How to choose a perfect gift!

Posted by admin in Choosing the Right Gift! on August 8, 2009 | no responses

It always seems to be the season for gifts and giving. Weddings, Birthdays, Graduations, Holidays from Valentine’s Day in February to Christmas in December all send shoppers everywhere to search stores and little shops to find the right gift, a great gift…the perfect gift!

But, what makes the right gift? What makes the right gift good, or great, or better yet, perfect?

Gifts are meant to please. Gifts show the recipient that they are liked, loved, or valued. There are many who believe the more expensive the gift, the more valued it will be to the receiver. Sadly this is not often the case. An item having high value and the same item being highly valued by the intended owner are two very different things. Gifting should take thought, but it doesn’t have to take a lot of money. Often times it is the thoughtful gift that will win the day.

A good gifts speaks to the recipient and will often produce a smile that lights up the eyes. A perfect gift may also produce and raspy whisper of, “Wow, how did you know I like…?
How do you know? You pay attention. If you know the person you are giving to, you know something about them. If they are a relative or close friend, you may know a lot about them. A great gifts fits a person’s personality, a perfect gift fits them. Too often buyers ignore what they know about a person when shopping for a gift.

I recently celebrated a birthday. Now at my age, birthdays could come and go and I’d be just as happy that no one noticed. But, I have a few close friends and family members that insist on celebrating the fact I’m still around yet another year. My husband treated me out to a nice dinner out, and I received various nice “Mom” type gifts from my children, but one unexpected gift arrived from an old friend who now lives in another state and made my day. Inside the small package was a leather bound journal and a beautiful pen, the kind of pen that writes smooth as silk and feels good in your hand. That was a gift that fit me well and it touched my heart.

It’s easy, especially in certain gift seasons, to get caught up in the advertisements of what makes great Holiday Gifts. Manufacturers spend a lot of money to convince you that everyone you know will want what they are selling, no matter what the season or Holiday. It’s their business to get you to buy their product after all and they spend a lot of money trying to convince you. So, How do you avoid getting caught in the spirit of the commercials and sale fliers?

Here are some easy tips:

Take time before you shop, find a quiet time, and make yourself a cup of tea of coffee. Turn off the radio and TV, sit with a pad of paper and pen in hand.
Make a list of who you are going to shop for leaving a few lines after each name.
Read a name on your list and pay attention to the person. Think about that person for a minute or two. What do you like about them; what makes them special? What do you know about their hobbies, their likes and dislikes, their passion?
Write a few suggestions to yourself based on what you know about this person. Do this without a sale flier or catalog at hand. If you can’t think of specific gift ideas jot down reminders…loves cats, loves to garden, wears perfume every day, doesn’t wear jewelry, or likes to read. Continue this exercise for each person on your list.
Consider your gift budget and determine how much you will be willing to spend on each person.

Once you finish writing your list of ideas, then it’s time to pull out your store flyers and catalogs or go on line to search for the gift. Match items for sale with what you have written. Your idea list will now keep you on track and prevent impulsive spending.

A list of ideas will help you find gifts that will fit the person you are buying for much easier, especially when you shop on-line. With the list in front of you, you now have an idea of what to type into search. You’ll find what your looking for faster and avoid hours of scrolling through stores.

With a little planning it’s easy to find he right gift, a great gift…and quite often even the perfect gift that will make some one’s heart sing!