DEC. 15th, 2009 (original post date)
December is here and shopping is in the air!
The holidays are officially here! And we all know what that means. Finding that perfect gift. There is nothing more gratifying than watching the face of someone we love beam over a gift that lets them feel appreciated and shows that you really thought of them when buying it. Achieving this can sometimes be harder to do than finding the Holy Grail.
The Shopping Friend is here to help you this year. No, I’m not going to list a bunch of cool items for you to “pick” from. That’s not very thoughtful or unique. Sometimes the person you’re buying for may be very easy to buy for. They may have already expressed that they want the a Samsung Galaxy or a gift card from Whole Foods. Or maybe they’re easy and are happy with absolutely anything. There are just those people who are grateful and happy for anything you give them (wooden carving of a bunny, an airport gift shop snow globe, a fridge magnet…) bless their souls.
There are gifts that would be pretty spectacular for anyone. Flying a fighter jet, being able to dive down to the Titanic in a submarine, tickets to the Super Bowl, or creating a life for a week where you can be James Bond or a supermodel. If you don’t have a kajillion dollars for that, then read on.
We’ll go through the process that professional personal shoppers go through to find that “just right” gift for someone and pass that knowledge on to you! The perfect gift really depends on the individual. It may take a little bit of time (and I don’t mean like weeks or anything – so just sit down, your loved one is worth it) and let’s get started!
First, know who you’re shopping for. I don’t mean, “I’m shopping for Kelly.” Do they love sports? Do they scrapbook? Do they like to buy art? Do they like to paint art? Do they like to cook? Do they like to be taken to fancy restaurants? Do they like animals? Do they like hiking? You get the picture. Make a list of all the things you know they really like.
Second, do a little research on the things they like. Relax. This really doesn't take as long as you think. Plus, they are worth it. Research some of their interests as if it’s yours. For example, if you’re a guy and you like football, would you want your girl to get you a football magnet because they know you like football or would you like it if they did a little research, found out when the next game was in the closest stadium to your town, and got you tickets? Or what if they did a little more research, discovered your favorite player on your favorite team, and got you an autographed football from them? The results that can come from just a little bit of research is astounding! So if you know your girl likes to knit, don’t just buy her yarn! Find out all the knitting needles that exist, think of what you know she likes to knit (if it’s sweaters, that requires bigger needles), and buy her the appropriate materials to meet her heart’s desire. Simple!
Third, once you have determined their interests, hobbies, and desires. Ask yourself if they would prefer an experience or a tangible product. For example, if you know your wife likes dancing, do you decide to buy her a package of dance lessons (experience), buy her new dance shoes or a dancing dress (product), or take her out on the town to dance with her (romantic experience). This last one guys, is always the best. The romantic experience. Keep that one always in mind. If you can somehow tie in romance into an interest or hobby of theirs, you will be golden...at least for several weeks.
That’s all there is to it! Easy breezy. Now, of course, if you just absolutely don’t have time, or you’re trying to find that “perfect, unique gift” for 14 people, maybe you want to hire some help. Enlist a friend or another family member or contact The Shopping Friend.
Lastly, you may want to consider the gift of a personal shopper or stylist for your loved one. The Shopping Friend has been a gift to many a spouse, girlfriend or boyfriend, or even someone’s child. It’s a very unique gift, an extraordinary service of pampering and feeling special, and most people would never even think of it! Plus, it falls under both categories of experience and product. You buy them the experience of shopping with a personal stylist/shopper and they also get the benefit of the clothes. (Don’t forget to give them money for the actual shopping!)
In the end, we all know what the true spirit of the holidays really entails. We know what’s really important – expensive gifts. No! That was a test. If you agreed, you failed. So even if you can’t find the perfect gift for your spouse or you don’t receive exactly what you want come Christmas or Hanukkah day, be thankful you have someone you love so much that you’d spend time trying to get them something special or thankful you have someone in your life who loves you enough to even get you a gift! More power to love!!
Happy Holidays from The Shopping Friend!!
