How to Add the Personal Touch When Gift-Giving

Americans love gift-giving. This year average gift spend over the holiday season alone is expected to exceed $1,000 per person. And that’s just around Christmas. On top of that are birthdays, Mother’s Day, Valentine’s Day, and so on.

The internet has made it far easier to buy gifts than it was 30 years ago. With so many online gift sellers at our fingertips, there is incredible choice, too. However, some Americans are concerned that the gift lacks the personal touch when they buy online. That doesn’t have to be the case if you choose carefully. In fact, online stores can be a source of gifts that are even more bespoke than something bought in a shop.

Adding Unique Personalization to a Gift

There are so many gift-giving events in US culture, it can be hard to make a gift stand out. But with the right personalization, a gift can be completely unique. Many types of personalized gifts can be inscribed with a message or inscription. These gifts include wallets, pen sets, keychains, pieces of jewelry and lots more.

There are two aspects to think about when it comes to this kind of personalization. In addition to the message or inscription itself, there is the way it is written. To some extent, the message will depend on the type of gift. For example, you would usually personalize a necklace or bracelet with the recipient’s name. But with a leather wallet or card holder, you might add some additional words, such as “on the event of your graduation” to memorialize when and why the gift was given.

The second aspect is the way the inscription is written. Most personalized gift platforms allow you to choose the font and color of the inscription. Clearly, this is a question of individual preference, but keep in mind the pros and cons of some popular fonts:

• Times New Roman: This is one of the most common fonts for inscriptions, as it has a classic look and is easy to read. Times New Roman is a popular choice for gifts given on more formal occasions such as a wedding or retirement, or for older people.
• Arial: This block letter option is softer than Times New Roman and has a more contemporary look. Consider this for a more casual gift or for a younger recipient.
• Old English: This intricate script font has variations in line weight and plenty of swirls. It looks fabulous but is too complex for smaller engravings. However, it is ideal for larger inscriptions and monograms.
• Lucida Calligraphy: Here’s a simpler script font with soft cursive letters. It’s a good choice when you want to inscribe a romantic gift.

Choose Handmade for a Gift Like no Other

Every handmade gift is unique, so making sure your gift is like no other is a surefire way to ensure its uniqueness. Giving a handmade gift doesn’t mean you have to make it yourself; you can still buy it through an online vendor.

Some personalized gift platforms, such as the one referenced earlier, specialize in handmade gifts that are made either by their own teams or by independent crafters who register on the platform. It’s a great way of gifting something special and unique without having to leave your armchair.

Add a Personalized Card or Note

A card allows you to send a longer and more personal message to accompany the gift. It is especially valuable for special occasions like a wedding, engagement, or graduation.

Adding a card with your own message does not have to complicate the gift-giving process. You can still choose a card and a special message for a card that you choose online and send directly to the recipient. So there is no necessity to have the card delivered to your address first and to write it by hand, although there is also the option to do so if that is your preference.