by Sandy Dixon www.InteriorArrangements.com
This time of year especially, being prepared for holiday gift giving is essential for our sanity not to mention being a huge time saver. Many people are apprehensive when it comes to gift giving because they:
- are not prepared and wait until the last minute to start thinking about gifts
- get frustrated and can’t think of what to get the person
- feel rushed and get frantic over the time it will take to decide on, find, wrap and possibly send the gift
- find that shopping and all its’ related issues is irritating and not enjoyable
The easy solution to overcome these hurdles is to plan ahead to eliminate the dread! Start with this simple 1-2-3 strategy by identifying:
#1: the OCCASIONS for gift giving: birthdays, weddings, anniversaries, new baby, get well, holidays, thank you and hostess gifts, etc.
#2: the RECIPIENTS: family, friends, co-workers, host and hostess, service providers
#3: INTERESTS and NEEDS: hobbies, sports, foods, flavors, collections, scents, colors, music, etc.
Once you’ve completed these 3 steps, how do you decide on what to choose for thatindividual? Giving the perfect gift is all about matching the recipient with the gift, whichmeans that you need to have a fairly good idea about what he or she needs, values and/orcan put to good use. It should be something that:
- honors or expresses something important to the recipient
- fills a specific need, desire or interest and always says that you have taken the time to pay attention to that specific
person’s preferences
Make it personal, unless the relationship warrants otherwise (your boss, a member of an organization you belong to, a service provider like your hairdresser, housecleaner, etc.). Keep the gift appropriate for the receiver and not for you! Simplify the process by asking the person what they need or would enjoy receiving….like a magazine subscription, a year of Netflix, a gift card to one of their favorite stores or restaurants.
Have an assortment of gifts on hand in order to always be prepared for giving thoughtful gifts. The goal is to discover what makes the people you’ll be giving gifts to, feel special. You do that by paying close attention. My ‘gift radar’ is up at all times. I watch and I listen for clues and hints relating to:
- What is important to them? What do they talk about or mention having an interest in?
- What are they passionate about or dedicated to…an organization, an activity, a sport of team, gardening, reading, crafts?
- Their favorite foods, restaurants, flavors or brands
- What are their clothing and fashion preferences, color and sizes (never try to guess at sizes!)
- What do they collect?
Keep a ‘preference list’ for special people you give gifts to and keep a ‘cheat sheet’ in your purse or wallet with sizes, scents, colors or things they collect. Be ‘gift minded’ where ever you are—this takes practice but will be well worth your while! I’ve turned gift-scouting into a fun hobby and am delighted when I find that extra special gift well before I need it, eliminating the need for a last minute frenzied shopping trip.
Tip: Keep up to date on preferences and make sure they are still like or are collecting what you thought.
I look for every opportunity to find perfect gifts and have come across some unbelievable finds in very unusual places! For instance:
I frequent gift or specialty stores and find a variety of treasures at art fairs, consignment stores, thrift stores and farmers markets.
When I am on a business trip or on vacation I always peruse the airport and hotel gift shops.
A place people rarely think to look is in hospital gift shops, grocery, hardware and drug stores.
When it comes to storing and keeping track of the gifts I have bought for specific people and occasions, you need to have a system in place. It’s great to shop ahead and have that perfect gift ready and waiting to be given, BUT if you can’t find it, your pre-shopping habit will be of no use!
You’ve got to remember what you have bought AND where you have put it—especially when you may have bought it months ahead of time. So in the spirit of organization here is my easy 3S (Space/Sort/ Specify) gift organizing game-plan:
SPACE: designate a closet, cabinet, shelf or storage bin where all gift items will be kept until needed. Keep every gift potential there and not strewn throughout your house.
SORT: Keep ‘like with like”. Gifts for specific people should be grouped together, as well as keeping generic groups together like gifts for birthdays, hostess gifts, holiday related gifts, animal or themed gifts and so on.
Tips:
• Use a label maker to create shelf labels that identify the grouped items, for instance: ‘Birthdays’, ‘Hostess Gifts’, ‘Christmas’, ‘Anniversary’, ‘Golf
Theme;, ‘Animal Theme’
SPECIFY: Keep items visible and well labeled. Remember you can’t give it if you don’t know it’s there or can’t find it.
If you can’t tell by the box or bag what is inside, either take it out of the bag (keep the receipt with it) or tape a small label on the container identifying the contents or place the item(s) in a clear bag and mark the contents on the outside. For smaller items like ornaments, candles, packaged napkins, jewelry—use a plastic, lidded container and put ‘like’ items inside—use a label maker to make a label with the name of the group ‘candles’ napkins’ ornaments’, etc.
Tips:
• Keep all your gift wrap, tissue, gift boxes, gift cards, ribbon, tape and scissors together on a shelf or in a bin near your gift storage area.
• A fun way to recycle greeting cards is to cut out the image and/or verse from the card cover and use it as an enclosure card for another gift or punch a hole in the upper corner and use it for a gift tag.
Keep things simple. Remember it’s the thought behind the gesture more than the size or cost. Some of my favorite gifts to give:
A card or letter listing memories or special times with an individual (accompanied with a photo if possible).
An experience: tickets to a play, concert or event that you can attend together or planning, cooking and sharing a meal together.
For those at a distance, a video of you and your family and pets, your holiday house decorating, singing a holiday song…be creative!
A donation in the recipient’s name to their favorite cause or charity. Some examples of homemade gifts I’ve given::
1) A variety of spices (great gift for cooks) or homemade spice rubs w/recipes
2) Baked goods with the recipes attached; specialty drink recipes with a basket of ingredients; jams or chutneys
3) A large, decorative basket filled with an assortment of giftwrap, tissue, ribbon, gift cards, tape, scissors(so the recipient will always be prepared)
4) Basket of scented and waxed pine cones (an easy project) for quick and aromatic fire starters
But remember…the best gift of all is YOU, whether it is your presence, your voice, your written words or your homemade treats. During the holiday season especially, it is all about acknowledging, connecting with and celebrating the people in our lives in the most personal way we can that is the most precious thing you can give.
Sandy Dixon, owner of Interior Arrangements, Inc. is a Home Staging and Interior Redesign career trainer and speaker. Sandy can be reached at 303.674.8667 or for more information on her certification classes, products and services, visit her website at www.InteriorArrangements.com
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