Be The Best Gift-Giver On the Planet - part 1

Choosing gifts is an exercise in frustration for many of my customers.  They come in, wander around aimlessly, hoping that something will "pop out" and scream the name of the person they're hoping to find the perfect gift for.  Well, as you can imagine, that doesn't happen very often.


We've tested out some handy tips you can use to make your gift searches more fruitful, and have all your friends and family eagerly anticipating the next awesome gift you've found for them!


But first, make a choice.  Do you want to choose something she can (a) adorn herself with, or (b) something she can adorn her home or office with?  This is an important choice, and there are different tips for each. That's why this is "Part 1"!  And we're going to focus on adorning the home or office first.  Part 2 will focus on adorning the self.

An adorable, tiny vase for your gardener pal
by Livingston Pottery

1. What does your friend like to do with her spare time?  (i.e. hobbies, interests, activities, etc)


I can hear it now: (chuckle chuckle) "What spare time?"  While that can be true for most of us, I know we all have some way of feeding our souls, whether it's stealing 30 minutes to be in the garden, or cooking one unusual meal each week, or reading a gripping mystery before sleeping.  Maybe it's simply sitting quietly for a few minutes with a great glass of wine.

Beautiful candles by Edmonds' own Sagapo
for more enjoyable quiet times

If you don't know at least one answer to this question, it is time to start listening more carefully to your friend.  Or be bold and just ask it outright!  "How do you relax?"  "What inspires you?"  Both are great questions that friends should know about each other, and make for excellent conversations.


And the answer is a precious piece of info!  With it, you are armed for a plethora of gift options! 


Just a smattering of options is garden art or vases for the gardener; pottery or glass dishes for the cook; a unique wine glass or bottle stopper for the wine lover; and that's just the beginning!


2. How does your friend decorate her home?

Ultra-modern vase by
Barry McAlister

Take a closer look around next time you're visiting.  Note the living room style and colors.  Note the kitchen and bathroom style and colors.  This can be excellent for choosing the right candle, vase, tablecloth, or handmade soap - to name just a few options.


Knowing the colors and style can dramatically reduce your anxiety in choosing the right thing.  For example, you'd know you were way off if you chose a fancy, turquoise curli-cue decorative candle for a friend who decorates in sleek, straight-edged red and black.  And the best part?  All you have to do is NOTICE these things on your next visit.

Vibrant Mardi Gras design
for the bold - by Nancy Fiala

Knowing the colors and styles makes it super easy to know whether you should choose our vibrant, multi-colored hand-painted glass in the Mardi Gras design, or the understated and elegant copper and burgundy abstract colors.

Understated yet elegant hand-painted
glass by Nancy Fiala

With those two easy questions under your belt, you can save yourself a lot of worry and anxiety in your gift selections.  And we always love to offer suggestions, too.  You can be sure we'll ask you these same questions when you come in looking for a gift.  We'll then show the range of options we have available within the category, and let you choose the one you like best!  Easy as pie!


Give us a test next time you're on a gift hunt, and see how we fare!  We love to help make you the best gift-giver on the planet!

Manya Vee

www.ManyaVeeSelects.com

Visit us today!

Manya Vee Selects

409 Main St

Edmonds, WA  98020

425-776-3778

Hours: Daily 11 - 6, Sunday & Tuesday noon - 4