What makes the perfect gift?
Men can really struggle to find the right gift. If that’s you, your worries are over. We recently published a video of us making one of the best gifts, and all the reasons behind it. I thought I’d give a summary here for anyone who may want a little help learning to find the right gift, using a few universal guidelines.
1)
Can your gift explain something you can’t quite put into words? Can it be a sign of something that is of shared importance, that may not be tangible?
Let’s talk about one of the essential factors in a good gift that really helps build connection, which has been left behind in the modern era of fleeting abstraction- symbolism.
On our rose, I chose copper for the primary material because its tone carries a sense of warmth and strength, with rings of steel as an accent, and, more esoterically, as a stronger element holding the more warm and delicate copper snugly. The materials already have meaning, set by classical conventions. This aspect may seem small, but it’s one thing that takes it from being a nice looking flower, to a meaningful gift.
Among other things, I chose to patina it because copper symbolizes an enduring love, and over time, as the shine wears off, it’s replaced by a more subtle tone, that has even richer colors with far more depth.
2)
The monetary value of the gift isn’t of the utmost importance, but value at large is. What do I mean by that?
A gift that is related in some way to a preexisting passion is an excellent choice. Pictured above are personalized earrings, which can include things like special dates.
There are several ways to increase the perceived value of your gift. One is to buy a gift that is associated with something they already value or enjoy, so you can tap into that importance. A backpacking gizmo is going to be received well by someone who backpacks, as they associate your gift with the open trail and clear horizons viewed over the campfire. It taps into that image they already have of what they love to do. A grilling gift is great for guys, because we all want to at least think that we are out there every day perfecting our favorite meats. It varies for each person, and it is your responsibility to study your wife, mother or girlfriend, and understand their values. Someone who plays cello may have no problem finding rosin, but by studying to find the best rosin and really understand how it works, even a simple item can be meaningful and have greater value associated with it by the care you put in and their preexisting passions.
Another option is to associate it with a certain memory or date that they consider important. That is one of the reasons that many of our gift-type items, like earrings and steak flippers, can be personalized. This allows any item to carry a greater message that shows you were thinking of what matters to them.
In summary-
Focus on the intangible meaning or association of your gift. What message does this communicate? How does it relate to their passions?
I could go on, but I think I’ll leave it there as a more poignant and digestible bit of advice. It will serve you well if you are able to act on it. Thanks for reading, and we’ll catch you next time.
For all your gift needs, we have solutions. If you can’t find what you want, we take custom work, adding that extra level of thoughtfulness and intentionality on your part.