How to Find Unique Gifts for Someone Who Has Everything

We all have one.

The person who is nearly impossible to shop for.

If they want something, they buy it. They don't need another mug. They already have enough stuff. And when you ask what they want, they give you the incredibly helpful answer: “Nothing.”

Great. Thanks.

The good news is that shopping for someone who has everything gets easier when you stop trying to figure out what they need.

Stop Looking for Something They Need

People who have everything probably don't need anything you're going to find for them.

So forget practical for a minute.

Instead, think about what they enjoy. Are they always trying a new hot sauce? Completely obsessed with their dog? Do they spend Saturday mornings in the garden? Love a good cocktail? Burn candles constantly? Have a bathroom counter that suggests a fairly serious skincare habit?

Those little details are much better clues than a generic list of “gifts for men” or “gifts for women.”

A great gift says I know you, not necessarily I found something you needed.

Find Something They Wouldn't Find Themselves

This is where shopping small gets really fun.

Independent businesses, makers and smaller brands tend to carry things you don't see everywhere else. You can find unusual flavors, clever designs, interesting home goods, specialty foods and products made for incredibly specific interests.

And incredibly specific can be exactly what makes a gift good.

The person who loves cooking probably doesn't need another wooden spoon. But an interesting seasoning, finishing salt or locally inspired pantry find? Now we're getting somewhere.  Specialty Foods & Spices   

The dog person may have plenty of leashes, but probably hasn't seen that collar.       Unique Dog Accessories

The candle person absolutely owns candles. That's not going to stop them from wanting another really good one.  Handcrafted Candles & Home Fragrance 

Sometimes the best gift is a familiar category with a much more interesting version of what's already out there.

Give Them Something They Can Use Up

For people who genuinely don't want more stuff, consumable gifts are your friend.

Think coffee, tea, specialty foods, spices, bath products, candles and other things that get enjoyed and eventually disappear.

There is no long-term storage commitment. No awkward figuring out where to put it. And no decorative object staring at them from a shelf for the next seven years because they feel guilty getting rid of it.

Even better, consumables give you plenty of room to choose something a little indulgent—the thing they might enjoy but wouldn't necessarily buy for themselves.

Go Weirdly Specific

The more you know about someone, the easier this gets.

Instead of shopping for “a gift for Dad,” shop for the dad who makes elaborate breakfasts every Sunday.

Instead of “a gift for my friend,” think my friend who loves plants and somehow has 47 of them. Gifts for the Plant Lover

Your sister isn't just hard to shop for. She's the person who loves spicy food, takes her dog everywhere and is currently obsessed with making fancy cocktails.

That's useful information.

Once you start shopping for the actual person instead of the occasion, much more interesting gift ideas start showing up.

Give Something With a Story

Part of what makes a gift memorable is being able to say where you found it.

Maybe it was made by a small family business. Maybe an artist designed it. Maybe the company has been perfecting one very specific product for years. Maybe you stumbled across an independent brand halfway across the country and immediately thought of them.

That's more fun than saying, “It was one of the first things that popped up when I searched.”

The story doesn't have to be dramatic. Sometimes simply knowing that your gift came from a real small business makes it feel a little more personal.

Don't Be Afraid of a Little Randomness

Some of the best gifts are things you weren't looking for in the first place.

You start shopping for one thing and suddenly find a ridiculous dog accessory, an unusual pantry item, a beautiful piece of pottery or something that makes you immediately think, Oh, they would love this.

That's the kind of shopping we like.

And it's one of the reasons we built Shop Click Local. Instead of visiting dozens of individual websites, you can browse products from independent businesses, makers and small brands all in one place.

You might know exactly what you're looking for.

Or you might find something you didn't know existed five minutes ago.

For the person who already has everything, that might be exactly the point.

Still Stuck?

Start with what they love and go from there.

Shop by interest, choose something they can enjoy rather than store forever, and don't worry quite so much about finding the perfect gift.

The best ones usually aren't the most expensive or practical.

They're the ones that make someone open the box and say:

“Where did you find this?”

And that's a pretty good sign you nailed it.

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