|
Making the
Perfect Gift
Better!
Everybody wants to be remembered as
giving that elusive "perfect gift" to a friend or loved one.
You keep an eye on what he or she likes throughout the year,
consider what they'd love best, and find a reputable retailer
to buy it from. You wrap it with care. You're done, right?
Maybe.
Why not consider taking it up a
notch this year and include the special extras that make a
great gift a truly perfect one? All it takes is a mindset shift from focusing on
that initial glow of joy when the box is opened, the ribbon
removed, to envisioning the actual use of the
gift.
Over the
Horizon
Most people are so caught up in the
response they hope to elicit with a particular gift that they
forget what comes later, kind of like picturing the wedding,
without envisioning the actually marriage that follows.
With practice, you can become
known for having that "over the horizon" kind of vision with
your gifts. Here are some ideas to
consider.
- Jewelry -- Many better
retailers offer after-care for the items they sell,
including cleanings, adjustments, or battery replacements.
You can also supplement these with
additional gifts like jewelry boxes, sonic cleaning
equipment, even safety deposit box rental.
- Electronics -- There are great
gadgets and "toys" out there these days! DVD players that
take the movie theater wherever you go, cameras that print
their own photos through a simple interface, video cameras,
MP3 players, cell phones that access the internet, and much
more. Nobody likes opening a fabulous gizmo on Christmas and
then saying, "As soon as the holiday is over, I'll have to
get a DVD to try this out..." Always give one or
more of whatever the item will utilize -- CDs,
DVDs, video games, memory sticks/cards, ink cartridges,
photo paper, prepaid minutes cards for cell phones and so
on. Go over the top and throw in a "dummies" book on how to
get the most from it, or even a gift certificate for a
class.
- Garments, home textiles --
There are THREE tags that have meaning on a quality garment
or home fabric item: The price tag (of course), the
manufacturer's tag, and the care label. Read them all, and
then give the gift of maintaining the item. A dry
cleaner's gift certificate certainly, but also a
suede brush for a suede garment, the right kind of hanger to
keep it in good shape, a certificate for fur storage.
Ask the retailer where you buy the item for
suggested items to make the gift a long-lasting
one. They are in a position to steer you to the right
products, and away from those that could actually cause
harm.
- Outdoor equipment -- Even
though most of us made it out of childhood without a lot of
the safety equipment available today, we might have been
better off having it. If you give a bicycle, give the
helmet and rear-view mirrors. If it's a
skateboard or inline skates, think of the
pads. If the extra equipment is something
that needs to be fitted to the user, give a
gift certificate for the shop that has it. If the equipment
must be used somewhere that charges a fee
(golf clubs, tennis gear, etc.) then toss in passes to the
local course, practice facility or courts.
Lessons are also a great supplemental
gift.
- Hobby items -- Most people who
have a hobby already know how to do what they love, but if
they're beginners, look for lessons or
how-to books in addition to that piece of
equipment. If the hobby requires supplies
(paints, brushes, special papers, whatever it might be) give
a supplemental gift of them so they can get right to
work.
- Luxury gifts -- You'd think
that giving a car would be enough! But that car needs gas,
regular oil changes, washing and detailing, insurance.
All of these are areas for you to round out your
gift (as if tying that huge bow on the roof didn't
wear you out.) Maybe a special CD for the driver to enjoy on
that first journey, or an emergency kit to keep in the glove
box or trunk. Many creative givers wrap the supplemental
gift and give it... then let the recipient run outside to
see what "accompanies" it. Creative gift giving is
memorable!
In short, look past the gift itself and imagine
you are right there with the recipient when the gift is used
and enjoyed. Be part of that ongoing
excitement through your thoughtful supplemental gifts. When
you see the joy on the face of the one you've given the
perfect gift to, you'll realize it really is more fun to give
than receive, when you have the knack for it.
Happy
giving! |
