Whether someone’s celebrating a birthday, anniversary, special occasion, or you just want to treat your loved one to something special, finding the right gift can often be a challenge. In today’s times of eCommerce, everyone has access to everything they want, whenever they want it, but the good news is that you can still find a thoughtful gift with the right strategy. To help point you in the right direction, we’ve put together some things to consider when buying.
Your budget
Perhaps the most important thing to consider when buying a gift is your budget. There’s no point in looking for diamond rings if you’ve got a $50 budget, after all! Think about how much you typically spend on a gift, or how much they would spend on you, and set yourself a price limit so that you don’t go overboard. Part of the fun of buying is sticking to a budget, anyway!
Whether they’ll use it
If you’ve got a gift idea in mind, consider whether or not they’re actually going to find it useful – it’s all well and good buying a novelty gift that puts a smile on their face, but at a time when we’re all trying to declutter and reduce our environmental impact, you should only buy things that are genuinely useful and thoughtful. If you’ve got a friend who loves Ireland and is moving into a new house, for example, consider one of the many Celtic gifts such as statues, wall art, or urns. Gifts like this are likely to be treasured and remembered for years to come.
Should it be personalized?
A growing number of companies are offering personalized gifts to their customers to encourage sales, and though they’re good fun, it’s worth weighing up the pros and cons. For example, if you buy them a gift such as a new iPhone or pair of AirPods, personalizing them means that they can never be resold, limiting their value down the line. However, something like a personalized keyring or wall art will always be remembered and can be displayed at home, adding a personal touch that will make your friends or family smile and feel loved.
Returns policy
The next step is to check the company’s returns policy and ensure that you are able to return the item should you need to. Although you might think that you’ve found the ultimate gift for a friend, the truth is that they might need to take it back for a different size or might want to trade it in for something else they had their eye on. Understand the exchange policy before you buy and keep your receipt for at least a few weeks after presenting the gift, just in case.
Gift giving
Finally, think about the best way to present your gift to your friend or partner. For example, would it be better if the item was gift wrapped, or could you do something fun and hide the gift in their home or bedroom and have them find it? There are lots of ways that you can mix things up and give them an experience as well as a gift; don’t be afraid to try something new.
Let us know if you have any suggestions in the comments and check back soon for more.
