Gift Giving Guy

Hollywood’s gift bag guru Lash Fary asks three questions to set “personality parameters” before recommending gifts.

1. Is your giftee young at heart or mature at any age?
2. Is your recipient traditional or trendy?
3. Is your relationship with the person that of a close friend or relative, or more of a casual, neighborly nature?

In his book, Fabulous Gifts, Fary suggests quizzes (edited excerpts below) to help you respond to these questions. Keep in mind that your personal knowledge of an individual’s tastes can override these categories.

Question 1: Young at Heart vs. Mature at Any Age?

1. Do they usually dress up for Halloween?
2. Do they enjoy telling jokes, making people laugh and playing pranks from time to time?
3. Is the recipient likely to drop everything for a last-minute weekend trip?
4. Would they join you for a spur-of-the-moment dinner or movie invitation?
5. Do they sometimes impulsively buy items they don’t need while shopping at the mall?
6. Are they likely to join their co-workers for happy hour after work?
7. Are they likely to have to search for their passport when it’s time to take a trip?
8. Are they more likely to stop at Starbucks for a latte in the morning than to set the timer on the coffee the night before?
9. Are they more likely to boldly decorate the bride and groom’s car at a wedding or stay behind to toss the rice or birdseed?

If you answered “yes” to five or more questions, you are shopping for someone who is young at heart, and you may want choose more playful gifts. If “no” for most questions, your giftee is mature at any age, and you will want to consider less whimsical and more practical presents.

Question 2: Traditional vs. Trendy?

1. Do they think about “other people’s rules” when dressing (e.g., not wearing white after Labor Day or whether a particular color is appropriate for the season)?
2. Do they avoid tight-fitting clothes?
3. Do they go to church or temple on a regular basis?
4. Are they more likely to work around the house on the weekends than to hit the mall with a friend?
5. Does the recipient listen to either classical or country music?
6. If female, does she own more flats than stilettos? If male, does he own more neckties than pairs of jeans?
7. Has the recipient had the same hairstyle for at least five years?
8. Is the recipient often influenced by family opinions and situations?
9. Does the recipient own only black and/or brown shoes?

Five or more “yes” answers mean you are seeking a gift for someone traditional. Traditionals tend to like what they know and prefer something familiar. Five or more “no” answers point to a trendy recipient who often lean toward bold colors and design innovations. Gift seekers can take more risks with a trendy giftee.

Question 3: Close vs. Casual Relationship?

1. Would they be willing to pick you up at the airport during rush hour on a Friday evening?
2. Do you know their favorite movie, actor or singer?
3. Can you recall their birthday (or at least birth month) without referring to a calendar?
4. Would the recipient stop by without calling first?
5. Do you chat on the phone or exchange e-mail with the recipient at least twice a week?
6. Do you have the person’s phone number programmed into your cell phone?
7. Do you have a picture of them somewhere in your house?
8. Do you socialize (outside of work) at least once a month (or at least talk about doing so)?
9. Would you leave them alone in your house for the day?

If you said “yes” to at least five questions, you are choosing a gift for someone close, which raises the bar to find a gift that reflects their personal interests. If you said “no” to five or more questions, you have a casual relationship with the recipient. Stick with less personal, tried-and-true presents (e.g., Moleskine travel journal, laptop bag for mobile computing fans, or maybe a coffee gift card).

Gift Profiles

From these three answers, Fary forms eight personality profiles and devotes a chapter of gift ideas for each profile:

• Young/Traditional/Close
• Young/Traditional/Casual
• Young/Trendy/Close
• Young/Trendy/Casual
• Mature/Traditional/Close
• Mature/Traditional/Casual
• Mature/Trendy/Close
• Mature/Trendy/Casual

For me, I follow the “Young at Heart/Traditional” profile. My wife fits the “Mature/Traditional/Close” profile. Which profile matches your giftees?