We are now in the throes of the Holiday Season. You see decorations everywhere you look, hear Holiday songs over and over again, and the calendar is full of Holiday lunches and parties. However, if you haven’t started your Holiday gift shopping you may be feeling stressed, a little or a lot, depending on the size of your gift list.
Copyright : Ed Sweetman
Recap of the Intentional Gift Giving Process
My past few blog posts have given you a step-by-step process on how to become a more intentional Holiday gift giver and reduce the stress of Holiday gift shopping at the same time. A quick recap:
- Step #1 — Make a list of all the people you are thinking about giving a gift to.
- Step #2 — Prioritize the names on your list.
- Step #3 — Answer the questions listed in the 14 November 2017 post for each person on your list.
- Step #4 — Decide what you are going to buy for each person before you start shopping.
If you haven’t completed these four steps I would recommend you spend some time going through each step. When you start your actual shopping you will be focused, know exactly what you are looking for and know where to go to purchase each item. You may spend more time at the beginning of the process, but you will spend a lot less time shopping.
Step #5 — Creating the Gifting Experience
Now that you have purchased all of your gifts, it is time for step #5 — creating a “gifting experience.” You have spent the time finding that perfect gift for each person on your list; don’t ruin the gift by hastily wrapping it. The gifting experience starts with a beautifully wrapped gift. Presentation matters. As John Ruhlin, author of Giftology, says, “wrap for wow. People receive gifts with their eyes.” A beautifully wrapped gift says “I value our relationship.” If you feel you don’t wrap gifts well, then ask someone who does. To impart more meaning to your gift, as well as a greater impact, add a handwritten note.
Copyright : milkos
Hand deliver or Ship?
The gift is now ready to be given. The question is are you going to hand deliver the gift or are you going to ship it? If you can, hand deliver the gift. You are then part of the “gifting experience.” You can see their reactions when you give them the beautifully wrapped gift, read the note and then open the gift itself.
Copyright : Vadim Guzhva
If you are going to ship the gift, be aware of the last date you can ship in order for it to be delivered before the Holiday. This year Christmas Day is on a Monday, so that can complicate last minute shipping and delivery. A late arriving gift does not make for a great “gifting experience.”
This Holiday Season be an intentional gift giver rather than an incidental gift giver. There is still plenty of time to work the “intentional gift giver” process. Remember when you are deliberate in thought and intentional in your gifting, you will see an incredible difference in the reactions you get. Take the time to choose with an authentic care, and the real gift will be in the giving.
