What and What Not To Give



When presented with an occasion for gift giving, there's the mind-numbing sensation that goes with it. What to give and what not to give, is always the million dollar question. Why? You don't want to cringe when the recipient opens your gift.

Whether it's for the holidays or just simply a thank you token, you need not worry about what to give relatives, friends, co-workers, and the boss. You can give them beautiful Cross pens, personalized items, and gift checks just to be on the safe side and still give them something they'll rave about.

You know very well that gift shopping is not simply dashing off to the nearest mall and grabbing the first thing that you see. Careful thought should go into the selection of the item you intend to present with a flourish.

How Not to Shop for Gifts

People know when the gifts they get have not been selected with care. It would be a bummer to give the boss a lighter when he does not smoke, or your dad an air rifle when can no longer go hunting.

One way to commit this unforgivable faux pas is to have somebody get the gifts for you. Just list the names of the people and let your secretary or son shop for the items. Less headache, right? Give the stress to them.

How about shopping when you are bone-tired? After long day at the office, walk to the mall and point at anything that is within peripheral vision. You have to get home fast, so hurry. There's dinner to be prepared or a bike to be fixed, all waiting at home.

Shopping Savvy

If you don't have the time to shop during the day, hop to the computer after work. You'll find several online gift shops that offer a variety of affordable items.

You'll get details about quality products like Cross pens, pocket watches, mugs, and personalized liquor flasks. Take a closer look at the Cross pens. There are striking designs for different personalities. There is the Verve line for your macho mates, and the Scandinavian motifs for your fashion-conscious girlfriends.

When giving Cross pens, have these engraved with a special message and give a box of refills. That's a nice thought. Your boss or your best friend will be using these pens until the last refill, and they'll have you to thank for the convenience.

If you are giving away lighters as groomsmen's gifts, check out who the non-smokers are and give them engraved card holders or money clips instead. That's the safest bet. You won't mollify them with tokens they have no use for, and you can breathe easy when they start opening their gifts.

If the budget allows, add accessories to your choice of gifts that would show your esteem for the person. The 18-karat gold model from the classic line of Cross pens for your boss will handsomely match a personalized notepad.

Your Dad will appreciate a personalized money clip with a few dollars in it to start his luck.

Shopping for your friends and relatives and the boss is a matter of knowing what they do best and what they like to do, so add that personal touch to your gifts.