Let ChatGPT do your Christmas shopping
PLUS Nano Banana image generation for founders
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If you’re anything like us, December is a crazy month.
Client work. Last-minute planning. Holiday parties.
And gift shopping for way too many people.
So today we’ve got two time-saving workflows for busy founders:
1. A quick guide to letting ChatGPT do your holiday shopping (works for clients, coworkers, family, etc).
2. A walkthrough of the top 5 ways you can use Nano Banana to generate high-quality imagery quickly.
Let’s jump in.
1. How to use ChatGPT to do your holiday shopping (fast)
This year, let ChatGPT handle the mental load of holiday shopping ideas.
Here’s how:
Step 1: Use this prompt
“Create a list of 10 gift ideas for someone who is [age], [interests], with a budget of [$X]. Include links, pricing, and 1-sentence explanations.”
Step 2: Ask for categories
“Give me 5 gifts under $25, 5 under $75, and 5 under $150.”
Step 3: Find cheaper alternatives
Paste the link to something you want to buy.
“Find me 5 cheaper alternatives to this item with equal or better reviews. Target or Amazon preferred.”
Step 4: Let AI write the gift message
AI writes better heartfelt lines than most people do at 11 p.m.
Also, if you’re ordering from Etsy, buy directly from ChatGPT:
Ask ChatGPT specifically to conduct a product search on Etsy. Once you select a product, you can buy it directly with the “Buy” Button. Add your payment details (processed with Stripe) and off you go.
Once you make your Etsy order, ChatGPT allows you to track your order. Simply select your profile at the bottom left of the screen. Then select the Orders option. There, you can find and track your Etsy order. Other stores like Skims and Vouri will be available in ChatGPT soon.
2. The 5 ways founders should be using Nano Banana Pro image generation
Lately, we’ve been loving Nano Banana Pro (aka Gemini Advanced) to generate imagery.
It delivers:
Faster graphics.
Amazing product visuals.
Flawless diagrams.
Consistent branding.
Fast ad variations.
Here are some of the best use cases for business owners:
1. Generate no-edit social media graphics
The Pain:
Most founders (including us) use this process: generate image → download → open Canva → add text → resize → curse quietly.
The Upgrade (Gemini Advanced):
It generates the entire post, including text embedded into the image and matching the lighting, shadows, and materials.
Example Prompt:
“A minimalist workspace with a MacBook open. On the screen, clearly display the text: ‘Q4 STRATEGY’. Warm cozy lighting.”
2. Create instant virtual mockups
The Pain:
Hiring a photographer or buying mockups gets expensive fast (and you may not actually get what you’re looking for).
The Upgrade:
Gemini Advanced’s spatial reasoning makes unreal product shots look real.
No weird AI fingers or melting objects.
Perfect for:
→ Launch graphics
→ Ebook covers
→ Product packaging
→ Course thumbnails
→ App screenshots
Example Prompt:
“Professional product photography of a blank white organic skincare bottle sitting on a wet stone in a rainforest. Water droplets on the bottle. Soft, diffuse lighting.”
3. Turn a napkin sketch into a professional diagram
The Pain:
You have a brilliant business model in your head, but you cannot draw it.
The Upgrade:
Gemini Advanced turns your messy concept into a pitch-ready diagram or flowchart.
Perfect for decks, SOPs, onboarding, investor calls.
Example Prompt:
“A clean isometric 3D illustration of a factory conveyor belt. Input: ‘Data’. Output: ‘Gold Coins’. Minimalist blue/white palette.”
4. Create a consistent brand mascot
The Pain:
Old AI models changed your mascot’s face every time. Nightmare.
The Upgrade:
Gemini Advanced remembers your mascot’s core look and can place them in 50 different scenes while keeping the style consistent.
Massive win for anyone who wants cohesive branding.
Example Prompt:
“Generate a character sheet for a friendly 2D vector fox wearing glasses. Three poses: thinking, typing on a laptop, celebrating.”
5. Generate infinite A/B testing for ad creatives
The Pain:
Creating 20 ad variations used to take forever.
The Upgrade:
Tell Gemini Advanced: “Change just one thing,” and it will.
Background color. Facial expression. Lighting. The object they’re holding.
Perfect for quickly testing and iterating.
6. Create quality infographics
The Pain:
AI-generated infographics are often low-quality or the text doesn’t render correctly.
The Upgrade:
Use Gemini Advanced to quickly generate high-quality infographics for social media, reports, websites, etc.
For example:
Try this Prompt:
“Create a professional, search-grounded infographic about [TOPIC]. Use real-time data to ensure factual accuracy.
Visual Layout: [TYPE, e.g., Horizontal Timeline / 3-Column Comparison / Flowchart].
Content: Include the main title ‘[INSERT EXACT TITLE]‘ and exactly [NUMBER] key sections. Each section must have a distinct icon and concise, perfectly spelled text summarizing the point.
Style: [AESTHETIC, e.g., Minimalist Tech / Corporate Blue / Hand-drawn style].”
Pro Tip: First start by asking Gemini to generate an outline of the data points and citations so you can check for accuracy. THEN ask it to generate the infographic.
IMPORTANT NOTE: To access these features you’ll need a paid Google Gemini plan. You won’t see anything called “Nano Banana Pro.”
What you’re actually looking for is:
→ Google One AI Premium Plan
→ Product Name: Gemini Advanced (includes Gemini 3 Pro models)
→ Cost: $19.99/mo
Yes, there’s a free version, but it’s much more limited.
Final Thoughts
Try one of these workflows this week and see how much time you save.
Talk soon,
Brian + Andrea
P.S. Want to go deeper?
We just opened a free trial of Lawton Learns: our AI course + community for entrepreneurs. If you’ve been wanting to build systems, automate tasks, or scale without working more, take a test drive here.