How a John Lewis buyer picks the perfect Christmas gift
It’s the most wonderful time of the year – and the busiest! We've asked a few of our favourite ‘industry insiders’ – people well-practised in the art of making the festive season truly special – for their pearls of wisdom to help you get Christmas sorted.
Here we talk to Jason Billings-Cray, gift buyer at John Lewis & Partners, about how to choose the perfect present...
What makes the perfect gift?
JBC: The perfect gift is all about the thought you put into it. It’s easy to miss the mark if you rush to buy a gift for someone, so take some time to really think about who you’re buying for, their hobbies and personalities. My rule of thumb when I’m buying gifts for friends or family is to imagine their reaction to opening it – if I can’t imagine it, then it’s probably not right.
Can you recommend a few ideas for this year?
JBC: If you’re looking for the perfect gift for your foodie friend then the Papier Recipe Journal is a great option, or if your giftee is more of a green-fingered gardener then the botanical-inspired beauty set from Bramley is likely to be a winner and even comes with wildflower seeds for the garden.
And it’s not all about Christmas morning, there’s plenty of opportunities over the season for small gestures. If someone is hosting a party it’s likely they’ve not taken much time for themselves, so a scented candle is a thoughtful yet affordable gift.
Bramley Wellness Tent Gift Set
Neom Organics London Cosy Nights Scented Travel Candle 230g
Papier Coral Reef Travel Journal Multi
What about stocking fillers?
JBC: I like to keep things fun. This year I’ll be going for things like novelty foodie socks – Eat My Socks have some fun styles that are printed with wine and Camembert. I also love to give baubles as gifts – they are so overlooked, but they can be really personal. I think they’re going to be popular this year, so we’ve introduced some fun ones like mirror ball cherries and embellished martini glasses.
Eat My Socks Jam Socks
Favourite finishing touches?
JBC: If you’ve spent all that time choosing a gift, make sure you wrap it well! I’ll be using our dog print wrapping paper and lots of bows – they’re going to be huge this year.
While online shopping is great, I also recommend shopping for gifts in person. The Christmas windows and gifting displays are super inspiring and sometimes you find things you might never have thought of. And don’t forget something for yourself!
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