Archive for January 2008
Most guys love the gift of toys. In other words, men want toys in their grown-up form — whether it’s ratchet sets, MP3 players, laser pointers, video games, phones, home electronics, fishing tackle, Swiss Army knives, or digital cameras. Given the choice between a sentimental present or a playfully functional one, go for the playful gadget for guys.
Why do men crave gadgets? Bill Adler, Jr. addresses guy-gadget glee in his book, Boys and Their Toys: Understanding Men by Understanding Their Relationship with Their Gadgets
- Guys fidget — note flipping through TV channels on the remote control — and some gadgets play into that restlessness.
- Guys use toys to relieve stress: “Rather than talk about their doubts and dilemmas, many men would prefer their problems simply slip away while playing with the latest micro-complex watch.”
- Guys enjoy novelty, and the latest gadgets fulfill the need for newness.
- Guys like re-enacting their boyhood through grown-up toys. “Few men would be seen playing with Lincoln Logs, but building a remote-controlled airplane is an adult hobby that is just as much fun as any childhood pastime.”
- Guys want gadgets that affirm roles of protector and helper, and “alarms, flashlights, strobes, knives and pocket tools are good examples of this.”
- Guys want to look good — even alluring. “Is a man’s array of gadgetry like a peacock’s magnificent tail in the eyes of the peahen? Probably not, but this doesn’t change men’s belief that many women are attracted by a man’s gadgets, or his capability to possess many gadgets.”
- Guys can join work and play with their gadgets. “When work becomes fun through gadgets, men feel better about their work and themselves because they can enhance their professional life and play at the same time.”
Thanks to Adler, I’m starting to understand why I’ve found joy with so many gadget gifts I’ve received over the years, from the Roomba robotic vacuum cleaner
Next: #3: Select Gifts from his Interests
Previous: #1: Tune in for Clues
Tags: books, choosing gifts, gadgets, giftology, guidelines, guy gifts
It’s love, American style. The National Retail Federation released its Valentine’s Day intentions survey of 8,447 U.S. consumers.
How will Americans spend February 14th this year?
- 61.3 percent of consumers are expected to celebrate Valentine’s Day 2008. For young adults ages 18 to 24, 72.4 percent plan to keep Cupid busy on the 14th.
- By U.S. region, Valentine’s Day is most popular in the South (64.9 percent), followed by the North East (60.9 percent), the West (60.6 percent), and the Midwest (58.4 percent).
- Consumers plan to spend $17.02 billion for 2008 Valentine’s Day gifts, up from $16.90 billion in 2007.
- On average, that spending comes to $122.98 per consumer for Valentine’s Day. Adults ages 25 to 34 are expected spend the most, about $160 on average.
- Men plan to spend an average of $163.37. For women, the average gift total is expected to be $84.72.
- Most gift dollars ($79.99) go toward Valentine gifts for a spouse or significant other. Americans also give to family members ($38.27), friends ($5.75), children’s classmates and teachers ($4.05) and co-workers ($3.02).
- For the first time, the NRF asked about Valentine presents for pets, which may receive an average of $15.37 in gifts, or $367 million.
- The most popular gift choice remains the Valentine card. But the favorite dropped in popularity from 62.8 percent in 2007 to 56.8 percent in 2008.
- Three other traditional Valentine gifts slipped slightly in popularity over last year: candy (47.7 percent, down 0.7 percent), flowers (35.9 percent, down 0.8 percent), and jewelry (16.6 percent, down 1.3 percent). But almost half of us plan “an evening out” (48.2 percent), an increase of 2.9 percent.
Tags: shopping, surveys, valentine's day
Tonight’s episode of House featured a demented take on gift giving. It’s Christmas time at Princeton Plainsboro Teaching Hospital, and House twists the Secret Santa ritual to turn his doctors against each other. He stuffs the Secret Santa stocking (pictured above) so all the names drawn are “Gregory House,” forcing his newest physician fellows to buy him presents.
Here are some of my favorite moments from the House episode, “It’s a Wonderful Lie.”
House: (Holding a Christmas stocking for picking Secret Santa names.) You’re now a team. You’ve gotta work together. And the simple fact is giving people crap makes people like people. So spend 25 bucks. Learn to love.
Wilson: What’s with Secret Santa? You trying to bring them together?
House: (playing foosball) I want to drive them apart.
Wilson: With gift giving?
House: Conflict’s built right into the name. Santa’s about sharing. A secret is about withholding.
Wilson: Aside from the Trojan Horse, gifts don’t usually…
House: What did you get your wife for your final anniversary?
Wilson: (thinking) Uh… a sweater.
House: She hated it.
Wilson: She loved it.
House: Then you didn’t buy it.
Wilson: I gave her some cash…
House: Gifts allow us to demonstrate exactly how little we know about a person. And nothing pisses off a person more than being shoved in the wrong pigeonhole.
(Kutner, Thirteen and Foreman are playing foosball with the patient’s daughter, 11-year-old Jane.)
Jane: I want to go see my mom.
Kutner: She’s sleeping. (Looks to Foreman.) Why don’t we just double the amount we can spend?
Foreman: Nope.
Kutner: Can’t afford another $25?
Foreman: If we allow $50, people spend $60.
Kutner: Oh, so you can’t afford another $35?
Thirteen: You must have someone you really like.
Jane: Or really dislike. (Thirteen and Foreman look to Jane with curiosity.)
Jane: My mom always gives the best presents to the teachers I get along with the worst.
Thirteen and Foreman: (Thinking, then dismissing her insinuation in unison): No!
(The others distracted, Jane scores a goal on the foosball table. She smirks.)
Kutner: How do you know “No”?
Thirteen: I know you didn’t get House.
Foreman: I know he didn’t get House.
(Scene change. Wilson and House are seated on a bench, eating pizza in the hospital corridor.)
Wilson: You gave them all your name?
House: Mm-hmm. Figured I could sow some dissension and get a few ties and sweaters.
Wilson: What happens when they find out?
House: It’s Secret Santa.
Wilson: And what happens when they find out?
House: They’ll argue about what to do with that information. The ties are less important than the dissension.
(Scene change back to foosball table.)
Kutner: We still have to buy him something.
Foreman: Not a chance.
Kutner: We’re not supposed to discuss this. We’re not supposed to know.
Foreman: He’s not supposed to put his name in there five times!
Jane: He wants presents. It’s sad.
Thirteen: It’s pathetic.
Kutner: I’m still buying him a present.
Thirteen: No… you’re not.
Kutner: Fine!
(House, seated, opens a mystery present he found on his desk while discussing his diagnosis of sarcoidosis with Kutner, Foreman, Taub and Thirteen.)
Kutner: It’s not Christmas yet.
House: I remembered… I’m not a satanist, I’m a druid.
Foreman: No lung involvement.
House: Yet. (Still unwrapping gift.)
Taub: We’ll need to do a bronchoalveolar lavage to confirm it.
House: That’s a shame... I was gonna surprise her with one for Christmas.
(Kutner, Foreman, Taub and Thirteen start to leave.)
House: WOW!
(House holds an unwrapped iPhone in his hand.)
House: (pointing to the iPhone) Now either that cost more than 25 bucks, or I’m seriously starting to doubt Steve Jobs’ business strategies… Thanks!
Tags: giftology, television shows
You know the four Cs of diamonds — cut, color, carat and clarity. Now add a fifth C: cash back. Diamond supplier De Beers is settling a class-action lawsuit over price fixing, which the South African company denies. Still, the gem giant is offering $295 million in rebates.
If you bought diamonds as a gift for someone (or for yourself) between January 1, 1994 and March 31, 2006, you may apply online as part of the pending settlement. I just completed the brief form which requires your name, physical address, e-mail address, specific diamond items (e.g., engagement ring, diamond stud earrings), and item value. If your diamonds cost more than $10,000, you must provide receipts. You have until May 19, 2008 to file a claim.
Here’s the fine print. Only $135.4 million of the settlement will reach U.S. consumers. And the more people who make claims, the smaller the individual refund will be. If the value of your claim (based on purchase price) ends up as less than $10, alas, you won’t get a refund.
Tags: jewelry, shopping
You’re seeking gift hints from him that he’s not dropping. You could ask him outright, but sometimes guys claim they don’t want or need a gift. Chances are, they just don’t know what they want or feel awkward suggesting gifts. Men do want gifts — even for Valentine’s Day. According to a 2005 True.com/Psychology Today survey, 85 percent of 1,121 American men hope to receive a gift on February 14.
So it’s time to shift into Nancy Drew mode and find clues for his gift. Ask yourself the following questions about your guy.
- Does he use Amazon.com? Check for wish lists
- Are his tastes traditional or trendy? Does he prefer no-frills or the finer things?
- What gifts have succeeded before? Could a similar or complementary gift fit?
- What are his favorite interests, activities and hobbies?
- What inconveniences or annoyances could a gift solve?
- What indulgences or new experiences would complete the sentence “I’ve always wanted to…” for him?
- What are his favorite belongings? What might make a great goes-along-with gift?
Next: #2: Choose Playfully Functional
Previous: 7 Guidelines for Guy Gifts
Tags: gift ideas, guidelines, guy gifts, valentine's day
