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| Sunday, 19 December 2004 |
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Getting creative with gifts by Umangi de Mel The gift giving frenzy seems to have begun. It's the season of giving and advertisers are giving it their best shot making 'gift giving' a strenuous task, in the process. Actually 'gift-hunting' could be quite exhausting once you realise that it requires a lot more than money. It's absolutely pointless giving an expensive gift that won't say much about the recipient or your friendship.
Getting creative this Christmas, will hopefully help you avoid the hurtful memories of last Christmas after having given the most inappropriate gifts to loved ones'. According to Saleem, Chairman of - 'Origins', Christmas is the ideal time to give stuff that have an eternal value since the year is just on the verge of taking a bow. He feels that it's a time that people express their feelings towards their loved ones and show they care. "We've been doing a lot of promotions for X-mas. All those who shop for over Rs. 1500, will receive a valuable gift from 'Origins'. The seasonal gift items that we have are both gold and silver crosses and stars with stones embedded on them."
The intention is to please the recipient and not let them wonder why on earth we bothered. Swendrini Wijesundara of Odel Unlimited talks about their wide range of gifts for Christmas. "The best thing is that you can choose whatever you want and get our staff to make you a X-mas hamper. We've got stuff ranging from candy to perfumed soaps." Odel has its 'Lush' soap collection, shampoos, massage bars, ranging from Rs. 925 - Rs. 4750 and a plethora of floating candles, joss sticks and oils, from Rs. 600 to Rs. 1200. Different fragrances such as jasmine, sandlewood and lavender fill the nostrils of those who walk in and out of the place. "Sweets would be an ideal X-mas gift and we've got an array of those ranging from fruit jellies, chocolates like 'Guylian' and 'Churchill's' priced at Rs. 325 - Rs. 3100." That's for those who are blessed with a sweet tooth.
"We've got the traditional X-mas decor at Arena. Large stockings, priced at Rs. 600, Santa Outfits, Gold and Silver baubles at Rs. 75, tinsels, nativity sets at Rs. 750 and red velvet stars for Rs. 75." Arena also seems to have a wide range of homeware such as table mats, table runners, serviettes, cushion covers, giant cushions, coasters, lamp shades and lampstands to be given as gifts for those who are passionate about interior decor. Also the usual gift items such as jewellery, sunshades, hand bags, belts, keytags and wrist watches for sweethearts and party goers. "We've also got ornaments such as door stoppers with metal frogs fixed on to it, wooden candle stands and metal candle stands of which the base is like a dancing ballerina priced at Rs. 1800." Praveen feels that it's always better to think about the recipient's likes and dislikes when giving fits. "I'd like to combine something of utility, educational and may be with a little bit of extravagant. Or may be a voucher for dinner or a weekend's stay at a hotel for my folks if I can afford it. But all the commercialism that has come into play has given christmas a different look. We were taught to share and our presents were minimal and the poor was always taken into account. Now such a lot of tamasha's going around that the whole message of Christmas is something else." Hiru Surtani, Managing Director of Exclusive Lines has a whole range of fragrances for the season. From Dior to Elizabeth Arden and Calvin Klein and many more.
Kaushala de Silva of 'Kent' talks about their X-mas collection, "It's mostly ornaments. Like serviette rings, key hangers, candle stands and special bible paintings. The hand painted ones are priced at Rs. 1500 - Rs. 5700." Kaushala says that it's nice to give something memorable rather than spending over ineffectual things. The art of giving is nothing about spending money, but what matters most is how much thought one's put to it. Merry Christmas everybody.! |
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Or giving them something they'll never set eyes on. Gift-giving jitters
could be easily banished if one knows that it's not just a matter of
handing someone, samething that money can buy, but it's mostly giving them
one's most cherished thoughts.
Gift giving does require a lot of thought. Futile is giving gifts for
the sake of giving something... but if you are actually considering the
concept of 'giving', looking at the recepient's interests and character
would give you a few tips to choose a gift for him.
Gifts vary from lampshades to door-stoppers to other houseware as well.
Speaking about gift-giving Praveen Perera, General Manager, Arena says
it's all about trying to match the recipient's interests.
Being the family man that he is, Hiru says he'd pick something that
will go from one generation to the other, "I'm family oriented
person. I believe in giving something value additional like jewellery.
It's pointless giving things limited for just a period of time and thrown
away. Or I'd take them on a holiday oversees." He says it's nothing
about spending money. "Spending time with your family and giving them
something that they cherish would be the ideal gifts."
