The Importance of Little Gifts

I recently came across an article in the Lebanon Daily News discussing the sudden appearance of gift wrapped presents in a neighborhood in Spring Garden Township. According to the article, the police believe that the gifts were left behind by a group of people who are trying to start a neighborhood association. Some of the gifts included a bungee cord, pencils, children's clay, a plastic dog bone, a paint brush, and beer. One neighborhood resident commented, "I think that we have forgot about little gifts and how important little gifts are." I love this story because it shows how small meaningful gifts were used to create goodwill in the neighborhood. I'm sure these small thoughtful gifts were very appreciated by the residents. These days when buying gifts we tend to purchase the biggest, shiniest, most expensive, newest, or trendiest gift. We seem to have forgotten that small gifts can give a recipient just as much or more joy. A few years ago I received a notepad and pen set from a friend. It wasn't the largest gift or probably the most expensive, but it was one of the most thoughtful gifts I've received. Primarily because my friend purchased the set in pink, one of my favorite colors, and had the notecards engraved with my name. My face lit up when I opened the gift. My friend took the time to add little touches to the gift she knew I would appreciate. And I did. The next time you have to purchase a gift take a moment to think about the small things you could do or purchase that will really mean alot to the recipient. Think about the recipient's favorite color. Is there a favorite item the recipient lost that you could replace? Can you provide assistance or a service that would make the recipient's life easier? Remember you don't always have to spend a lot of money on a gift. The most appreciated gifts are usually the small thoughtful ones. What small gift have you received that meant more to you than the larger more expensive gifts you've received?

My visit to the New York International Gift Fair

Yesterday I attended the New York International Gift Fair. This is my first year attending the fair so I really didn't know what to expect. I have to say I was blown away by the variety of products. I'm in the midst of planning the launch of an online retail store, so I wanted to get an idea of what's out there to determine what types of items my store will stock. I saw some great products and I'm looking forward to getting my store up and running. One note of advice to first time attendees - wear comfortable shoes. I wore flats which were comfortable for the first 30 minutes, but, by the end of the day my feet were SCREAMING. I also probably shouldn't have tried to see everything in one day. Next year I'll spread my visit over two days. All in all it was a cool experience and I'm excited for next year's gift fair. Here are a few items that stood out to me.

BloemBox

(courtesy of bloembox)

My eyes were immediately drawn to the Bloembox booth. The gorgeous packaging holds a really great gift idea for the flower loving apartment dweller. Each box contains a pot with saucer and a bulb. You can purchase a set of 6 for $222 at www.bloembox.com.

Music Cooks by Menus and Music

(courtesy of Music and Menu)

MusicCooks is the perfect gift for food and music lovers. Each box contains 16 washable recipe cards that feature food photos, cook's tips, and shopping lists. The box also contains a CD compiled with songs that complement the theme of the box. For example, the Pleasures of the Caribbean box contains recipes for Caribbean dishes and cocktails and the enclosed CD contains reggae and calypso songs. Purchase it at Menus and Music for $22.

Transport by Setgogear

(courtesy of trendhunter magazine)

The transport is a really cool gift for the urban guy. This lightweight non bulky alternative to the messenger bag has two front pockets that can be used for a cellphone, ipod, or blackberry. And, there is also a zip pocket that is perfect for storing money. The back has a large zip up that can be used to store magazines. Purchase it at Setgo for $80.00.

Wedding Party Gift Ideas and Wedding Favor Gift Ideas - New Wedding Solutions Service

As I'm preparing to attend my third wedding this year, I thought it would be a good time to introduce the new Wedding Solutions service offered by That Perfect Something. We'll help you find unique and creative gifts for your bridesmaids, groomsmen, and wedding guests. Now you can stress about one less thing while planning for your wedding. Try our Wedding Party Gift Consulting service or our Wedding Favor Gift Consulting service today.

More wedding gifts for couples who have everything

My last post talked about wedding gifts for couples who have everything. Today, I was reminded of another great wedding gift idea by a post on Wedding Bee. Miss Cookie suggested that a charitable donation in the couple's name is great alternative to purchasing a gift from the couple's registry. I couldn't agree more. A charitable donation is a great gift for a couple who is socially conscious or a couple who supports a specific charity. Charitable donation gifts are meaningful and memorable.

Wedding Gifts for couples who have everything?

I recently saw an article in NYMag's the Cut announcing the upcoming nuptials of Simon Doonan and Jonathan Adler. A quote by Simon Doonan really stood out to me. Asked about the details of the wedding, Doonan replied, ".....[N]o gifts,”.... “We have enough tchotchkes at home for one lifetime.” Doonan's statement reflects the state of many nearly wed couples these days. Many couples already have established homes stocked with small appliances, linens, towels, glassware, and pots and pans; and really don't need the items they've selected for their wedding gift registries. Take me for example, I'm in my early thirties and I already have a Cuisinart Griddler, Kitchenaid mixer and mini food processor, Oster toaster and blender, T-Fal pots, and Ralph Lauren towel sets. Seriously, I don't need anything else. I'm pretty set. So what do you get the couple who has everything? Do you go ahead and purchase the blender from their registry, even though you know they already have two state of the art blenders, one that's still in the box? Many of my friends don't even visit the wedding registry. They prefer to give a monetary gift in a nice card. However, I find that some people think monetary gifts are tacky. I disagree. I believe a monetary gift is perfect for newlyweds. We all know how expensive weddings are. A monetary gift could help defray the costs of putting on the shindig for family and friends. Yes, I know it's not your job to help pay for the cost of the wedding. But, wouldn't you rather give a gift you know the couple will actually use, instead of pushing in the back of a closet and forgetting about it until it's time to move to a new house? If the thought of giving a monetary gift still makes you feel a little icky, another great idea is to give a group gift. Get together with a couple of friends you have in common with the couple and purchase a big ticket item you know the couple really needs. A third cool gift idea is to purchase a gift that reflects or encourages the couples hobbies or interests. For example, if you know the bride and groom are sports fans, purchase tickets to a sporting event. This type of gift will most definitely be appreciated and remembered.

Now that I've given you a few gift ideas for couples who have everything, it's your turn to tell me how you feel about registries and what types of gifts you would give to couples who have everything. Please Click Here to share your thoughts.

Need creative and customized gift ideas?

Try our Gift Consulting Service.

Looking for personal shopping assistance when you go gift shopping?

Schedule an appointment with a Gift Shopping Companion.

Too busy to shop for gifts?

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New Gift Consulting service for bridesmaids gifts, groomsmen gifts and wedding favors

Are you too overwhelmed with other wedding planning details to search for gifts for your wedding party or your wedding guests? Don't spend your precious time racking your brain looking for gifts for your bridesmaids, groomsmen, and wedding guests! That Perfect Something's new Wedding Solutions Gift Consulting service can help. We'll find gift ideas for you so you can use your time for other aspects of your wedding. Email us today for more information.

Help your man get spiffy at Spiff a new NYC grooming salon for men

If you are looking for the perfect summer birthday gift for a guy in your life who needs some spiffing up, look no further. Today, the New York Times' Critical Shopper highlighted a cool new grooming salon for men in NYC called Spiff. Spiff offers a long list of services for men, including haircuts, hair color, shaves, shoe shine, manicures, pedicures, and waxing. You can purchase a gift certificate in any denomination or get a gift certificate for a specific service. Spiff also offers a 6 month membership plan for $425 and a 12 month membership plan for $750. The membership includes unlimited haircut/style, unlimited manicures, unlimited shoeshine, 10% off any additional services and any retail product. Spiff is located at 750 Third Avenue at 46th Street.

Need creative and customized gift ideas?

Try our Gift Consulting Service.

Looking for personal shopping assistance when you go gift shopping?

Schedule an appointment with a Gift Shopping Companion.

Too busy to shop for gifts?

Our Gift Concierge Service will purchase, wrap, and mail your gifts.