How to Master The Art of Gifting

The Do’s and Dont’s Of Gifting

The gifting industry is very dynamic. Before the global pandemic, it was just another struggling industry trying to grow and use emerging technologies to expand itself. Today the case is very different. The global pandemic made us realize how important our fellow man is and the fact that we need each other.  

The realization of how important the relationships we have led to people getting in the spirit of giving more than ever before. Evidence of this was seen by the sharp rise in the online gifting industry. During this time gift deliveries were so common benefiting those involved in the industry.

What Is Gifting?

Relationships keep us connected. These attachments keep us close as we do all we can to ensure that our bonds are fine. As time passes by though, this connection grows weaker. This necessitates the need to reconnect and re-affirm this connection.

The custom of gifting was started to remedy this. Gifting manages to disclose the special relationship between people as it is usually carried out by people who care about each other. Gifting is a love language and a time-honored tradition that enables one to communicate their feelings and admiration for the people in their lives. So how exactly did it start?

History and importance of gifting?

Historically, there is a narrative of early men receiving gifts as they established superiority in their communities. These strong men were seen as the providers and protectors of their communities. Gifts were given to them as a sign of appreciation for the role they played.

Later examples of gifting can be seen in cultures such as in Ancient Persia (Present-day Iran) where they used to receive gifts because of their political and economic might in the world during that time. Gifts given to them were used to maintain warm and friendly relationships to avoid war.

In Europe, there are records of ancient scholars exchanging books as gifts, while in more recent times we recognize the Christmas season as the time gifts are exchanged as a reminder of the gifts shared by the 3 Wise Men who gave some very precious gifts to show how special the newborn child was. 

Why is gifting important?

By going back in history we have seen examples of gifting and it is evident that there are two distinct categories. These are:

• Transactional gifting.
• Intentional gifting.

Transactional gifting involves gifting with an expectation of getting something in return. This was seen in ancient kingdoms where the ruling kingdoms used to receive tributes of rich gifts such as gold, silver, and other precious materials to ensure furthering of warm relations between two opposing nations. In modern times I am sure if we really think about it we can notice instances of transactional  gifting.

When we look at intentional gifting it involves giving gifts to those we are close to. These relationships can be considered very warm and cordial as we know what they like or dislike. A lot of care is taken to ensure the happiness of the person receiving the gifts.

In these two, distinct examples, it is clear that the culture of gifting is significant because it ensures that the relationships we have built do not crumble and die but are given a lifeline to blossom. Be it in business or our personal lives, gifting is clearly very necessary. 

What is the general etiquette of gifting?

Since it seems that gifting is a normal part of human relationships, we need to understand the best ways to go about gifting. The first thing that you need to know is:

• Gifting is not about you but about the recipient of the gift. Doing some research beforehand will  ensure that you get something that they want. You can choose something meaningful and unique to make the experience memorable. 
• Pay attention to what the person you want to get a gift for talks about. You might be surprised and discover that they talk about it without even noticing. 
• If the person you are getting the gift for is not someone that you are really familiar with you could try to find out what they love eating and drinking. This could be enough to give them an enjoyable experience at their favorite bar or restaurant instead of getting them a physical gift.
• Avoid getting people self-improvement material as gifts. This will offend them  instead.

Pay attention to those people who say that they do not want any gifts. They usually have their reasons and it is important to honor their request.

• Ensure that you give them their gift when you are supposed to. Do not give it out too early as this can be a little awkward and In case you’re late handing it in you would rather just do it. You would rather give it to them late than never at all.
• In case the recipient requests that a certain type of gift should not be purchased, it is important to honour it. They may have done it because of reasons such as health, religious beliefs or personal preferences. It is best to respect these  preferences.
• Ensure that you do not overspend when getting a gift, as the recipient might feel obligated to do the same when it’s your turn. You might also end up using too much money than you had planned for.
• It is important to ensure that the gift you got is well packaged and wrapped. It should always be accompanied with a note  indicating it is you that got them the gift and a personal message would make the whole experience perfect.
• If you decide to give a gift in cash, ensure you do it carefully as some countries have a tax imposed  on such gifts past a certain amount.  In the United States for example, if you are gifted more than 15000 dollars you are urged to file a gift tax return. To be safe ensure that you are conversant with the laws

Gifting Ideas

In 2021, the gifting industry was estimated to be at around 62 billion dollars globally.  The industry is estimated to grow by leaps and bounds in the coming years. It will not be hard for you to figure out where to get your next gifts for all occasions as there are thousands of online shops to choose from. So what should you consider when you are trying to shop for different people who are close to us? Let’s check out what we should consider when looking for gifts for the people in our lives.  

Children’s Gifts

Children love gifts with studies showing that gifts for children provide positive psychological reinforcement. They are likely to adjust better socially and don’t you just love the smiles and their pure joy when they receive a gift? Children love getting gifts for their birthdays and an occasional surprise is always well appreciated. 

So when you want to get something special for them considers the following so as to make your gift a hit not only with them but with their parents.

• First thing you should do if the kids are not yours is to always check in with the parents first before anything. This will ensure you do not get anything inappropriate.
• Always check out the safety of the gift while considering the age so as not to get something dangerous.
• Consider getting something fun, educational, with an appeal to the whole family. This will encourage them to learn how to share as they explore how an act like gifting can change their outlook on the world.
• Remember to always do your research and find out what the children want. There is nothing as bad as giving them something they do not love. They tend never to forget it.
• Choose something which is of good quality and not expensive. This can be used as a teachable moment to ensure that they learn the value of money.

Gifts for the family

Family members tend to have different tastes and preferences. In case you are considering getting them gifts, you should ensure you know what each of them wants. If you want to make your life easier, instead of considering getting individual gifts you could get a more inclusive gift for the family. You can consider a family getaway holiday or something else which will include the whole family. 

Gifts for mothers

Mothers are the most loved individuals in our society. It’s not that the others are not loved, but mothers just get that extra attention due to the impact that they have in ensuring we grow from babies to adults. 

Getting gifts for them should be done with special consideration as they are of different ages and tastes. The most important thing to remember when gifting mothers is that they are individuals before they are our mothers. When getting them a gift we should always consider this. You should think of what they would actually love to receive.

The more unique a gift is, the more memorable it will be for her. Listen to what she likes and focus on this.

Gifts For Her

Getting gifts for our significant others can be stressful, especially if you do not prepare well for it.  Our partners are important pillars in our lives and an effort to show them how special they are is always encouraged.

When getting gifts for her, you should consider the following:

• Know what she likes and if not listen carefully to her as she is likely to drop hints on what she wants.
• Make sure to get her something unique and simple as a gift. Do not complicate it.
• Ensure it is something that will make her feel special
• Consider her love language in order to make it a success. She may feel appreciated by words of affirmation, acts of service, receiving gifts, spending quality time or touch. Prepare well to accommodate this.

Gifts For Him

Men are pillars of society and without them, society would be very different. Every opportunity to appreciate them should be taken. Getting a gift for a man is not as complicated as many may think.  The secret to getting a gift for a man is understanding their interests and focusing your gift ideas on this. When this is done you will ensure that the gifting experience is a success.

Try to consider the occasion you are trying to get the gift for as it will help you decide if you should get something heartfelt or practical. If you are stuck on what you should get, ask one of his friends to help you out. Always ensure you get something of good quality. You can also consider an experience which they would love instead of getting a physical gift. 

What mistakes do people make when gifting?

It is not unusual for people to make mistakes when trying to look for gifts. Unfortunately, this ends up making the gift not to be appreciated.  Here are a few things that you should avoid:

• Getting an expensive gift that does not suit the receivers interests or needs.
• Giving someone a gift that they do not like because you failed to do your research.
• Buying gifts for other people’s children without consulting the parents.
• Being competitive as you try to be the best gift-giver out of everyone.
• Forgetting to say an honest thank you for the gifts received.

How to remedy mistakes done when gifting?

If you realize that you normally make these mistakes, you can do the following to ensure the next gifts are appreciated.

• Ensure that the gifts are practical and that they can be used for a long time.
• Choose a gift which the recipient actually wants and add a note to show your feeling towards them.
• The more expensive a gift is does not mean it will be appreciated. Do your research properly to get positive results.

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