How to choose the perfect Christmas gift
Finding the perfect Christmas gift for all of your friends and family can be a major challenge. There’s nothing which compares to the joy you feel when someone special is beaming with happiness as they open their present. But how do you ensure that your gift is a memorable one without breaking the bank?
It is all too easy to overspend at Christmas! Grandiose gestures are all very well, but it is so often the less extravagant yet meaningful gifts which are treasured. The gifts which delight the recipient because they are that little bit different or perfectly suited to their taste. There’s an old saying that it is the thought that counts with presents and it really is!
By taking the time to consider the tastes and interests of your friends and relatives, you can choose an affordable yet unforgettable gift which also reflects the spirit of the season. The Not Run of The Mill collection would be an excellent place to start, even if we say so ourselves! Featuring a wonderful array of carefully curated pieces from skilled artisans, fair traders and sought after brands, our range will provide you with all the inspiration you need.
Budgeting for the festive season
The people you care about will also care about you and wouldn’t want you to spend more than you can comfortably afford. If you think that you might get carried away, set a budget both for your overall spend and each individual gift, then stick to it. Rather than being an annoying restriction, your budget will provide an interesting challenge and could help to focus your efforts, saving you time in the process.
Pick your moment
Trying to choose a raft of presents in a short space of time can be very stressful. Don’t place unnecessary pressure on yourself by attempting to do too much at once. Set aside the time you need to visit the shops or to explore what is available online and then you will be able to relax and enjoy the Christmas shopping experience
If you quickly see something that will thrill grandma or delight your dog, go for it! You could waste several hours trying to improve on your find, but you know that you will inevitably return to it. Ticking a few presents off your list early on in proceedings will enable you to devote more time to finding the gifts that you find the most difficult to choose.
How to choose the right present
Start by making a list of the people you need to buy for and think about their tastes and interests. If Aunt Jane has just discovered a passion for gardening and cousin Peter has recently grown a beard, make notes! Consider the gifts that you have given friends and family in the past and which ones created the reaction you are looking for. It never hurts to stick to a theme that has hit the spot before and recalling your previous gifts will prevent you from choosing the same things again.
Your gifts will deliver the greatest impact if they show that you have devoted agreat deal of thought to your choice. Mum may have coveted a designer dress that you can’t afford. However, she will be equally blown away that you have managed to find a scented candle featuring her favourite fragrance.
If you are keen to ensure that your gifts are unique, it can help to think laterally. When you have identified that your best mate has discovered a serious passion for jewellery, their other friends will know that too and could choose the same present. Instead of buying a pair of earrings or a necklace, go for a jewellery box or a book about jewellery instead.
Amazing gifts for men
Men are traditionally hard to buy for but they don’t have to be!
The Laguiole Waiters Friend in Wood Box would make an excellent gift for the wine lover in your life. The Laguiole knife has been beautifully made with distinctive trademark bumble bee symbol for a guaranteed finest quality. They are made in France from high quality stainless steel and ABS, coming in a wooden box. (Note: This item is not for sale to people under the age of 18.)
If you are looking for presents for a man that loves reading, then our book rests from The Book Seat are definitely the perfect gift. Our book seats will mould and shape to every surface due to the polystyrene beans, making reading more comfortable, allowing you to read while multi-tasking, cooking or typing. Made from high quality faux suede, the book rest also provide a back pocket to store reading glasses or pen.
Luxurious gifts for Lucky Ladies
The lovely Ray Teddy Bear from Charlie Bears features sculptured paw pads with a key pendant and large ribbon bow around his neck. For a charming touch, he has white eyebrows to give him extra character, having a sweet face, with soulful eyes and a pale beige trimmed muzzle showing off his large chestnut brown hand-stitched nose. Our lovely teddy bear can be the cutest gift for any girl or lady this Christmas!
Women love to create a unique ambiance within their home and this can be the perfect idea for a gift this Christmas or anytime throughout the year. The fabulous Time To Unwind Wellness gift set from Wanderflower presents a relaxing scent of wild roses, designed to inspire reconnection with mind, body and soul. The lovely wellness gift set from Wanderflower contains Wild Rose Bath Oil in a glass dropper bottle, Wild Rose Bathing Salts and heavenly Wild Rose Body Butter for a wonderful relaxing and pampering time. It is parabens free, cruelty free and vegan friendly.
Ladies who love to relax and be cosy at home will also love the style statement cotton pyjamas from Powell Craft, with beautiful print of multi-coloured exotic flowers and foliage against a vivid teal background. To provide comfort, the Powell Craft pyjama jacket fastens with fabric-covered buttons and has a single breast pocket, where trousers have an elasticated drawstring waist for extra stretch when relaxing on the sofa after a long day.
Beautiful gifts for Kids
Is there anything more wonderful than children's joy during Christmas? The Bashful Snow Tiger from Jellycat is made from ultra soft, grey and cream striped plush fur, with big squishy paws, a fluffy, tufty ruff and pebble grey nose, which will be the ideal Christmas gift for children!
Team this up with the Djeco - Musical Jewellery Box - Night Singing Poetic Tree to create a gorgeous gift for your little one. A timeless classic with a beautifully crafted bird, accompanied by a delightful traditional Neapolitan "Santa Lucia" song. Featuring a stunning design, our Dejco musical jewellery box is a treat for the ears and the eyes and it would no doubt be a great gift for kids.
Christmas treats for dog lovers
Please your dog-lover friends this Christmas with the pawsome Quintessential Ladies Bamboo Socks with dog prints. Made from gorgeously soft bamboo with a mustard tone and lovely dogs design, these can be an ideal stocking filler for any dog lover!
Mugs are ones of the most offered gifts during Christmas, therefore, our Bailey & Friends Pug Mug will for sure be a great gift. Practical and with a lovely pug design, the Bailey & Friends mug features a pug embossed into the ceramic with a cream glaze.
Gifts to celebrate feline friends
We haven’t forgotten the feline furry friends that light up our lives. If there are cat lovers amongst your friends and family, you can treat them to unique and memorable gifts which honour their marvellous moggies. Great gift for cat lovers, the Cat Face Earrings from The Cornish Jewellery Co, perfectly showcase the cuteness of the lovely cats. The stud earrings are made in Penwith, Cornwall, UK and they are silver pleated, coming in a practical gift box.
Talking of lovely cats, the Limited Edition Spirit Blue Cat Tin with Coconut Crush Truffles from Monty Bojangles is a beautiful designed cat tin with award-winning caramelised coconut cocoa dusted truffles for a delicious treat!
Pedal pushing presents for cyclists
Cycling enthusiasts in the family will love the beautifully designed Bike Blue Bamboo Socks from Quintessential! Made from soft bamboo, this can be a great stocking filler this Christmas.
There’s nothing more soothing than the amazing Cyclists’ Muscle Rub would help any cyclist who sometimes feels the worse for wear after a ride. They will feel even more rejuvenated after enjoying their favourite tipple served in the stunning Cyclists’ 30cl Whisky Tumbler from Animo Glass!
Special gifts for vegans
More and more people are choosing to enjoy a plant-based diet. There are now thought to be 3.5 million vegans in the UK but a vegan life does not only mean a vegan nutrition, but a vegan lifestyle. Finding vegan friendly and cruelty gifts can be difficult, but here at Notrunofthemill we got you covered with the Heathcote & Ivory - Vintage & Co Forest Folk Cosmetic Pouch with Hand Cream & Sanitiser. Enriched with shea butter and ingredients inspired by the forest: extracts of cornflower, luxurious black truffle and reishi mushroom, the Heathcote & Ivory gift set is an original and inspired gift choice for vegans.
Christmas with Not Run of the Mill
Always bringing you inspired gifts for your family and friends, the Not Run of the Mill range is bursting with incredible ideas. Ensuring that your gifts stand out from the crowd and leave lasting impressions, our stunning collection will solve all of your festive dilemmas. This year could be the best Christmas ever for anyone who knows you!