fedoras, $16-$24, Canvas Bags, $20-$29

Customers can purchase canvas totes and hats (and fedoras) and then hop over to Brand X next door for custom designs, transforming the plain items into one-of-a kind creations.

Novelty Hand Sanitizers, $5

With humorous names like "Dog Slobber" and "Maybe You Touched Your Genitals," these hand sanitizers make perfect (and practical) gifts for the germaphobe in your life.

Audiobots Speaker, $20

This little guy works as a portable speaker for your MP3 player. It comes with a built-in lithium battery and a USB cable, so you can recharge it on your computer.

Greeting Cards, $4.50-$10

Forgo Hallmark and let a friend know you care with some witty greeting cards.