The Key to Good Gift Giving

 The key to gift giving is giving something that is useful (ideally used frequently), fills a niche, and/or better yet, solves a problem (inconvenience or annoyance) by providing a solution.
USEFUL: It may seem like a good gift has to be something unique that the person doesn't have; this however, is not necessarily the best way to go and not very easy. How hard is it to think of something unique for the person "who has everything"? Difficult. What can happen in these cases, is that you get something random  that is "cool" idea, but realistically is a shelf-life novelty or gadget that is never used because is so specifically specialized that some other all-in-one gadget (like the iphone having an alarm clock) does it more conveniently, so that while cool at first, really ends up inconvenient...and anything that is slightly inconvenient will quickly be eliminated from anyone's life.  So, the best gifts cater to convenience and can in fact be very common, everyday things.  Some times SO common, they are completely overlooked. This includes house hold items, like pots and pans and personal items, like a person's glasses or shoerack.

NICHE: What fills a niche? Example: It rarely rains in LA, so many people don't own a rain jacket...but on the rainy day, how often have they made a mental note to get one but forget, or tell themselves "hmm, I don't really need it..." because when they come across one, it's 75 degrees out and he/she justifies "...I mean really, the rain isn't that bad and it basically never rains anyway. Hm, I don't think I really need one". So, fill that rainy-day niche so when it comes along she/he is so grateful! of your gift.

SOLUTION: What do I mean by solves a problem? Example: a) Their iPad is annoying to type on, but a keyboard is inconvenient, basically defeating the whole purpose of the iPad in its grab and go, toss in your purse convenience. Solution: Ultra light and slim case/keyboard combo. b) Dad wears glasses, but either foregos his vision in exchange for sunglasses outside, or b) is squinting the in sun. Solution: Transitions Lenses (Transitions from being clear indoors to dark outdoors).