Khaberni - As the festive shopping season approaches, many face the challenge of choosing suitable gifts for their loved ones.
Personal shopping experts offer tips that help choose gifts that make recipients happy and reduce the pressure of impromptu buying, according to a report by The Guardian.
Be Organized Early
Claire Barry, a personal shopper and manager of Victoria James Concierge, recommends using spreadsheets to set budgets and track recipients' preferences and potential ideas for each person. She begins her work on client lists from the summer, which reduces last-minute rush orders, often from men.
Draw Inspiration from Last Year's Experiences
Jennifer Nichols, a personal shopper at the "Earned Time" project, starts collecting clients' lists in October and uses past gift guides to draw ideas from non-traditional, readily available products, ensuring unique and non-repetitive gifts.
Choose Quality and Check Return Policy
Nichols emphasizes choosing the best possible quality within the budget, noting that well-crafted gifts are always appreciated. She adds the importance of reviewing return policies when shopping online to avoid surprises with products that may not match the pictures or expected quality.
Support Local Businesses
Nichols encourages buying gifts from local stores and companies, considering it boosts the local economy and offers unique products instead of giving consumer money to large corporations.
Food and Simple Gifts
When gifting someone challenging, one might choose food gifts, like premium chocolates or gift baskets, focusing on a unique experience rather than quantity.
Time and Experiences
Experience gifts are especially popular, such as vouchers for personal care or entertainment activities, giving recipients more valuable time than any material thing. Add elements related to the experience to enhance the gift, like a symbolic figurine or a small piece reflecting the occasion.
Personalized Gifts
For those who have everything, it is advised to choose personalized gifts, such as passport covers or bags with initials, or gifts that align with their interests and hobbies, adding a unique touch and showcasing the effort put into the selection.
Upgrade Products or Practical Tools
Choosing an enhanced version of a product the person owns, or luxury kitchen tools and everyday high-quality items that last a long time. Practical gifts provide users with lasting memories every time they use them.
Balancing With Children
Barry and Nichols advise against overwhelming children with plastic gifts and sticking to a limited number of special gifts. Experiences like visiting museums or zoos, or giving book vouchers, enhance enjoyment and benefits away from excessive material gifting.
