|
|
|
|
 |
 |
| With today's hectic pace, chances are you've found yourself in need of a thoughtful gift at a moment's notice. Eliminate the frustrating dash to the mall by building a collection of great gifts that are appropriate for any occasion— including birthdays, anniversaries, and special holidays. |
|
| |
| |
|
|
| |
Look For Common Themes & Categories
A good way to identify versatile gifts is to make a list of all those people you might need a present for during the coming year. Then, jot down everything you know about their hobbies, favorite activities and other things they enjoy.
The common themes that emerge will be promising gift categories for your group of "likely recipients," and probably will appeal to those surprise guests who pop in from time to time as well. Remember that you may need gifts for couples, so try to identify unisex items along with things that will appeal specifically to males and females.
Look For Buying Opportunities
Once you create your general list of potential gifts that are appropriate for a broad range of people and occasions, look for opportunities to add to your collection throughout the year.
Fruitful buying opportunities usually exist when you:
- Travel for business or pleasure. Museum stores, tourist attractions and even airport shops in other cities are great places to find gifts that aren’t available where you live.
- Attend charity fundraisers, arts & crafts fairs and ethnic festivals. Handmade jewelry and clothes, homemade treats and artsy knick-knacks and home accessories are typically in abundance at these types of special events.
Wherever you shop, seek out fun, thoughtful and unique gifts. Oftentimes, you can achieve a big “wow” factor at a relatively low cost by taking advantage of those special buying opportunities.
Great Gift Ideas
Here are some of our favorite ideas for great gifts that are appropriate for any occasion.
Home Accessories
- Ceramic glasses with matching pitcher
- Picnic set with tablecloth, dishes, utensils, etc. in a wicker basket
- Handmade pottery pieces or hand-painted flower pots
- Wine charms
Delicious Treats
- Premium teas in a wooden box with two tea cups
- Bread, soup or stew recipe mixes
- Gourmet jams, jellies, mustards, salsa, hot sauces, ice cream toppings, etc.
- Premium nuts or hard candies in a collectible glass container
Clothes & Accessories
- Sweatshirts, T-shirts or caps with novelty designs
- Handmade knitted scarf or ski cap
- Umbrella sporting a famous art print or designer logo
- Handmade Handbags
- Trendy earrings and bracelets
Entertainment & Hobbies
- Popular recipe books or coffee table books on travel, art, culture, history or sports
- Movie passes
- Gift certificates to popular restaurants, hobby shops, day spas or electronics stores
Personal Items
- Spa-quality soaps, lotions and other personal grooming items
- Classy stationery or note cards
- Set of distinctive luggage tags
- Designer pen and pencil set, address book or journal/notebook
|
| |
| If you like this article, you might also like
Organizing Your Recipes
Get Super Organized with a Planner
Plan Now for Homework and Projects
|
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
