The holy grail of gift-giving is surely an item that is personal and thoughtful, but that can be bought/made/sourced relatively quickly and easily, particularly at this time of the year when lives are busy. All year I see great items that make me think “I’ll have to remember that” because it’s perfect for so and so. Surprise surprise, come Christmas, I don’t remember.
But not this year. This year I have been keeping a list. The introduction of an iPhone in my life has really taken my list-making (and possibly my nerdiness) to the next level. I record, categorise, edit and share my gift ideas so that they are waiting for the right occasion to give, be that Christmas, a birthday or just because. Another dynamite ingredient in my refreshed gift-sourcing approach is the internet; a particularly topical tool given today is Cyber Monday in the UK.
I’d never really viewed the internet as somewhere where I could genuinely find unusual items that I couldn’t buy in a shop. All that has changed for me recently as I’ve discovered more and more of cyberland’s little boutiques. Treasures normally tucked away down an alley in a trendy part of town can actually be delivered directly to my house or work by the magic of the world wide web. It’s good for independent sellers – they can access a world of shoppers – and it’s good for buyers as we can find original and often hand-crafted presents that used to require some serious hunting, all from the comfort of our homes and in our own time.
So after consulting my lovely list, I give you The Bulb’s favourite online gift shops. Hopefully these will make your shopping a bit easier and more fun this year.
- Not On The High Street: A definite favourite, this online boutique sources unique gifts from independent, small businesses and has lots of options to personalise your choices with engraving, printing and altering.
- Bouf: Find ‘products with a twist’, including homewares, clothes and gifts. There are also some good Christmas guides and stocking-filler lists too.
- Hector & Haddock: Vintage paper ephemera is used as the basis for each of the one-off items on this site – be it a card bearing a 1930s opera ticket, framed artwork using old sheet music or unusual tobacco labels – all creating new wonders with past treasures.
- Etsy: The online mecca for buying and selling all things handmade from across the world, this is a place to go for inspiration as well as for clothes, books, art, food and everything else.
- Online grocery deliveries: An online gift that continues to win hearts is the online delivery of food and drink. If you have a time-poor, food-poor or spirit-poor friend, the home delivery of champagne, flowers, a birthday cake, a hamper, or simply next week’s groceries, never fails to be well-received.
- I Want One of Those: For gadgets, toys, personalised and unusual gifts. It even has a special Secret Santa list to make those potentially awkward buys a little easier, including an I Love Spreadsheets mug and a USB Humping Dog (?).
- Culture Label: This site gives you access to more than 400 galleries and other arts partners’ shops and collections, allowing you to buy affordable, original art and prints, homewares, accessories, cards, decorations and loads of other great things. I have my eyes on the chestnut roasting pan, all of the amazing brooches, and a limited edition artrepublic print please Santa. I love how you can browse gifts by personality (think culture addict or urban jetsetter), family member, price, or personal style.
- Amnesty International: For ethical giving, Amnesty has online shops in many countries, with calendars, cards, baubles, accessories and stunning almanacs. Or try Servv, handcrafted, fair trade, non-profit items from around the world.
- I Love Retro: Stylish and cheeky fashion and home goods sourced from across the globe. I love the pretty little things section and the vintage prints.
- Hidden Art Shop: Run by an award-winning, not-for-profit organisation, the site supports designer-makers in the UK. You’ll find original designs in its lighting, dining, jewellery, home, garden and gift departments. It also has a great eco products section. I like the hand-made coat hooks and other wall art.
- Vintage Seekers: More on the expensive side, this site is focussed on 20th century design and collectibles including fashion, motoring, watches, wine and memorabilia. It celebrates the craftsmanship, style and innovation of past eras.
All of these online gift spots have passed my toughest test – the ‘would I want it?’ test – with flying colours. So much so that I’ve accidentally bought a couple of ‘dear me, merry Christmas, love me’ presents. Oops. This may be the one downside of this perfect present solution.
There are some great tips here. I like your “would I want it?” test – but these sites look a bit dangerous on that front! I can see myself doing lots of “I think I want it”!