Gifting, Pretty Or Not? – How Gift Wrapping Is Being Innovated
How do you gift?
Gifting. What is gifting? How do you gift? Do you use gift wrapping? They seems like simple enough questions but not everyone thinks of the same thing. Do you think about the physical gift you are giving? Or are you thinking about the card or how the gift is wrapped? Do you think about the experience of actually giving the gift and seeing the person’s face light up? All of the above? Perfect! That is what makes it such a universal experience. Think about what you enjoy in the gifting process.
Gifting is something we as humans do from the time we are able to understand what it means until we can’t anymore. It is how we show appreciation and love to those around us in a way that isn’t just verbal communication. Gifting shows how much we know a person and can make someone else’s life better.
When I think of gifting, I think of the whole package. The gift I am giving comes first, but how its given, its gift wrapping, and when it is given all factor in to the success of a gift. I think about the person who I am giving the present too. The occasion, our relationship, their preferences, and the season can all play into what I get and why I get it. When gifting to my best friend, I would give her something different than what I would give to my brother. This can inform whether the gift is a gift card, is online in anyway, or is physical. That will then determine the question of wrapping.
Types of Gifting
Wrapping varies based on the gift, but should always be included as a way to build suspense on what the surprise is. It makes the occasion special and gives more of a moment to appreciate the acknowledgment of whatever is being celebrated.
With an online gift, it is pretty simple. Usually, with sending it, you are able to customize your note or attach a graphic that makes the gift special.
Gift cards are the next step up on the difficulty scale and give you options to chose from. Do you want to give a card that has it sandwiched it or do you want to give a specific gift card holder with a bow or intricate designs? Are you the person who will give them a large present that is box after box wrapped together until you finally get to the tiny gift card? There are so many fun ways to do it and what you do will reflect how you view the person and what your relationship is with them.
Then comes the physical gift which is the most complicated. There is so much that can be done with a gift of socks or a new book, but it is not always seen. Whether using a gift bag, a box, wrapping paper, or handing it over as is, how it is presented makes it special. Does it have a bow or a gift tag? What colors or patterns did you use in wrapping it? All of these should reflect the work put into finding the gift and how well you know the giftee. It personalizes the gifting experience and makes the gift that much more memorable.
What is Gift Wrapping?
Gift wrapping is whatever supplies are used to decorate a gift. It includes gift bags, gift boxes, wrapping paper, newspaper, ribbons, gift tags, tissue paper, bows, bells, picks, glitter, and anything else the person gifting deems necessary. What is in my stash of gift wrapping materials may look different than what is in yours. Aesthetic matters as well as budget, period of life, season, amount of gift giving to do, and more. What my brother wraps with is completely different than what I do.
My Gift Wrapping Experience
I am a 20 something college girl who loves to give gifts. Whether to my family or just someone in my life, giving something small represents what they mean to me. Food, books, handmade crafts, you name it, I have given it. They are all tokens of appreciation that represent their value in my life. Not everyone feels this way, but, for me, it is really important to share my caring with others. That includes every single piece of the present; from gift wrapping to gift tags to the card and more.
To make these gifts count and really represent me, they have to be cute, fun, and bring a smile to the person’s face. If I know a friend likes yellow, their gift will have yellow wrapping paper or a yellow bow. The same can be said about dislikes; if the person I am gifting to hates glitter, their gift won’t have it. Those little things matter in the impact made on the giftee.
What is your style?
Personally, I have a specific style that makes me happy. I love fun patterns, glitter, and coordinated anything. When I gift, if there is a card and a present, they have to look similar. If I have a gift tag on a bag, they have to look related. I don’t like things that clash and I want everything to feel good when giving it. By doing this, it takes away my anxiety of whether or not a person likes the gift because they will know I put a real effort in.
At specific holidays, such as Christmas, all my gifts will look similar and follow a color theme. It makes me feel good and gives the person I am gifting to an idea of who it’s coming from. It makes everything feel more thought through and gives this organized feel that makes it all better.
Personality is Key
All of these things are just my preferences. There is no right way to gift, just your way. Who a person will change what their cares are about gifting and that is completely valid. Gifting has evolved into something more personal and with everything so readily at our fingertips, it matters more than ever.
Love the natural gift wrapping look.
Why does it matter to me?
Gifting is such a huge part of life. As we find out more about humans and how we interact with each other, we know how much physical representations of love and caring matters. I would love a gift from my best friend but the fact that it is pink and glitter and has one of my favorite pen sets inside validates that she knows me. She cares enough to put time and effort into a gift that will make me happy and has my favorite things in it.
Does money matter?
The amount spent does not matter as much as the thought behind it and gift wrapping that reflects the giftee shows the time spent. Gift wrapping could be as simple as grabbing a piece of printer paper and decorating it with a persons favorite things to wrap the gift and give it to them. It is the acknowledgment of their personality that brings out the smile and contentment.
What can I do about it?
Put some thought into your wrapping next time you give a gift. Look into what could make the gift more personalized. Work to get to know the person you are giving the gift to. The main takeaway is that you care about this person so use the time to get to know them better and give them something they will really love. Make it perfect both inside and out.
Check out Words To Gift By at wordstogiftby.etsy.com for ideas on how to spice up your next gift.