Hello, listeners. My friend Tammy, as you may know, just became a published author. I am very proud of her, and I want to start this post with a story. When her book came out, she received a present from a fellow writer and friend of hers. Let’s call her Kerri.
It was a Lego kit of four daffodils. It was the perfect present for Tammy to receive. Kerri knew Tammy is always on the lookout for Lego kits, because it is one of her hobbies. You’d think she was a six year-old-boy. Anyway, not only was the concept the right one, the daffodil (when given in a bunch) means rebirth and new beginnings. How is that for someone’s first book coming out?
Any-who. This week I want to talk to you about finding the perfect gift. There are certain things you can do to figure out what someone wants, even if they don’t tell you anything. Throughout the year, listen to them:
- Talk about their hobbies. Most people talk passionately about them, and you might get some ideas of what they need
- If you are going through a store or mall. They will invariably tell you what they want, even if they don’t realize they are giving you hints
- Talk about what is going on in their world in general
- When in their home. You never know what’s going to jump out and scream “hey, look at me!”
Then Think Outside the Box
Once you have decided what general category of what you want to buy, then it’s time to get creative.
- Do they do crafts? Figure out something they don’t have that could be useful. Best place for this would be to go to a craft store and ask. Or if you happen to have another friend with that same crafting hobby, ask them what they would want that they would never buy for themselves.
- Are they into sports? How about making arrangements with their friends to come over for the afternoon or evening for an impromptu party, and let them shoot the shit about it while you give them food and drinks related to that sport.
- Are they into cooking? That’s easy peasy. A cooking class of their favorite food. If there is nothing in your area, see if you can find one online (Sur la Table does them). Buy a cutsie spatula or spoon or something they would need for this cooking event, and create a special tag to wrap around it as a memento.
- What if they don’t cook at all? What if their kitchen is just a storage room for snacks because they eat out all the time? Get them a recipe card box and toss in several gift cards to the places they like to eat at. It can be an ongoing thing for all present giving events. I heard about this, and the lady who got it loved going into her box to figure out what to get for dinner, depending on the cards available.
- Did they ever tell you about a specific toy, movie, or book they had as a kid they absolutely loved? Find it for them!
Where Do You Shop for the Perfect Present?
I am way too busy to spend a lot of time at the Fashion Show Mall, looking for what is a creative idea for the perfect present.
I do what I call Amazoning. It is a word I made up, so it exists. I window shop online. I just type in the general idea of what I’m looking for, then go scanning the internet to find the perfect match. It’s always worked for me.
Do you need ideas for a perfect gift? Let me know the general concept, and let me give you a plethora of ideas. Go searching today!