3 Steps To Unisex Gifts Everyone Will Love
If you’re in charge of corporate gifting, buying unisex gifts for everyone is a great way to stay within budget.
The problem?
From age to culture to gender, you have a diverse recipient list. And when you search the web for ideas, you’re inundated with gift guides offering hundreds of options.
Let’s be honest:
You don’t need an ultimate guide to 35, 70, or even 101 best unisex gifts. It’s too overwhelming to review them all, and most of them suggest similar gifts anyway.
Therefore, what you need is a curated list of gifts that have been vetted by people who know corporate gifting.
And you need the list to provide guidance that makes it easy for you to choose gifts that meet your unique needs.
In a nutshell, you need this guide.
Over the last several years, I’ve curated gifts for thousands of clients. And before that, I led in-house product development and design for a personalized products company.
So, read this now and bookmark it for later, and you’ll be well on your way to giving impressive unisex gifts again and again.
This post contains affiliate links, meaning at no additional cost to you, I may earn a small commission on your purchase.
Step 1: Choose A Theme
For many gift-givers, choosing a theme is one of the most common dilemmas they face when they kickstart their gifting project.
They either have too many ideas or worse, they’re stuck in a rut and keep buying the same types of gifts given in years past.
It doesn’t help that there are usually many stakeholders involved in the process: your boss, finance, and the marketing team who wants to make sure gifts are on-brand.
So, how to choose a theme?
Firstly, start by identifying one person who will receive the gift. Second, think about their daily routines and items they frequently use. Finally, brainstorm ways to make one of their day-to-day activities simpler and aesthetically pleasing.
And that’s your target:
Elevate the everyday with functional items that make a design statement.
Why?
Because utilitarian items with eye-catching details are more likely to be displayed and used in the presence of others. Therefore, functional gifts provide year-round opportunities to create positive associations with your brand.
Think portable commuter products, desktop accessories, or entertaining essentials.
Step 2: Curate Your Gift Items
Have you picked your theme?
Perfect. Now we’re going to curate your products.
There are three key elements to keep in mind when sourcing unisex gifts:
- Form & Shape
- Color
- Texture
Don’t worry if you’re not a designer. Remember, beauty is in the beholder’s eye. Also, I’ll step through each one so you can quickly turn your theme ideas into awesome gifts.
See related
5 Unique Client Gift Ideas For The Holidays
Form & Shape
The shape and form define the overall appearance of your gift. They can be geometric—precise and orderly—or organic; natural and imperfect.
Form conveys function, or how someone uses the product. While shape is the overall contour that adds visual appeal, captures a mood, and attracts people to a product.
For instance, one of the most iconic shapes is the Coca-Cola bottle. The form is a glass bottle that holds liquid. And it’s soft and curvy shape elicits an elegant, feminine feel designed to attract women shoppers.
Sharp, sculptural, or chiseled lines (think power tools) often lean more masculine and speak to an object’s durability.
When curating unisex gifts, aim for products with refined and minimalist lines to give it a sophisticated quality with multi-gender appeal.
Color
Do you have a favorite color?
Purple and green is one of my favorite combos. But, then again, I’m a product of the eighties when fluorescent, upbeat hues dominated everything.
While color is very much a matter of personal taste, it’s also one of the most potent elements in gift design.
It can be tricky to find colors to please everyone, but several studies have shown some colors tend to appeal to both men and women.
Blue, green, and neutral shades, like black, white, and grey, generally appeal to all genders. Avoid pastels and choose items that feature bright colors and deeper hues.
For example, choose a navy instead of powder blue. And step away from the lilac.
Texture
The use of texture can strongly influence how your gift is perceived.
Texture can enhance the usability of a product, such as making it easier to hold. And it can also arouse our emotions.
Recent scientific studies suggest that tactile experiences can evoke feelings like happiness and gratitude.
Material selection can create pleasing textures: coarse, fuzzy, velvety, bumpy, sandy, soft, or smooth, for example.
Texture is also visually created by natural patterns found in rough surfaces, like brick, basket weaves, or an embossed detail.
In a world dominated by sleek screens, gifts that activate our sense of touch offer a refreshing experience.
Avoid hyper-textural materials, like fluffy finishes and fringe. Instead, subtle textures that convey quality and craftsmanship are best suited to unisex gifts.
Step 3: Create an Unforgettable Unboxing
Take a look at curated gifts with the most engagement on social media, and you’ll notice one thing:
The presentation is stunning.
High-quality packaging is powerful because it’s the first impression of your gift. In addition to keeping your gift safe during transport, you can:
- Tell your brand story
- Set the tone for what’s inside the box
- Engage multiple senses: sight, touch, smell, and sound
- Encourage social sharing
Well-designed packaging can create positive and memorable experiences.
For unisex gifts, take a pared-back approach to packaging. Choose a box that allows products to slot together cleanly. Create layers with tissue, filler, and products that add surprise and delight to the unboxing experience.
For a sleek, elegant look, consider a matte gift box with a touch of metallic like copper or brass. Or, keep it au naturel for eco-minded gifts with an artisan Kraft paper box.
See related
How to Incorporate The Copper Trend Into Your Gifts
Avoid large fussy bows. Instead, finish your packaging with ribbon enclosures or creative labels and sleeves. Also, think about reuse or recycling not only for the gift box but for the products inside too.
Above all, simplicity is paramount for packaging that appeals to multiple people.
Are you Ready to Give Memorable Unisex Gifts?
How often do we receive gifts that wow?
How often do we truly feel appreciated by a corporate gift?
Life is too short for boring gifts, generic gifts, or marketing tchotchkes disguised as gifts.
It’s time to spark joy. It’s time to breathe personality into your gifts. It’s time to surprise and delight your clients and colleagues with remarkable experiences.
In a virtual world of flat screens and hard surfaces, we yearn for tactility.
So, dare to spark the senses and create a real sense of connection.
See related
Little Guide to Corporate Gifting
Last updated: December 12, 2020
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