A professional gift selector has unveiled her guaranteed method for choosing ideal Christmas presents that truly resonate with recipients, while highlighting common mistakes to avoid.
The Art of Professional Gift Selection
Lizzie Scholes, a 31-year-old professional gift picker, has turned her talent for understanding people's interests and needs into a career. As Head of Feel Good at gifting company Needi, she emphasises that successful gift-giving isn't about quantity or extravagant spending, but about selecting the right present that creates genuine connection.
"People want connection and not more clutter," Lizzie explains. Her approach focuses on quality over quantity, which she says applies equally to adults and children while helping manage costs during the current economic climate.
The Perfect Gift Pairing Formula
For close family, friends and partners, Lizzie has developed what she calls "the perfect pairing" - combining an experience with a small personalised item. This dual approach ensures recipients have something to physically unwrap while also creating lasting memories.
"The key with this type of gift is understanding the person you are buying for and ensuring that it's still going to be something they will use," she notes. "This is also perfect for the people who 'have everything' - in whatever form that may be."
What to Avoid When Gift Shopping
The expert strongly cautions against buying duplicates of items people already purchase for themselves. "These rarely deliver the wow factor a gift should have," Lizzie states. A gift "loses impact" if it feels "more like a routine restock than a thoughtful surprise."
The only exception she makes is for items someone genuinely needs but can't always afford or struggle to obtain. "In those cases," she adds, "the practicality becomes part of the thoughtfulness."
Experience-based gifts might include theatre tickets, spa days, creative classes, or dinner vouchers. Smaller personal gifts could feature framed family photos, customised golf balls for enthusiasts, or hand-painted baubles.
"Adding personalisation takes it from a basic gift to something that truly means something," Lizzie advises. "A mug you've picked up from Sainsbury's and a mug you've had personalised with text or photos are two extremely different gifts."
Lizzie's Step-by-Step Gift Selection Guide
The professional gift picker recommends starting by considering the recipient's personality type - whether they're sentimental, home-loving, or have specific hobbies. Next, think about how you want to make them feel - excited, cherished, or valued.
Then align the gift with their lifestyle and actual needs. "Is it a £50 beauty set that will just end up in the cupboard? Or do they actually need a night out with no stress - like a £50 dinner voucher to their favourite restaurant?"
Lizzie's essential principles for successful gift-giving include:
- Consider the recipient's personality and interests
- Think about the emotions you want the gift to evoke
- Ensure the gift suits their lifestyle and needs
- Give with purpose – aim for your gift to bring joy or happiness
- Avoid buying things they already purchase for themselves where possible
- Bundle gifts together where it makes sense
- Focus on the meaning of the gift, not the quantity
Ultimately, Lizzie reminds us that thoughtful gift-giving "doesn't have to break the bank but can carry significant emotional weight" when chosen with care and understanding of the recipient.
