There are great gifts, and there are not-so-great gifts, and luckily for you, we know just what they are.
If gift-giving gives you anxiety, here’s a bit of good news: 70 percent of people polled in an online survey last year said they were happy with most of their gifts, with very few claiming to have returned or re-gifted a majority of the presents they received.
That said, cash remains king, with iPads, clothing, cars, vacations and jewelry ranking among the best gifts by respondents to a survey of more than 6,500 online buyers via Bizrate Insights.
Socks and a sweater topped the list as worst presents – so, unless you have written or verbal confirmation that those wool or cotton items are desired, set them down and slowly step back. In general, spouses and significant others did the best at selecting gifts, with women dropping hints and making lists to make sure they got what they wanted. Parents ranked No. 1 as gift givers, according to Millennials, but at the same time, both Gen Y (the Millennials) and Gen X were the hardest to please. Nearly half of respondents in those groups returned at least one gift. They also were most likely to resell gifts on eBay.
For that very reason – the anxiety of pleasing – holiday shopping is usually met with indecision and procrastination. It’s hard to find the perfect gift for everyone on your list and stay within budget.
Some best bets from the 2013 holiday were tablets and TVs, along with electric toothbrushes and athletic shoes, according to market research by The NPD Group.
But there are many thoughtful gift ideas to consider beyond the latest technology and national retailers, says Lisa Emmons, a personal shopper, professional stylist and owner of Posh Image Consulting in the Tampa Bay, Florida, area.
You can shop local artists and boutiques for unique jewelry, clothing and gourmet food, or buy a spa package or gift certificates to a professional sporting event, play or concert. As small business owners, she and her husband made their own wine to give to clients last Christmas.
Champagne or wine with chocolates for pairing, or gift cards for winemaking or beer-brewing courses are good for busy professionals, couples, singles and clients, Emmons says.
Other ideas for couples are things they can do together in their area and will help them reconnect, depending on their hobbies and interests. Emmons suggests spa treatments, dinner, dancing lessons, theater tickets, cooking classes or an outdoor event they can enjoy together.
Busy moms may enjoy books, a massage or other pampering treatment, a package to their favorite spa, or a luxury clutch, fashion scarf or shoes.
Makeup and skincare gift sets and gift cards for Sephora, Victoria’s Secret and other luxury brands are safe bets for women.
Ideas for men include tickets to a game, sporting goods items, fashion scarf or dress shoes, cologne, devices, personal accessories and tools.
Seniors were the most enthusiastic about the gifts they received, according to the survey of online shoppers. Good gifts for grandparents are books, movie tickets or theater shows, dinner gift cards, dancing lessons or home improvement cards – or something they need or want but wouldn’t buy themselves.
Teens are often the hardest to buy for, but gift certificates for the movies or a concert, any technology they are into or accessories are a change of pace from clothes, Emmons says.
“You really need to know what they like because teens are very difficult to shop for,” she says. “Actually gift cards may be a great option so they can pick out what they want. If not, always get a gift receipt.”
As children are more technologically savvy than ever before and into electronics at earlier ages, parents are under a lot of pressure to deliver on their children’s wish lists.
Nearly 45 percent of people planned to buy toys as gifts last year, according to National Retail Federation’s 2013 holiday consumer survey. Children continue to ask for classic toys – Barbie, LEGO – but they also want high-tech gifts like tablets/iPads and game consoles like Xbox One and PlayStation 4, according to NRF’s 2013 Top Toys survey conducted by Prosper Insights and Analytics.
For the first time last year, iPads were among the most popular gifts for both girls and boys, with demand among young girls being slightly higher, according the survey.
People who are too busy to shop may find it easier to hire a personal shopper. They usually meet with clients in person, via phone or over the Internet and go over questions about the person they are shopping for. Emmons, like other personal shoppers, and several websites offer virtual shopping services. She recommends people make sure they are certified and have a website and social media pages since it does involve divulging financial information.
“We find out as much as we can about the individual and what they like, their personality and lifestyle,” she says. “It helps to know a little about them because you want to get something they actually enjoy. I really get to know my clients. Even if it is virtual, there’s a series of questions we go through.”
This article appears in Dec 11-17, 2014.
