Looking for unique gifting ideas this Christmas? Here’s a list that could help

We take a look at five gifting ideas for the socially-conscious people wanting to make a difference.

Gone are the days when gifts were restricted to close circles and particular festivities. Today, we have a gift for everyone for almost every occasion, ranging from your valentine to your best colleague in office.

With a booming gift market in India (estimated at $40-42 billion), the various kinds and mediums of gifting are rapidly changing. The popularity of terms like corporate gifting, personalised gifting, online gifting, etc., are a testament to the fast-evolving market trends.

Moreover, what about gifts that offer experiences? Or those that promise some social change? With a plethora of startups and NGOs offering gifting opportunities that can spread smiles and impact lives, socially-relevant gifting ideas are now aplenty. We explore a few such novel gifting trends:

1. Gift an experience

Ever heard of gifts that allow you to paraglide, take healing therapies or go on food walks? Yes, e-commerce portals such as Indian Santa allow you to gift exclusive customised experiences under broad categories such as adventure, leisure, health and wellness treatments.

The trend of experiential gifting which first cropped up in the UK in the 1900s is now fast catching up across the globe with more and more people wanting to gift their loved ones memorable experiences rather than material things.

2. Gift a sapling

The idea of receiving live green plants can excite many environment enthusiasts. So, if you are looking for gifting ideas for your eco-lover friends, organisations such as Nurturing Green can help you select from a range of theme-based plants — from bonsais to plants for every zodiac signs and even plants that help in relieving stress.

There’s no dearth of organisations which allow you to please your loved ones by a gesture that contributes towards a greener earth. For example, Grow-Trees allows you to gift someone a tree, with the gift recipient receiving a unique greeting via an eTreeCertificate.

3. Gift handmade products

Who wouldn’t love gifts that are exquisitely handcrafted by artisans across India? However, increasing industrialisation, commercialisation and languishing craftsmanship have led to the dwindling popularity of handmade products.

To address this issue, several Indian NGOs, social enterprises and a range of budding e-commerce portals have brought together platforms that offer people a variety of handicrafts. Having online shops that deliver directly to customers, these organisations ensure that the proceeds of handmade product sales go directly to weavers and artisans, thereby eliminating the profits reaped by middlemen.

Be it handcrafted home décor or trendy handloom, organisations such as Dastkar, India Kala, Mahashakti Seva Kendra are contributing towards the empowerment of artisan communities by marketing their products. Arunim, based out of Delhi, also markets goods made by people with disabilities.

4. Gift a wish come true to someone it means the most to

Heard the story of a 10-year-old terminally ill boy who governed the Hyderabad Police force for a day in 2015? The Make-A-Wish Foundation, which first registered as an NGO in America fulfilling special wishes of people with life threatening diseases, has expanded across India and the globe.

The foundation also allows people to make a wish come true for children (aged between three to seven years) who need to make the best of their last days.

5. Gifting what one needs

If you are someone who frequently receives gifts, it might come as no surprise if you have a collection of repetitive presents — be it stationery or dinner sets. To address this issue, gift registry platforms now offer the perfect solution — getting rid of worthless gifts that people might not prefer receiving.

For example, Giftzenie enables people to create personal gift lists and share it with people through various social media platforms. These platforms not only allow people to choose their own gifts but also give an option to many friends to pool in money for common gifting occasions.