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Help for finding the perfect gift
Holiday time is upon us and inevitably we all will struggle to find the perfect gift for someone in our lives. Not only is it important to come up with an appropriate gift, but also one that is special and unique to that person’s tastes. There are some Web sites that can assist in selecting a gift for those hard-to-buy-for ones we love.
Amazon’s Gift Central is a great place to start. Gift ideas are sorted by price, recipient and personality. So, if you are looking for something for your favorite “busy professional” or “urban sophisticate,” look no further. You also can view top-sellers and gifts most often placed on Amazon wish lists by category (books, kitchen, music, electronics, etc.). Amazon also has a useful Gift Organizer that helps you manage the entire gift-buying process. You can create a list of friends and family members, and track your gift ideas, suggestions from Amazon, previously purchased gifts and links to each person’s Amazon wish list. The Gift Organizer also will remind you of upcoming birthdays, anniversaries and other occasions for each person.
Surprise.com adds a welcome humorous spin to everyone’s last-minute purchases. This is a compilation of gift sites throughout the Web that organizes gift suggestions in a way most of us will relate to. Thus, if your roommate is “politically incorrect,” or “adventurous—gifts for adrenaline Junkies”—this is the place you will want to go. There also are suggestions for that “manly man” in your life, your “eco-friendly” friends, as well as the author’s favorite: “gadgeteer—high-tech gifts for the gadgety.”
If a splurge is in order, Red Envelope has beautiful gifts categorized by relationship to recipient, occasion and gift type. This site also presents bestsellers and a list of more affordable gifts under $75. In the Holiday Gift Guide, you can view the Top 10 gifts for “stocking stuffers,” “hostess gifts,” “luxury,” as well as the necessary “for him/her.”
FindGift.com offers an animated gift wizard to assist in selecting a gift. The wizard offers traditional gift lists, such as “keepsakes,” and “occupational gifts.” Also included are unusual suggestions specifically for the “hard to buy for,” “tasty gifts” that are good enough to eat and “special themes” like gag gifts or trinkets for a person who can never have enough heart-shaped collectibles. A list of gifts for those who are “spiritual,” “romantic,” “cosmopolitan” and “wacky” also make this a highly recommended site.
Gifts.com and Gift Ideas Etc. are also great places to go. Both have detailed lists of gifts based on price, recipient and interest. Your favorite “domestic diva” or “devoted dad” will appreciate your efforts.
Finally, check out ChristmasGifts.com for a huge selection of categorized gifts, including gift-of-the-month clubs, gifts appropriate for co-workers, and personalized gifts. Happy Holidays!
—Tiffany Walsh, Arts and Sciences Libraries