Posts Tagged "how to pick a gift"

Giving a Default Gift

Posted by Deanne Marie on Apr 15, 2012

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Even if you’ve read my book and you’re using a gift drawer, the time may come when you’re faced with an event or occasion, particularly a personal event like a birthday. You have no gift – and you’re stumped. This is where having a solid list of “default gifts” comes into play.

Default gifts fall somewhere on the spectrum between the last-minute, impulse gift card and a meaningful, well-thought out gift. It’s a hybrid – a go to item that is still specific for that person.

The idea is this: have a short list of items –  favorite wine or spirit, favorite restaurant and favorite perfume – that you can always turn to in a pinch. Then, find out what those items would be for your recipient and purchase a personalized default.

Let’s say your recipient is a woman, and her favorite spirit is Ketel One Citron, her favorite restaurant is Macaroni Grill and her favorite perfume is Estee Lauder’s Beautiful. Voila! You have an instant gift list. Whichever gift is closest at hand, go for it!

Other possible default settings for your gift list could include favorite sports team, favorite color, favorite author, favorite band, or favorite food.

Make one or two of these categories your “default gift list” and save yourself time and stress the next time you need a personal gift. It’s quick, easy, and it still fits the recipient.

Elements of a Perfect Gift

Posted by Deanne Marie on Feb 26, 2012

I’m often asked how I choose a gift for someone. While my book gives away most of my secrets, here I’ll share what I call the elements of the perfect gift.

The best gifts are the ones that keep on giving in some way. A well-designed gift will include one or more of the following attributes:

• Does it provide instant gratification (sight, smell, taste, sound, texture)?
• Is it long lasting?
• Is there a special sentiment attached to it?
• Is it educational in some way?

A perfect example is the gift I put together for my friend Brian for his 40^th birthday a few years ago. I presented Brian with two gold-rimmed goblets with the logo of his favorite beer brewed by Belgian monks, a book on the history of monk brewmeisters, and of course, a large bottle of his favorite beer.

What made this the perfect gift? It included something for instant gratification (the beer); something educational (the book); and something long-lasting (the goblets). And, most importantly, there was a strong sentimental element: a few months before his birthday, Brian and I had visited his favorite hangout during a trip to his hometown of Albuquerque, New Mexico. He ordered that particular beer served in a logo goblet, and told me many stories of happy times he shared with his best friend drinking that beer.