It happens to everybody at some point — you need to buy a gift for someone you don’t know well. Now, you could pick up the first thing you see at the first store you walk into, banking on the fact that they might like it. However, if you want to make a good impression (perhaps it’s your new partner’s mother or a boss at work), you need to go down the route of universally well-liked gifts. Fortunately, this list has you covered, as these gift ideas will satisfy (almost) anyone.
A Box of Chocolates
Who doesn’t love receiving chocolate? Especially when the tasty treat comes in a well-wrapped gift box with a mix of exciting flavors and textures to delight the tastebuds. If you need to send a gift to someone you don’t know very well, it’s hard to go wrong with this gift. Plus, if you want to impress a little further, you could always look at custom chocolate boxes that use premium chocolate as well as interesting flavors. A custom box will allow you to add a touch of personalization without being too risky!
A Gift Card
The truth is, you never really know what a person likes and dislikes until you know them. That’s why a gift card makes the ideal present for a person you don’t know; with a gift card, they have the freedom to buy whatever they want. You could cast the net wide by giving them an Amazon gift card, which they could use to buy books, electronics, clothes, and much more. Or, if you know they like video games but not much more than that, you could give them a gaming gift card.
A Travel Mug
It’s easy to assume that the person you’re buying for likes hot beverages. Even if they don’t, the chances are they’d like a warm mug of soup from time to time. For this reason, a travel mug makes a risk-free, but lovely gift. A high-quality travel mug will allow them to take their trusty coffee, herbal tea, or tomato soup wherever they please.
A Leather Journal
If you want to make a really good impression, consider giving the person you don’t know very well a leather notebook. At some point or another, most people use a notebook — or, at least, they would if they had one handy. By going a step further and gifting your recipient a high-quality, leather-bound one, you’re sure to delight them.
A Gift Basket (Full of Goodies)
Most people love receiving gift baskets. After all, they’re packed to the brim with treats, from chocolate to candy to wine! Even if the recipient doesn’t love everything in the gift basket, there’s a high chance that they’ll discover something they love in there.
Straight Up Cash
Are you really stuck on what to get the person you’ve only met a handful of times? If appropriate, consider giving them straight-up cash. This works particularly well at weddings; if you only distantly know the bride and groom, giving them a little money toward their honeymoon (rather than a fourth toaster to add to their collection) will likely be much appreciated.