"I'm looking for that holiday gift that has that certain something. You know, it's unique and timeless, it makes the recipient exclaim; where did you find this! It has to say, she's thoughtful and sophisticated, a fun person, and it absolutely needs to make them smile –Oh, but did I mention I don't want to spend more than $25.00?" That used to be me, pleading with any salesperson I was finally able to corner as I struggled with my holiday shopping. This arduous ritual would begin the week before Thanksgiving, since I always need a hostess gift for where I spend Turkey Day, and continued till after New Year's Day.
After years of stressful holiday shopping, quite by accident, I discovered another way to do it. When I travel, I always enjoy finding interesting and unusual items for my home. While I was traveling during one summer vacation, I found a nutcracker that was incredibly original and fun (makes me smile just thinking about it). I liked it so much; I decided to buy a few extra in case I ever needed a hostess or birthday gift in a pinch. The holidays rolled around and I had not given them away yet, but then it dawned on me that I had the perfect holiday gift for at least 2 people! When I bought the nutcrackers, I hadn't even thought about the holidays being the season when nuts in their shell are in all the grocery stores and everyone has bowls of nuts out in their home. I have to say that at that moment I was very pleased with myself and I only wished I had purchased a box of them! The following year and every year thereafter, I start my holiday shopping mid –summer. Months before store owners are inundated with throngs of people saying "I'm looking for a holiday gift that has that certain something," I have eager salespeople trying to find that 'thing'. In August a holiday gift shopper is a novelty, and online there is plenty of stock in every item and no worries about delivery time. Now, when I do find that unique holiday gift, I do not hesitate to buy a bunch of them. Then, when all of my fellow gift buyers are pleading for help from salespeople until it's all white noise to those weary workers, I'm at home happily wrapping and writing my individualized gift cards to attach to my stash of pre-purchased holiday gifts.
It's the art of gift buying: to find the right gift for the right price, it is vital to accept that there is no right time. I proudly have mastered this art by buying gifts so far in advance that it is seen as comical by my friends-until holiday time-then I'm the only one laughing. That is when they see me relaxing and actually enjoying the holidays as they race around in the crowds and rack their brains and fret over finding just the right gift as they redo their spending budgets in an effort to complete their gift buying on time.
There's a sure proof method to ascertaining whether I have achieved that certain something in my gift buying. I ask myself the question: "what would be my reaction if someone gave this to me?" My answer always convinces me to buy an extra one for myself!
Sara Thompson is the owner of The Original Nutcracker, a website which sells a bold, unique kitchen gadget that's tongue-in-cheek fun! |
RSS Feed (xml)
No comments:
Post a Comment