A New Gift Idea For The Hard-To-Please

A lot can be said for following trends, and not much of it is good. Being trendy has always had a sort of negative connotation, as if all trends are likely to fizzle out and following them makes us seem like dopes. Well, I think that’s all nonsense! Trends are awesome, and if you find a trend that has some staying power, stick with it (hello, wrap dresses have been trending for 40 years). At this point, you’re probably asking what trends have to do with gift buying, and the answer is...well...everything. When you have a hard to buy for family member, it’s time to start thinking outside (or inside) of the box. Outside of the standard box, but inside of a monthly subscription box. 

Of course, you’re asking why on earth would I suggest a monthly subscription box for someone who’s hard to buy for? Well, because you can choose a box based on their style, personality and hobbies. Also, each month is providing them with a new gift and a new opportunity for you to score a win!  If the idea of a yearlong commitment seems a bit daunting, don’t worry, most subscription services offer shorter terms for gift subscriptions – 1, 3, 6 and 9 month options are standard. These shorter subscription options also make these gifts pretty budget friendly. You can give a pretty nice gift without breaking your own bank to do it. 

If you’re only familiar with the good ol’ book-of-the-month clubs, this whole subscription box idea might seem limiting. Fortunately for all of us, this trend comes with a wealth of options. If your family member loves to cook, you could get them a subscription to a meal-kit delivery service like Blue Apron or Hello Fresh; there are even options for special diets, such as Terra’s
Kitchen for your paleo, vegetarian and gluten-free family. 

If you have a family member who has a hobby or passion but they happen to also be very picky, you can give them a subscription that allows them to choose what’s in their box each month. My mother loves fragrances, she’s nuts about perfume, but she’s also insanely picky about them. As much as she loves perfume, my sisters and I never surprise her with a fragrance, she picks it out and we buy it for her. I personally think that presents are mostly about the element of surprise and it bugs me that the one thing she loves is the one thing I can’t surprise her with. Well, this year, I’m getting her a Scentbird subscription. Scentbird is a fragrance subscription service that has hundreds of fragrance options from around the globe. They’re constantly adding new options and they even have a variety of selections for men. Each month my mother will be allowed to select three fragrances to try – it’s a total win-win! She’ll be able to build her perfume collection and I’ll look like a genius/rock star for getting it for her.

For those picky friends & family who don’t have a specified “hobby” but maybe just like to look good, you have the option of Stitch Fix, Adore Me, Bespoke, Dollar Shave Club and Birchbox. Each of those has a variety of customization that can be made to fit their style. If you’re liking this idea, but need a wider set of options, check out Crate Joy. Their website is a go-to resource for subscription boxes. You’ll find everything from subscription craft supplies to subscription culinary tools. There’s even a subscription box for dogs (Bark Box). One more tip – when searching for subscription services, use a laptop, not a mobile device. Many mobile websites hide certain navigation (usually the part with the gift options) to conserve browser space, so you might not see all of the options available. 

On a completely self-serving subscription side note: getting your loved one a 12 month subscription also means that this time next year they’ll remember what you got them last year – almost guaranteeing you’ll get a pretty darn good gift yourself. 

*Written by Lindsay S., gift-giver and Redwood resident.