Ever hear the phrase “it’s the thought that counts” and wonder why?
I do too.
What are people thinking about when giving gifts? Will they choose convenience over giving meaningful gifts? Is planning ahead the preferred strategy, or do people want to be surprised? I set up an informal poll on LinkedIn to learn more.
This summary wraps up (with a bow) the results from the poll.
The poll asked people to select the style that best describes their approach to gift giving. The options include:
Grab and Go
Prefer to Plan Ahead
Unique and Thoughtful
Surprise Me!
The outcome strongly favors Unique and Thoughtful, with votes for Grab and Go, Prefer to Plan Ahead, and Surprise Me! The responses are packed with insight:
Unique and Thoughtful
Taylor responded, “I’m a mix of 'surprise me', and 'unique and thoughtful'. I enjoy giving something unexpected but also personal—it’s the best of both worlds.”
Chanchal observed, “I’ve noticed my style has shifted over time—less about the 'perfect' thing, more about a gesture that makes someone feel seen. Curious what others will say.”
While Sheila replied, “I wish I were a grab-and-go person, but I would rather give no gift if it can't be unique and thoughtful.”
Mijha commented, “I love to spend time thinking about a gift that will delight my recipient. We don't always have the luxury of time, but that's my preference. “
While Matt acknowledged, “Gift giving is not my strong suit,” he agreed when “I know it's important to do, I try to be as thoughtful as possible.”
Michelle said, “I try to be a unique and thoughtful gift giver. I just wish I was better at actually wrapping the gifts. Open to any tips. :)
Prefer to Plan Ahead
For those who prefer to plan, Eva responded with “great question! I voted plan ahead, but I’ll be honest, it depends.”
Andrea summed up her style. “I like to think about what the person I'm gifting would find useful and unique. I keep a collection of items that I know folks would like and that helps when giving gifts.”
While Matt commented, “Love this question. I definitely identify as a 'unique and thoughtful' gift giver, but it looks like everyone else does too! Sometimes that translates to planning ahead because I'll often find the unique gift that'd be perfect for someone at a random moment. I also think it can be fun to just give the gift right then, rather than saving it for a special occasion.”
Grab and Go
Nina responded. “I would say my gift style is more of a mix of grab and go, and unique and thoughtful. A lot of times, I go with my gut on something, but try, and get something tailored to the person I’m gifting to.”
Kim observed. “My family gets so annoyed by me sometimes when they bring me a 'grab and go' kind of gift, and I've spent weeks considering what to get them. Oh well, there are all different kinds of gift givers, aren't there?”
Surprise Me!
Sometimes, surprise is about knowing your people. Charlene said, “I think my gift style is kind of a mixed bag. I like to give gifts in the way people most enjoy receiving them. For example, my sister is happiest when she gets exactly what’s on her Amazon list, so that’s what I give her! On the other hand, one of my friends loves surprises, so I’ll hunt down something a little weird and wacky from the local area just for her.”
Diane prefers gifts unique to the area she lives in. “One thing I love about Laguna Beach is the amazing artisan works of art - THIS is where I buy all my gifts - because no one on my list will ever receive something from a Laguna Beach master artist!”
Ellen described her experience, “I absolutely love to come up with an original, thoughtful gift. I just hit it out of the park with my sister's 60th Birthday gift, and it felt great!”
Jozanne agreed, “If I give someone a gift, it's going to be personal, something thoughtful that the person likes or fits their style. I try to be polite when someone gives me a gift that they would want for themselves, rather than something I would enjoy. That would be my teenage daughter who normally just takes the gift for herself...guess that's her strategy.”
Yet whatever the occasion, Diane summed up the experience. “It's beautifully crafted and one-of-a-kind, and THAT'S what makes gift receiving so memorable to anyone.”
