How Does One Give a Thoughtful Gift?

Giving a gift is always exciting, but it can be challenging as well. Even if you know the ins and outs of the recipient’s tastes, it can still be tough to find a gift that really gets your message across. In order to better understand what truly makes a thoughtful gift, we decided to consult a number of experts in gift giving, and we are very pleased with the results. Hopefully this helpful guide with tips from professionals will help you to choose a thoughtful gift that will be cherished for years to come.

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Don’t Shop for Yourself

As you are browsing for gifts in-store or online, you are inevitably going to be tempted to shop for gifts that you would love to receive. This instinct is completely understandable, but it is important for you to try to put yourself in the receiver’s shoes, rather than looking at things from your own perspective.

As Jane from Challah Connection said, “A thoughtful gift is a relevant gift; one that reflects the recipients’ passions, loves, hobbies, and life. It is a gift that is the result of deep thought of the recipient and what would make him or her happy. It is NOT a gift that the gift giver would love to have, which is often the case.”

It’s Not Just About the Item

Receiving a gift is much more than acquiring a new item. With that in mind, it’s important to think about your approach. You might want to bring the recipient to a special place where you have memories together, or surprise them at home or at work. Remember, simply buying the most expensive gift you can afford is not always the best option. In fact, it may work against you. Maria from Fine Foods elaborated on this point:

“The gift should be something that the recipient would be pleased with – from my personal experience I don`t like receiving expensive gifts because I know that the person who gave it to me had to pay a lot for it (and honestly I know we all work really hard to earn it) so I accept little presents easier.” Brenda fromBrenda’s Gift Baskets summed it up well, saying, “It doesn’t have to be a large, expensive gift. It is the thought that goes into the gift.”

Find the Right Packaging

Can you imagine if Christmas gifts were just wrapped in newspaper or tin foil? You had better believe the season would not be nearly as jolly! When you give a gift, you want to make an impression. Yes, the wrapping paper and bow are going to be torn off in a hurry, but that is part of the fun – the anticipation.

We asked Brenda from The Royal Chocolate for advice on giving a thoughtful gift, and she noted, “A gift does not need to be extravagant to be special. The box, bow, and packaging all add to the gift. Finding a price point that’s comfortable and then exploring a few thoughts and emotions should bring the gift giver to a place where they are excited to present the gift. That’s successful gift giving!”

Start Planning In Advance

If you know that you are going to be giving a gift to someone in the future, start thinking about it now. When you are with that person, try to pick up on clues that will help you when you are shopping later. When you are at that person’s home, look around and try to get a feel for their tastes. You may also want to look for things that could be useful. For example, if you are thinking about giving a blender, you could suggest that the two of you make smoothies. If the recipient pulls out a brand new blender, you know that’s not an ideal choice.

We got some great advice from Sabyna at Petals by S&A who told us one of her commonly used approaches: “I ask my customers to try and personalize with color. I ask if they notice what colors the person wears, or a color they have noticed in the person’s home, especially the kitchen.”

Think About Unique Traits

As you try to come up with a thoughtful gift, you should consider all of the things that define the receiver. Naturally that is going to include hobbies, but there is so much more to a person than just what they do in their leisure time. A truly thoughtful gift often transcends what is clearly visible on the outside, showing the recipient that their inner qualities are recognized and appreciated.

Lea from Galilee 33 noted, “When giving a gift, one should ask him or herself which beliefs, morals, principals, and views guide the receiver.  When one receives such a gift, it is obvious that the granter thought far beyond the external package and into the soul of the person receiving it. It is immediately touching and holds a value far beyond the price of the gift.”

As Sylvia from Baskets Galore stated, “What has meaning for one will not mean the same for someone else, so it varies from person to person.”

The Classics Never Go Out of Style

Depending on the occasion, sometimes a unique take on an old classic is the perfect gift. For example, a beautiful bouquet of flowers is universally loved and appreciated. Erin at Teleflora said:

“Gifting a beautiful bouquet of flowers often says everything without having to say anything at all! To really capture one’s heart, think about their favorite color and flower type that may even bring back a fond memory for that individual. The thoughtfulness that you put into that professionally arranged and hand-delivered floral arrangement will WOW them with delight. Add a love note to your bouquet and you will have them beaming ear-to-ear!”

Everyone Enjoys Food

When in doubt, go for a tasty treat! After all, nobody would be unhappy to receive a nice supply of their favorite snack. When we asked The Frederick Basket Company for advice, Vicki responded, “…For instance, for the tea lover, a beautiful mug, assorted teas, local honey and tea biscuits. For the sports lover, a selection of craft beers, and snacks to enjoy while watching their favorite sporting event.  The possibilities are endless! The fastest way to someone’s heart is through their stomach!”

Other Suggestions

Dmitriy from GiftBasketsOverseas.com was kind enough to provide us with some other excellent suggestions to make a gift memorable:

• Sending a product by the recipient’s favorite chocolate or cheese brand
• Quoting the receiver’s favorite poem on a greeting card, which can be attached to any gift
• Sending something that reminds the recipient of good times spent together with the sender. This could be a DVD of a movie they once watched together, or a book written by a favorite author.

Give an Experience

Sometimes the best gift isn’t a tangible object, but a memory. For instance, Kristin at Cloud 9 Living gave us some poignant advice on thoughtful gift giving, saying:

“There’s no more meaningful way to honor someone than by treating them to an experience that reflects who they are: their personality, favorite hobby, a cherished milestone, fondest memory, bucket list wish, etc. And doing so can be equally as meaningful for the gift-giver, too—because there’s a good chance that the recipient of an unforgettable outing/adventure won’t soon forget who gave them something so unique.”

Be Thoughtful

When it comes down to it, giving a thoughtful gift takes just that – thought! Spend some time really thinking about what makes that special person in your life tick. Think about other aspects of the gift besides the gift itself, such as when you give it, where you give it, how you give it, and so on. As the helpful folks at Oh! Nuts succinctly said, “You send a gift when it counts on the topic that matters.” Really think about why you are giving the gift, and then simply fill in the blanks from there. For more helpful advice on giving thoughtful gifts, please don’t hesitate to contact Thoughtfully today.