“MY DAD IS really hard to buy for.He’s not materialistic, he hates people going OTT for any commercial holiday, is a bit grinchy and can be quite critical of purchases.”
So said Claire* when explaining why gift-buying for her father is such a mammoth task every year.
Let’s be honest; the vast majority of us have a few ‘trickier’ people to cater for when it comes to Christmas shopping. Whether it’s because they have everything, hanker after everything or hate everything, frankly it feels like this person has been sent to test us.
Like Claire, we tend to put them on the long finger when it comes to festive shopping; pushing them further and further down our list in the vain hope inspiration might soon strike.
It rarely does, of course, and that’s when you find yourself shoulder to shoulder with every other last-minute shopper in the country, jostling for position and vying for the attention of retail assistants who have their own last-minute shopping to do.
However, choosing a present for these folk doesn’t have to be the ordeal you’ve come to know in previous years, just as long as you keep a few handy tips in mind.
We chatted with Louise Lonergan of Lonergan Corporate Gifts and Laura Jordan of Style Savvy, who shared their insider knowledge to help you stay cool, calm and collected this Christmas.
“Making a list stops you doing additional browsing and it gives you focus on both your location and your spending,” she adds.
“If you’ve no plan, that equals panic.”
Now, let’s start shopping. Who are those tricky people?
1. Your partner’s mum
The aim of the game here is to impress, and that’s where an element of luxury comes into play. But listen, your budget doesn’t have to suffer as a result.
Louise, who has almost 20 years’ experience facilitating the purchasing of gifts for staff and clients on behalf of corporates, has learned what does and doesn’t work when it comes to gift-buying. She believes that opting for an element of luxury doesn’t mean disregarding your budget, but, simply “bringing a bit of magic to it”.
Similarly, Laura says it’s important to keep in mind that expensive brands generally tend to stock items which can be found at more affordable price points – something she fears consumers tend to forget in the height of Christmas panic.
“The first thing I always advise people is to choose something the recipient wouldn’t necessarily buy themselves,” Laura says.
It’s also always much better to buy one mainstream piece as opposed to gift boxes or gift sets. They scream of last minute Christmas panic! It looks more curated and thoughtful to buy one item, as opposed to three mini ones.
As such, both women advocate for personalisation when it comes to going the extra mile.
“Personalising an item shows a lot more consideration. A discreet initial adds an element of luxury as long as it’s in a relatively safe or neutral colour or design. It’s an elegant and thoughtful way to add meaning to a product,” Laura says.
Gift suggestions: A high-end handcream or scented candle / a personalised leather diary or pen / an overnight travel bag.
2. Your sibling’s other half
This is a tricky one because while they may play a huge role in your sibling’s life, you might not know them particularly well at all.
In this instance, Laura recommends considering their day-to-day routine – check in with your sibling for extra clarity on this front – and it’s unlikely you’ll go wrong.
“Take a moment to think about that person’s day or week”, she advises, adding that functionality and sustainability has become a key factor in gift-buying, with water bottles and lunch boxes going down a treat in recent years.
Use Instagram to help! Go onto their page, look at the shops and brands they follow. You can go one further and see if they’ve liked or commented on posts from this store, and that’s easily done!
Gym bunny? Water bottles/ yoga mat/ earphones.
Avid traveller? Personalised passport holder/ quirky travel pillow
Coffee enthusiast who cycles to work? A travel mug / durable lunchbox
Craft beer connoisseur? Selection of glasses and coasters
3. Your neighbour who has everything
Look, it’s not that they’re ungrateful, it’s just that they’ve always been well catered for on the material front, which leaves you in a tricky position at Christmas.
“For the person who has everything, choose an experience,” Laura recommends.
If it’s someone you don’t know very well, then choose an experience they can enjoy by themselves. If it’s friends or family that you obviously know very well, choose an experience you can do with them.
If an experience isn’t in your price range, think sentimentality.
Experience: Afternoon tea / spa break / concert tickets
Sentimentality: Photo frame or album / personalised stationery / subscription to favourite paper/ magazine.
4. Your (extremely) high-maintenance friend
Choosing for this person has always been an uphill battle, so take the pressure off yourself this year by avoiding items that you might hope to see them use on a daily basis. Why? Because chances are they won’t. Cue hurt feelings, and lots of them.
“Don’t buy something that someone would typically only have one of, like a watch or a purse, because there is too much pressure on the recipient to use it!” Laura advises.
If it’s something that the person will wear all the time, let them pick their own while you, instead, choose an optional piece that wouldn’t look unusual if they chose not to wear it or use it day in, day out.
For Louise, longevity is important when it comes to hitting the right note, saying: “You want something that’s still talked about in six month’s time, and you need bang for your buck.”
Suggestions: Cosmetic bag / Bedtime accessories (eye mask, slippers, hot water bottle) sunglasses / champagne flutes / gin goblets.
5. Your father-in-law
If you’re being honest, you’re not quite sure where he finds his pleasure, and a result, your Christmas shopping instantly becomes that bit harder. In this case, consider mixing functionality with a dash of luxury.
Through her work with Get Gifts, a site that allows staff to choose their own presents, Louise is privy to the products which generate the most amount of interest, and she says luggage and ‘functional but luxurious’ clothing are among the big-hitters.
“These are items you mightn’t go out and spend the money on, but that you could have for the rest of your life,” she says.
They might be a luxurious item that they generally wouldn’t spend the money on themselves.
Suggestions: Travel bag / Yearly planner / Whiskey tumblers / Engraved corkscrew or bottle opener.
And if all else fails? Laura advises the voucher route.
I’m a fan of vouchers because it allows you to be a smart shopper and half the fun for the recipient is browsing online when sales start. It’s giving your recipient the future gift of enjoyment as opposed to instant gratification.
“There is nothing nicer than knowing it’s January and you can still get a treat even though you’re probably broke!”
*Claire’s name has been changed to protect her relationship with her present-critical dad.
Want to win a €100 Aldi voucher to help you celebrate in style? Enter this week’s Aldi Christmas Magazine competition right here.
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