The average American spends almost $1,000 per year on gifts and the US gift-giving market is growing at a rate of about five percent per year. It means we are all on a constant quest to find the perfect gift.
Naturally, it is something we think about most at holiday season, but when you consider birthdays and other events like Mother’s Day and Valentine’s Day, gift-giving is something most of us need to think about every few weeks throughout the year.
Gift-giving is all about showing you care, so for family and close friends, giving a box of chocolates or a bottle of drink feels lazy, however well-intentioned it might be. A personalized gift shows thought and consideration, as it has some unique feature that makes it specific to the recipient, such as an inscription or personal design.
The good news is that personalized gifts don’t have to be expensive, and start in the sub-$10 bracket, which is especially important in these difficult economic times.
Here, we take a look at what is trending among personalized gifts this year. It is an interesting mix of innovative ideas and perennially popular gifts that never go out of fashion.
Leather gifts are always popular
Let’s start with something that falls firmly into the latter category. Trends come and go in America’s gift market, but leather never goes out of fashion. Sellers like LucasGift offer handmade leather gifts that include everything from lanyards to wallets.
Leather checks all the boxes when it comes to gifts. We associate it in our minds with quality, it is highly durable and the fact that it is natural means every piece has its own unique characteristics and texture.
Leather is also a great choice for those who take sustainability seriously. It is a natural substance that will completely biodegrade when it reaches the end of its life and the industry has taken substantial steps over the past decade to minimize the environmental impact of its manufacturing processes.
As well as being inherently unique, each leather gift can also be personalized with an inscription. This could be the recipient’s name or initials, or even a few words to mention when or why the gift was given, such as “on your wedding day”.
Popular leather gifts include wallets, keychains, lanyards, bookmarks and phone cases, to name just a few.
Personalized tech gifts
When you think about trending gifts, your mind might naturally turn to tech, especially for younger recipients. Choosing a tech gift can be something of a minefield. A recent Finder.com survey found that the average American receives $71 worth of gifts each year that they do not want or appreciate.
The data does not say what proportion of these are tech gifts, but it is likely to be high. This is because hardware, such as a phone or tablet, or software like games are personal choices that it is easy to get wrong.
However, there is a safe way to give personalized tech gifts that will be used and appreciated, and that is by gifting accessories. For example, everyone needs a charger, and a spare one is always useful.
Similarly, you could consider a case to protect devices while traveling – this could even be made of leather and personalized with the person’s initials, tying it in with the types of ever-popular gifts we mentioned earlier.
Jewelry gifts appeal to all ages
People have been giving jewelry as a symbol of love and affection for centuries. But adding the personalized touch has become far easier in recent years. Examples of personalized jewelry include name necklaces, which can come in different sizes or style. You can even choose a name necklace in a style that reflects a person’s interests, for example with an animal, a football or a car.
Another popular type of personalized jewelry is a locket. Ostensibly, this is a highly traditional gift, and people have been giving silver or gold lockets containing a photograph or portrait for generations.
But today, lockets can have a modern twist. Sellers can digitally engrave your picture into the locket so that the image is permanent. Also, they are far easier to handle as there is no need to cut a paper picture to size and insert it into the locket.
Experiences are gaining popularity over tangible gifts
10 years ago, Eventbrite published a groundbreaking piece of research about the emerging experience economy. In the 10 years since, its value has increased tenfold from $200 billion to $2 trillion.
This growth has been driven by the fact reported in Eventbrite’s original research, which was that millennials place greater value on experiences than on tangible possessions.
Inevitably, this has a significant impact on gift-giving trends. Experience gifts can be personalized just as much as tangible gifts, especially when you think a little outside the box.
Instead of spending a fortune on an off-the-shelf “red letter day” type experience, think about what the individual really enjoys and create your own experience-based gift. The possibilities are endless but examples you might consider include the following:
- Tailored adventure kits for a hike or a bike ride
- A personalized recipe book that uses family recipes passed down through generations
- A games night where you organize the games and participants
- A cocktail or mocktail party, where the participants make the drinks
Experience gifts are not just for younger generations. Often, older relatives will be much more appreciative of a gift that involves you dedicating some time to them for a day or evening out. This is especially the case for those who live alone.
A broad choice of personalized gifts
Ultimately, there is a bigger choice of personal gifts today than ever before. Some are very different to the gifts that were popular a generation ago, while others are subtle variations on time-honored favorites. However, all the gifts we have mentioned today have one thing in common.
None of them will break the bank, even for the growing number of Americans who are having to manage limited budgets at peak gift-giving season. It’s further proof, if we needed it, that when it comes to gifts, it really is the thought that counts.