The only Guide to Gift Giving you’ll need to see! ✨

Big statement. 

        ↑

We know ! . 

Even as personalized gifts specialists, we are feeling the pressure.

So, without further ado, here is a guide to gift giving, which we pour our heart, industry knowledge & data research points into. 

To start of with, one thing we can all agree on is – gift giving has been going on quite a long time ! . 

Across all cultures, all civilizations, across all times in history.

We can all only assume as long as humans have been around, humans exchanging generosity to each other in whatever form has been going on.

This could have been exchanging as gifts beads, pottery, livestock, handmade items, food, etc. to build alliances & social bonds.

The Pharaohs in Egypt liked their fancy gifts with jewelry and crafted objects.

The clever ancient Greeks liked their statues.

The Romans liked their coins, wine & luxurious objects.

You see gift giving is about human relationships, our bonds, our loved ones.

It has come along way now in modern times and what we know well, which is personalized gifts, then boy oh boy has it come along way indeed.

We have tech now, the products, now it is just above letting the imaginations of gift givers express which transform product objects into personal & meaningful gifts. 

Why do we give Gifts ?

Gift giving fulfils a human need.

We express our love through communicating our feelings, especially through personal gifts.

We use gifts to help celebrate on occasion like a birthday.

We use gifts to help celebrate a loved one & made them feel appreciated and loved.

This gift giving cycle will unleash reciprocity in human behaviour and it will be our turn to get a gift on our birthday, or Christmas, for example the next time. 

The Psychology Behind Gift Giving

There is so much psychology behind gift giving.

It concerns the human mind, our values, reflects the relationships we have in our lives.

It is said the left side of our brain deals with logic, facts while the right side deals with imagination, feelings.

We can be complex and simple beings us humans all at the same time. 

Complex in one part of ourselves, then very simple in other ways.  

The gift giving experience rewards both the giver and the receiver.

Rewards centres in the brain are activated. Chemicals like dopamine and oxytocin are activated leading to feelings of pleasure and happiness.

There is a lot of data research on humas reactions & experiences regarding gift giving. A lot of the findings come from extensive surveys of people interviewed.

We firmly believe from day to day experience in the personalized gifts market that being sentimental when gift giving is a major key to a successful gift, which will be appreciated. 

An article published in Psychology Today discussed research ( the three references for the research were published at the bottom of the article in Psychology Today, but the article discussed 3 research based findings and noted giving a sentimental gift makes the gift emotionally laden with thoughts of our loved ones. 

We know from research published in December 1998 in Psychology & Marketing which can seen seen on Wiley Online Library which found that generally speaking women were more concerned with gift giving than men. 

Guide to Joyful Gifting

There is a science and art in choosing a gift.

It can be tricky.

Many people have no idea what to get a loved one.

Here is a simple guide to follow :

·       The Who – who are you buying for ? Mom, Dad, Girlfriend, etc.

·       Recipient’s Preferences – previous gift likes, who are they behind the surface and

        what do they like.

·       Add a Personal Touch – give them a customized gift. It transforms a mere generic

       object into an experience, an expression of your love, gift recipients appreciate.

·       Be sentimental – by personalizing the gift, you can focus on the relationship between         the gift giver and recipient

·       Buy them an experience – concert tickets, a spa day and so on.

Is There a Perfect Gift?

The answer is this is very subjective.

No two people are the same. No two gift recipients are the same.

However, once the gift shows your love, thoughtfulness, effort, the recipient’s preferences, creatives feels of appreciation and reflection in the gift recipient, yes it can very much be emotionally perfect for a gift recipient.

Personalized gifts are designed to be keepsakes to get enjoyment and use out of for many years. 

One customer had a photo of her parents’ wedding printed on a custom canvas—a perfect example of personalization. The gift was meaningful and deeply relevant to the recipient, and we heard her Mom absolutely loved it.

Many customers also have their pets printed on pillows, mugs, or other items—these are always good-vibe gifts.

In essence, the gift giver knows which photo or custom message will resonate and tailors the gift accordingly. The result? A simple object becomes a cherished keepsake, bringing joy and emotional connection every time it’s seen or used. 

What Makes a Great Gift?

·       It has utility.

·       It is high-end material.

·       It packs an emotional punch.

·       It has emotional value to the gift recipient, is uniquely made for him / her.

·       It is presented professionally in packaging.

·       Personalization, it is custom made.

Conclusion

Gift giving is a mixture of both science and art. 

For the art part, it involves human psychology. 

The art side concerns imagination, creativity, thoughtfulness and the personal touch. 

You could say it involves the operation of both the left and right side of the brain. 

With gift exchanging successfully it really is the thought that counts. Research from stanford indicates this also. It's about how you make them feel in our view. 

At Cloncaia we turn everyday objects into meaningful personalized gifts. 

Author: Roger J. Founder of Cloncaia - I believe the best gifts come from the heart & pack an emotional punch. For 5+ years I've helped customers create personalized gifts for their loved ones that make them happy.