Guide to business Gift-Giving occasions and criteria of decision-making for promotional gifts products

Knowing What You Want and Need is the Best Place to Start.

When it's time to do your holiday business gift shopping, where and when do you begin? Some people are naturally better at planning ahead than others. We all have our own styles and preferences. Whatever works best for you is perfectly fine as is. For those of you that may prefer to have some additional guidelines or suggestions to follow, let me offer a few.

First, make business gift giving an important part of your business building strategy. Consider it an important opportunity to establish or develop your business network and relationships. Everyone likes to be acknowledged and appreciated; what better way to achieve this than by giving a gift where no reciprocation is required or expected; with that goodwill intent, trust and loyalty are more likely to be established.

Once you make the decision to have a business gift giving plan, the next steps become typical of any or most goal setting suggestions. Make a plan. Take timely and consistent action. Follow through until you achieve your desired outcome.

More specifically, key areas of focus should include the following:

Know your goals. Keep in mind that achieving more than one goal with the same action is an acceptable option. Planning ahead can help you minimize costs to your business. Decide what type of gift(s) you are considering and which are out of scope for your business or your target audience. Be clear on the type of occasion(s) your want to recognize for the current and the upcoming season. Review any gift etiquette guidelines that might be out there, especially those pertaining to business environments. Decide how much you want to do yourself, and how much you want to delegate to or hire someone else to handle. Decide what price range you can comfortably afford and one that will allow you to choose good quality gifts. Consider the law of diminishing returns which is that you won't necessarily reap higher rewards by spending more than necessary. Be unique, thoughtful, and show that you care. Definitely appreciate how promotional gift items can help you meet and exceed your business gift-giving goals by offering your business the following: good pricing and value for your investment; quality and professional products and services to choose from; and, a wide variety of gift options and ideas from one source. And finally, don't forget to add that extra personal touch by personalizing and customizing those holiday business gifts for your select business clientele.

Important Points to Consider Include:

Earlier is usually better than later.

The earlier you start your promotional gift-giving planning, the more options you keep open. By starting earlier and planning better, you are more likely to qualify for quantity discounts and/or reduced shipping costs. You also have more time to properly arrange for customization and personalization of your selections. Maybe even consider ordering sample items to view before making your final decisions.

And, don't forget to round out all that good planning with some good packaging for your promotional gift choices. You should be able to find a variety of appropriately sized gift boxes, gift bags, gift sleeves, and gift pouches, directly from your product and service provider. Some items include free packaging, others you will need to pay extra for (but that is money well spent to insure a good impression.)

Decide what type of gifts you want to give.

Decide how memorable and how lasting you want your gift to be. Some gifts, I would consider to be "at the moment" gifts, such as flowers, candy, balloons, or food items; things that aren't meant to last indefinitely. Other gifts, such as recognition awards, are lasting but not necessarily practical or useful on a daily basis. Another choice to consider is recognition gifts that are practical and serve as an award and more, such as an engraved paper-weight, clock gift or photo frame gift. Other gifts are primarily practical and useful in addition to serving as memorable items, such as: tool gifts, wine gifts, keychain gifts, or drink-ware gifts. Any of these gift types can consist of one main piece (such as a clocks & watches or engrave-able metal pens) or can be given as a gift basket, bundle, or gift set of complementary items.

Be clear on which occasions or expressions you want to acknowledge.

Typical gift giving occasions, in addition to the holidays, include "expression" occasions, such as: an anniversary; retirement; birthday; congratulations; funeral; get well; new baby; sympathy; thank you; or thinking of you.

Your business gift-giving plan should cover an entire year's worth of occasions and holidays (a.k.a., relationship building and networking opportunities). This should include not just clients and customers, but also associates, co-workers, superiors, and any and all service providers that contribute to your business' successes. Acknowledge these personal achievements and life events while also keeping a watchful eye on keeping those gift selections appropriate to etiquette guidelines.

Be aware of business etiquette guidelines.

For conflict of interest (and legal) reasons, some intended gift recipients aren't allowed to accept certain gifts, especially those above a certain nominal value. This should not necessarily be considered a limitation, but actually a blessing in disguise because it becomes a cost-saver for you. You might not be able to give what you would like but still give or send something small, such as a minimal value mail-able promotional product similar to that which you would give away to the general audience at a trade show.

Use your favorite online browser to do some quick research on business gift-giving etiquette. BusinessWeek's Buyer Zone has a number of short articles worth reviewing for additional guideline's on: office/employee gifts, corporate gifts, client gifts, and gifts for your boss.

Promotional product companies offer a wide variety of gift ideas and price ranges. Choose an existing gift set or create your own custom bundle. The promotional product industry often surveys and lists the most typical promotional product gifts that are bought and given each year. Going with the norm is safe, but take the time to customize it, its presentation, or its packaging and presentation to make it more unique to your situation.

Additional Tips & Tactics include:

Know who you are shopping for. If your business targets a niche audience, it may be appropriate for you to choose gifts that appeal to a particular group of people such as: just men; or just women; or families; or couples; or singles; or pet lovers; etc. Be sure that by targeting a particular niche, you aren't excluding a potential customer that would be appropriate to your business. Err on the side of caution. Customize, but don't over-customize to the point that you are excluding a portion of a potentially new niche customer base. When customizing your promotional gift items, be sure to take the time to ask for a pre-printing proof (and follow through by checking it closely, too) so that no "misprints" slip through the cracks. It doesn't hurt to order a few extra promotional product items in case you may have mis-counted or forgotten to include a few infrequent customers or service providers that didn't make it onto your "need to shop for" list. Receiving a gift item without a personalized inscription or engraving will still be appreciated by the recipient and either way it is definitely better than not receiving a gift at all. (This is especially key to some clients that might be comparing notes and/or keeping track of who gets what from whom. That may be petty, but it is a reality for some folks.) Consider getting all your gifts from just one or only a few select vendors. Offer and reap the benefits of being a repeat customer. Offer your customers the deals you like to get yourself. By being exclusive to, or at least minimizing the number of, vendors that you patronize for your promotional product needs, you will reduce your overall costs. Promotional product items purchased from a company that specializes in just that, will get you lower per unit costs than to purchase each item individually in a retail outlet. Even with order minimums and some printing set-up costs, you still get a great value for your investment.

To partner with a reliable Promotional Gift Product provider, please visit: ArtPromos.com

Christmas - gift baskets Christmas Gift-Giving Made Easy

One of the traditions of Christmas is gifts to our friends, family and clients. As soon approaching Christmas, it's time to do our shopping for recipients in our list of holidays. Rather than go through the hassle of shopping at the Mall, shop for baskets gift holiday online this season. There will be no more looking for a parking place and wait in long queues at the Mall. There is no any gifts to wrap, or travel to the postoffice. Shopping for gift baskets online is a cost effective and time efficient way to buy their gifts. This article provides an overview on some of the available online Christmas gift baskets.

There are many types of gifts to choose from, including: gift baskets, baskets of Christmas fruit cookies holiday, sweets and goodies baked fresh and special theme gifts for men, women and children on holiday.

An elegantly to send warm holiday wishes to clients, families or groups is to send them a holiday gift basket. These gift baskets come in different sizes to meet your needs of gifts and can handle any event a family for part of the business meeting. These gift baskets are dressed in their holiday best and overloaded with mouthwatering gourmet trafficking. These indulgent gifts are sure to meet even those hard to please the recipients of the gift list.Rather than gift basket, you can send Tower vacaciones.Estas gift gift towers are arranged beautifully gold foil collection boxes, adorned with red holiday and richly delicious sweets, such as white chocolate filled tape had covered sandwich fill cream, chocolate truffles double mocha cutlery, chocolate and cherry Walnut fudge. These stunning gifts bring their tasteful holiday wishes.

There are many variations of vacation that come with decorations souvenir gift baskets. For example, a popular design is holiday sleigh gift basket. This beautiful brass decorative holiday sleigh filled with abundant holiday goodies and serve as part of the Christmas decorations in the coming years. Into the sled can be a teddy bear Christmas, votive candleholders knocker door jinglebell depending on variation of sledge holiday gift holiday or vacation, music CD.Other holiday gift baskets come with decorations in remembrance of the relic, House of gingerbread, sailing holidays bring ornament or Angel tree top bear árbol.estos decoration gifts are ideal for the families of gifts and can add a touch of family in the celebration of the feast tradition. For families with small children, you might want to send Santa velvet fill bag candy holidays and cookies inside. Bag of Holy year after year, can be used to bring memories of your precious gift of good taste.

Celebration vacation is not complete without delicious cookies.A popular gift is the home of Christmas, which is full of men of gingerbread with white fudge cookies cookie icing. Another popular gift is a hand painted ceramic cookie jar full of chocolate thick chewy cookies and hand decorated vacaciones.Todos shortbread cookies users in your list of will love this charming cookie jar. To family gatherings or parts of the Office, you may also want to include a gift of fresh baked goodies.This special gift has delicious coffee house pound cake style, chocolate brownies with walnuts, chocolate milk and coffee ready to serve in a cozy wicker basket aromático.viene sheets chip blondies.

For the health conscious recipients, Christmas fruit baskets can be the gift of choice. These baskets are filled with a nutritious, juicy, and trafficking in beautiful variety of fresh fruit harvesting and delicious assortment of holiday: Christmas chocolate tree white pretzels, cane artisanal sweets, mixed nuts, Ghirardelli MoU, peanut butter chocolate and beautifully decorated sugar cookies. This is a fun way to say Merry Christmas!

Non-food Christmas gifts are also disponibles.Un example is a panel decorative outdoor illuminating the recipient household.This cute snowman family is made of wooden panels painted by hand, with hinge stop where put them.This gift is a beautiful expression of his fondest vacation desires.Another gift Christmas food is not everything in the garden of a container that contains easy-to - grow nutrients Mint, seeds, soil in a cane leak-resistant container designed caramelo.El recipient only planting, water and grow the seeds in the container.This gift make a wonderful addition to nobody holiday season.

If you are looking for a gift for his wife, the mother or the bride, she sent a basket gift of bath and the cuerpo.estas precious gift baskets are filled with vital bath fresco to help relajarse.Un such beautiful gift basket comes in a can of fashion Rosa and Sage and includes lotion for hands and body, a handy, gel nylon bath sponge and a candle aromatherapy, everything in the soothing and stimulating aroma of cucumber and melon.Once you have enjoyed the spa products, elegant planter/Tin can be reused.

They are covered by most men gift baskets include meat and cheese gifts and deportes.Cestas golf, NASCAR theme gift basket gift gift baskets are especially popular for men. bath and body men gift baskets are also children disponibles.Para popular gifts include machine bean Jelly Belly, bear Christmas chocolate chip cookie mix and basket gift activity for children, which is filled with a CD of music for children, game of adhesive, book for coloring, pad, jump rope and many delicious sweets drawing.

In conclusion, there is wide selections of gift baskets available to friends, family, clients, and someone special that you can see what shopping for Christmas baskets gift online is a convenient and effective way to select the perfect gift.

Kate is the Director General of Gift Basket for all, LLC.Usted can be purchased on its Web site, http://www.giftbasketforall.com baskets sensational gift for all occasions.

For information on Christmas gifts products, visit: http://www.giftbasketforall.com/page/1332097

Corporate gift as a tool of management - the Bland A significant expression of activation

The 21st century has ushered in an era where consumers always instantly we have an abundance of options when it comes to purchasing that we need. Whereas in the past, one would have to find what they want now needs a do is type in a keyword and voila high and low, everything is there for the consumer. The problem with this is simple: with an overabundance of offerings, now is extremely difficult to find the best quality theme as lost diamond rough. Unfortunately, no place is more evident than with corporate gifts.

If one wanted to detail the web for corporate gifts would be more than 12 million hits! Nobody has time to look for in twelve million visits - especially not currently occupied. Then, how one is the perfect gift? Make sure that one can watch the first pages that emerge, but these results are based on popularity and not necessarily substance. If a new company is offering the most spectacular gifts, but are completely new, landing page forty and one never knows!Therefore, what one do? I think the answer is one of the sets his bar and the highest expectations and its bland gift becomes a "Business Executive gift".

Today, many companies are offering a "quick fix" gift needs. Gift process has become a process of 'assembly line', if you want to.One takes a price range watches available in that range products, choose the product, collects the amount, the hands in the logo, fill in the shipping destination, pays the entire factura.Es so depressing and bland! As I will explain below, perhaps corporate not must be a task routine - must be an art!

Having grown up in the capital of England and now living in the capital of the United States, was exposed to and fell in love with world events and history. While I have received my university education in politics, I chose retail as a career. But nevertheless, I was able to connect the two fields. To understand the importance, one must first understand what gift is. A corporate gift is the business of "diplomacy".There is both politically in the business world as in the political arena and without a doubt, there is so much a need to say "Thanks, we appreciate your friendship and collaboration".for is therefore the first step to bland gift become an exquisite gift business to understand one is embarking in a gift buying annoying but an act of diplomacy. The gift you choose to provide may have long-term consequences: how other partners perceive to be or if their employers will want to be loyal to you in the long term. At the time of choosing this gift, one is not an administrator, Manager or CEO - one is a diplomat!

This then brings us the second step of convert this bland gift a gift of executives from business, which is "what gift to choose?" Remember, you are a diplomat and choosing this gift is very similar to a diplomat of having to choose a gift from a foreign King or leader. What do you get the diplomat? Well, in that the first diplomat will want to choose a gift that will appreciate another leader. The diplomat wishes to achieve that "wow" moment when the leader open your gift. Short-term success is always at the time of "wow" and long-term success is whether this gift will power duration: how much will be the leader remember this great gift you received and also just as importantly, how much use you will have this gift? Sit on your desktop, hang on your wall or collect dust in the closet?Do many gifts for leaders from around the world and one of the most important things that I think is "who is this person?" "What makes them who they are? what brings a spark in their eyes?" what if it was the Arab kings or European leaders, I tried to know who these people are and what is its history? If you can find a gift that will connect to your past, or have a true passion, which receives the gift, you will see how genuine person you are and the gift will not only make you a gifter, but a true friend and companion. I cannot stress the need to hire a business gift for business executives who understands this concept.

As important as the person who is receiving the gift, it is equally important that the gifter es.A time give a unique gift or a gift from business executives, one wants to choose a gift that will also be reflected. If one is in the business of marketing and are looking for a gift for a politician, then get this politician seem a Chinese table clock three unrelated cheap dollar and false. However, if the marketer buys a beautiful leather picture frame decorated with the words of the Constitution, with a little of the letter that says "it is all about how their ideas are framed", then the politician you will see the gifter made an effort to find a gift that I would like, but also a gift that says a lot about the gifter. This is how partnerships and friendships are made and this is how the process of finding that perfect corporate gift to do.At the end of the day, it's all due respect.

The final to turn a bland gift into something spectacular step is the gift of alleged mismo.Por Yes one can find on the internet, choose a site, choose a price range and choose an amount.However, I think the trick here is a gift that is as unique as the idea of finding.This does not mean that it has to be dried lava of an old volcán.Lo meaning is that is not a gift to be found around every corner third each store or each gift only twelve million posting. this Web site means choosing a gift is as unique as you work with a provider of corporate gift that will work with you personally and return to you with a product which is one of a kind gift.Together you and the company business executive gift must sit together and out of the box.

Therefore, what we have! to choose the perfect unique gift or gift of business executives, one must do three things: knows the heart and soul of the receiving the gift, find a unique between give the gift and the reception and finally found this gift created at the time of "wow".If one connection puts themselves in this diplomatic mindset I truly believe one can find that perfect gift.

I really hope that this small guide helps everyone find the perfect corporate and private company executive gift.

Keith Lipert has been involved in business gifts for over twenty years and his gallery has become a top business destination, diplomats and dignitaries to find this truly exquisite gift and single. Keith Lipert over the years has become corporate in an art gifts propio.Su website is http://www.keithlipertgallery.com or he can be reached at gallery@keithlipertgallery.com

5 Great Christmas Ideas for gifts that save time and money

The holidays are truly the most wonderful time of the year. Although for many of us, it can be stressful dreaming up Christmas gift ideas for everyone we love. It is even more stressful trying to come up with the money to pay for it all. As a result, we retract from the celebration of the holidays and buy Christmas gifts for a select few or no one at all. Often times, the gifts we do buy are not a true reflection of our intentions. This article is an attempt to demonstrate a few creative, thoughtful, convenient and most-importantly, money-saving tips for stress-free gift giving during the holidays.

Tip #1: Use Your Credit Card Incentives

If money is tight during the holidays, chances are you have a ton of credit card debt. If your credit cards are maxed out, perhaps the incentives you have earned by using them are maximized as well. Most credit card companies offer incentives as an attempt to lure you to use their card before you use the competition's card. Some of the incentives are very enticing offers and a great show of appreciation. The most popular example of such incentives is the reward point programs offered by many credit card companies. Generally, for every dollar spent, you earn one point. If you spend several thousand dollars, you earn several thousand points. For every 1000 points earned, $10 may be redeemed toward the purchase of hundreds of products from hundreds of top retailers, many of them offering great Christmas gift ideas. If you have 5000 points, that is $50 in value, for example. Many of us have the famous American Express Green Card - their  Preferred Reward program is an example of what may be possible and available to you if you are one of their cardholders. Visit all of your credit card bank's websites for more information about their incentives and how they may benefit you this Christmas. You may be very surprised about the opportunities available after months and months and even years of using your credit cards and remaining a loyal customer.

 

Tip #2: Send a Gift Basket

Giving gift baskets is an old tradition in gift giving and its longevity is due to a number of tried and true factors. Everyone loves food, especially gourmet food. The best gift baskets are loaded with premium food products made from quality ingredients. The manufacturers of food gifts are true professionals in the area of gift giving and create their products with your sentiments in mind. Products such as, "Thank You" Toffee Peanuts, "Happy Birthday" Chocolate Truffles, "Merry Christmas" Summer Sausage or "You're a Superstar" Hazelnut Coffee, are some of the example products you'll find inside professionally designed gourmet gift baskets. Adding keepsake items, such as, coffee mugs, teddy bears, picture frames, books, DVD's and a multitude of novelty items, make these clever gifts more special.

Wrap it all up inside a gorgeous, handy basket or container with festive ribbons and bows and you have one unique, impressive and ideal Christmas gift. What makes gift baskets a truly practical gift to give is that it is as appropriate to give to families as it is to give to individuals. This Christmas send a beautifully decorated Christmas gift basket that expresses your sincerest sentiments to the entire family as opposed to individually shopping for every member of the family. After all, it is the entire family that is likely to partake in all the goodies found inside them. This idea is highly effective in demonstrating your thoughtfulness. The joyful nature of gift baskets and the abundance and variety of the goods within are sure to create a lasting impression. For the greatest selection and value in gift baskets, visit the Gift Basket Scene website. This website offers wonderful gift baskets for every occasion.

 

Tip #3: Give Specialty Store Gift Cards

Giving gift cards may not appear to be a unique or thoughtful Christmas gift, but it can be if done properly. Forget about giving gift cards from Walmart, Sears, Target and the like. Indeed, such gift cards suggest that you didn't put much time and thought into purchasing a great gift. People use gift cards from such retailers to supplement their weekly food or toiletry budget - these gift cards are nothing more than money in one's pocket and are forgotten about as soon as they are cashed in. The best gift cards come from specialty stores for very specific desires or needs that you know your recipient has. Give a Christmas gift of music with a $20 gift card from Apple for a family member wanting an iPod.

Although you didn't foot the bill for the entire cost of it, the presence of it in hand will remain as a reminder of your considerate input. Give a Christmas gift of java with a $15 gift card from Starbucks to Dad who has to have a mocha every morning before work. He'll remember that special week of free coffee longer than you know. Give gift cards to couples from the best restaurants in town. Send your married friends to the Cheesecake Factory by giving a Christmas gift of dining - a special evening of one-on-one time well spent. The key to success in giving specialty gift cards is your ability to demonstrate that you are in tune with their passions, opinions and abilities. This reality alone creates jubilation in the recipient's heart; your genuine sincerity is instantly on display. This Christmas think earnestly about what your family and friends need and want - surprise them with a Christmas gift of understanding when you give them a special gift card from a special place. Visit GiftCertificates.com for the best selection in gift cards from a wide range of retailers.

Tip #4: Do it Yourself

Truly, there is nothing more special than taking the time and energy to create something great with your own hands and creativity. Many people have innate talents, such as, sewing, drawing and painting. For those who possess such talents, nothing more needs to be said about the possibilities for Christmas gift giving - the possibilities exist within your talents. Most of us are not so talented, but there are still many ways to create precious gifts using ordinary resources well within your abilities. Baked goods, jewelry, photography, plants and even lottery tickets may all be dressed in cheerful décor and packaging to create a unique and stylish holiday gift. Make your favorite fudge and arrange it in a colorful bakery box with a Christmas bow. Design your own jewelry by purchasing professional jewelry making kits. Earrings, bracelets and necklaces can all be created in quality fashion and placed inside authentic jewelry boxes for a truly professional presentation.

Family Polaroid's can be digitally recreated to generate quality images that can be thoughtfully arranged in beautiful collage frames that can be purchased at any craft store. Give out lottery tickets inside personally designed greeting cards that you can design yourself on your own home computer with your graphics and written words of expression. Buy an assortment of ceramic pots and pick your favorite plants to put inside them. Cover the plant in decorative cellophane, ribbon and bows for a Christmas gift of nature. The key here is to do it yourself at a fraction of the cost of buying it somewhere else and for a fraction of the time it takes to shop individually for everyone on your Christmas list. Do it yourself and you just may experience the joy of the holidays in the most satisfying way ever. A great website that offers a wide range of gift supplies, including boxes, bags, ribbons, and so much more is Nashville Wraps. There you will find everything you need to put your gift ideas in motion.

Tip # 5: Do a Gift Exchange

Gift exchanges have been around for many years and are no real secret in gift giving. However, the reason why it is included in this article is because of the fun and creative ways they can be planned. Often times, people get bored with the basic gift exchange and desire more excitement in gift exchanges. If a gift exchange is something you have never tried before then you are missing out on a great opportunity to create some real fun with friends and family. A gift exchange for many people is more fulfilling for the giver and receiver. You spend less time thinking, shopping and spending money. You can instead give your undivided attention and money to one special person. The results allow the true meaning of the Christmas season to shine. There is delight and joy in receiving a thoughtful Christmas gift. For those who have witnessed the positive results of gift exchanges, but are looking for a twist, there are a few things you can try. How about everyone exchanging their favorite wine or alcohol? Consider tip #4 above and exchange something that has to be created with your own hands and personal ingenuity. 

Why not exchange holiday ornaments or décor - every holiday season your Christmas gift is a reminder of your thoughtfulness. Many families like to exchange something from home and enjoy the gift of entertainment and laughter. Mugs, ties, belts, scarves, art, antiques and even old misfit gifts from previous Christmas' can be the subject of much amusement. You can exchange baked goods, personal services, books, plants, board games, appliances, video games, event tickets, subscriptions, "things that go on your feet", "things that go on your head", "things that you rub", "things that you smell" or any gift from any theme you can think of. It's fun to have a different theme each year. You can even have a secret Santa gift exchange by keeping your recipient's name a secret and surprise him/her on Christmas day. The goal here is to be smart, creative, fun, save time, save money and promote the spirit of Christmas. For help planning a gift exchange, go to the SecretSanta.com website.  SecretSanta.com is a free service that offers a host of themes that can be used for gift exchange events. When creating a gift exchange event, you can select themes for Christmas, Hanukkah, Kwanzaa, as well as general holiday themes.

The holidays are not suppose to be stressful and should be a time of joy, love and peace. This Christmas dig deep into your heart and not your pocket. Find Christmas gift ideas that demonstrate your thoughtfulness without the frustrations experienced from previous holiday seasons. Stay true to the season, true to yourself and spread the joy of Christmas along the way. Have a Merry Christmas!

Learn more about the unique opportunities for gift basket giving by visiting the Gift of Giving Blog, hosted by Gift Basket Scene.

Why people make their best gifts of God as his curse?

Mr. Charmer was considered to be a lucky man. He was tall, fair and handsome. Since his youth days, he was able to attract the most beautiful girls of his college. He was not only good looking but charming. He had the ability to engage the girls into interesting conversations and within no time win their heart. He had many affairs during his younger days and he married to one of the most beautiful woman. All his friends considered him lucky man, who had the Gift of God being attractive, charming and intelligent.

Twenty years later, Mr. Charmer has become a middle aged person. Yet he continues to charm members of opposite sex. Yet he is not a happy man. His beautiful wife now really hates him and does not want to speak to him. She had already threatened him with divorce. His children after learning his affairs too have sided with their mom and do not wish to talk to him. Though some of his girlfriends are still interested in him, yet he is not sure if they would like to marry him as his reputation of being flirt is now well established. He is now living alone as his family members do not wish to see him. He is often depressed and even contemplated suicide. His Gift of God had now become his biggest curse. He feels envious towards a number of his friends who are living a happy family life as they did not have the Gift of God which attracted the girls.

The story of Mr. Charmer had nothing new as all of us know some such person in our life whose greatest Gift had become the greatest curse of his life.

If we observe closely, we may notice that all of us are born with some special gifts. Some people are beautiful, some are intelligent. There are many people, who are extremely creative and make beautiful pieces of arts and music. Some people are great writers while some are great actors. Some are extremely honest while many people are born with great courage. Some people are born with great bodies while some are born with great intuition. There are people who can see the future and there are people who are great investigator as they can see the past. Some are great orator while some have the gift of sincerely and honesty.

A man can acquire many skills in this world with his hard work. Yet these gifts are special and no one acquire them with any amount of effort. You cannot become as handsome as Bill Clinton or as beautiful as Cleopatra. There are few who can have the business intelligence of Bill Gates or the strength of Mike Tyson. There had been millions of leaders in the world yet few had been as good an orator as Hitler.

We all realize in our lives that we cannot be the best in every field as none of us could be gifted in every department and we may not gifted in the area of our choice. We, therefore, feel disappointed and often curse God for not making us as beautiful as some people, or as intelligence and the some intelligent men. Yet most gifted person land up in trouble at later part of their life as was the case of Mr. Charmer and realize that their biggest gift had become their biggest curse.

The Gift of God

Imagine that you are the head of a family which has a number of members of all age groups. You have the choice of giving some gift to everyone. Will you chose to give the same gift to all of them or would you like to give different gift to all of them so that they can all share their gifts and enjoy the life to the fullest? If would be most stupid of you to gift all family members identical cars or identical toy. If everyone has the same gift, who would need other members of the family? The family shall be united together and enjoy only if everyone has a different gift and put together, they all have the gifts which if shared with love would satisfy everyone.

The world too seems to be designed based on this principle and it is for this reason that everyone is given different gifts which makes the personality of each person unique.

The gifts are meant to share. For example, the Charmer has the gift of making the girls happy due to his good looks and his ability to talk to them the interesting things of life. He was generous in appreciation which pleased all the Ms Beautiful who too had the gift of beauty from God. Ms Beautiful was fully aware of her beauty and wished to enjoy the company of the men who were rich, charming and successful. Mr. Charmer fits into the bill and his company made them happy. Thus their mutual sharing of Gift made both of them happier. Mr. Charmer got beauty and Ms Beautiful got the charming men which were desired by all women.

The mutual sharing of gift seems to be a win-win situation as Ms Beautiful lost none of her beauty after their friendship nor Mr. Charmer lost any of his charm. Where did they go wrong? To know the answers, we have to know why we are gifted by God.

The Inequality of Gifts

Why does God not given equal gift to everyone? One of the explanations is that everyone reaps what he sows as per the principle of Karma. Hence, if you do good deeds, you are awarded with better life. Since soul is eternal, hence your good deeds keep on paying you dividend even in your next lives. The same hold goods for the evil deeds which follows the man in his next life. Therefore, when a good man exhausts all his good karma, he is left with no special gift just like a man become bankrupt when he spends all his savings. Hence only if you use the gift economically, you can use it for life.

Often an owner of a company delegates his power to his subordinates so as to see that they together work for the best interest of the organization. Obviously, he provides more compensation to those whose responsibilities are more. However, some of these subordinates start misusing his trust and instead of using their power for the interest of the company start using the same for his self interest. They get corrupted by power and they use the power for self-gratification. Therefore, when the owner of the company comes to know about the misuse of power and trust, he warns them to use their power for the company else those power would be taken away. Yet some people take the advantage of the leniency of the masters as they do not know why they had been gifted. They had the impression that they had been gifted as they owner loves them or they had been plain lucky to have this gift. Little do they know the owner had given then responsibilities based on their past performance or past Karma. This is obvious as the employee do not have the knowledge of his past lives. Hence they carry on exploiting their gift until the owner get extremely angry and take the gift from them. He then punishes them as they have misused his trust and refused to heed his warnings.

How does The Gifts Work?

Most people find gift as something which benefits the person who have the gift. It is because most of us do not understand how a gift works and how does it benefit the world and the man. For example, take the case of a woman who has been gifted with beauty. People do not give any rewards to the woman because they wishes to benefit the woman but because the woman benefits them with her beauty. They enjoys the company of beautiful woman hence they shower her with (material) gifts. People in this world have no interest in making Bill Gates the riches person of this world by buying his software. They all bought his software, because it benefited them. Thus the gift of Bill Gate helped the world and hence it also benefited the owner of the gift. The world has no reason to reward a person who is more intelligent if the intelligent person would not help the world in solving its problem.

Therefore, it is important to understand that all gifts are valuable because they have the power to help the world. These gifts are invariably spiritual and not material and the gifts are not diminished by gifting it to others. You do not lose a bit of your knowledge when you share it with others. You do not lose a bit of your beauty when you use it to make others happier. Your love only increases if you give it to others. Thus there is no limit of distribution of all such Gifts as they not diminish with its distribution.

Yet the owner of these gifts thinks that these gifts are given to him for his personal use and benefit and not for the world. He therefore, instead of distributing it free to the person who needs it, start charging a premium for it and thus become richer. He forgets that all these gifts had not been acquired by him but gifted by God for the benefit of the world just like an owner of company has delegated some of his powers for the benefit of the company.

The Curse of Gift

Once, I had met a man who was believed to have special abilities to make prophesies and know past and future. When he has told many right things about me and my family, I offered him some money for the work. He refused to take the money as he said that his teacher has prohibited him to use his special gift for making money or for the destructive purposes. He explained that his teacher has told him that if he uses his gift for money, he would lose his gifts permanently and he would also suffer the curse of God.

This explains why for some people their gift becomes their curse. Most people start taking the material benefits of these gifts forgetting that these gifts have been given to him for the befit of the world. Since their gift is such that it benefits the people, he is able to charge good money and become richer over time. Yet by his action, he breaks his promise with God and therefore face the prospect of not only losing his gift for life but also suffers the curse in the form of pain, unhappiness, loneliness and miseries.

Use Your Gifts Wisely

One can live happily if he uses his special gifts for the benefit of the world and with a desire to make the world happier. Everyone has the ability to make the world happier by sharing his special gifts as no one else has such gift and other would be happy to share their gift from him. Yet the laws of the nature ensures that he get something for sharing his gifts. These returns are, however, not material but they are spiritual which brings love, happiness and pleasure in the life of man. It is only in the distribution of the gifts that one behaves in the honest manner as the gift of God should be distributed to the children of God without any charges. A man is only a carrier of the gifts and not the owner of the gifts.

Dr Awdhesh K Singh is the founding member of The Science of Soul Foundation in India which works for the synthesis of the diverse disciplines of knowledge like science, religion, philosophy and arts. The website of the foundation is http://www.scienceofsoul.com

He believes that life is a mystery which can not be explained either by science or by scriptures. Truth has a body and a soul which we call science and religion. Contrary to popular perception, they are not opposed to each other but complement each other like body and soul. In fact, they can not exist without each other.

His articles creates a synthesis between science and religion which helps people to understand this Truth by the use of their intuition and reason. You can Dr A K Singh on his email aksinghirs [a] yahoo.com if you wish to ask any questions relating to your life.

Understand a culture Customs prior to Gift Giving

Give gift has probably existed as human race while the ritual has been traced to the Romans did give a symbol (token) intended wish recipient good luck in the new year. This symbol (token) was known as a strenae. According to the tradition of the strenae originally simply featherless branches of the Grove of the Strenia, goddess who was the Roman goddess of strength and endurance. Since these meager beginnings the art of gift giving has evolved and changes according to the traditions of the cultures, customs and religious beliefs in countries around the world.

Giving gifts it is now surprisingly complex but important part of human interaction and help to define relationships and strengthen links in small scale with family and friends, thus strengthen or repair the relationship and bonuses on a large scale as those that exist between the países.Dar gift is an art and as with any art serves to evoke delectation in its recipient, as well as the person giving it.

To give business gifts, the gift must reflect its delicacy, good taste and attention to detail and most importantly, show an understanding of customs, beliefs and traditions of the recipient.Norms and customs in terms of delivery and receipt of gifts vary from country to country and cultures within those países.Si are doing business in another country, do business with a company in another country or do business with someone with different beliefs that yours, it is important to have an understanding of the recipient customs, traditions, beliefs and rules of the company to present a gift to them.
To give an idea of how simple gifts given to more reflective intentions will be perceived by other cultures.

If you want to give a gift to a Chinese customer, be considered bad taste give a watch as a gift.
Also would be in bad taste to give a single gift, instead you must give a gift of group.
A lobster that is a very popular in the States gift holiday gift is seen as an unpleasant gift for people of the Jewish faith. Giving a gift that football (soccer made) or alcohol people of Muslim faith also is also a gift unpleasant and against religious beliefs. Give a gift to the wife of a colleague of Arabs or the client believes that it is in very bad taste. When doing business in Singapore keep in mind that there are employers may not accept gifts.
Countries as Malaysia considered given gifts rather than a firm relationship to be a bribe.
In the India would not give a gift made of leather or of any product of beef, since the cow is a sacred to them.
Countries like Japan, Indonesia and Philippines exchange of gifts are expected and has been part of the traditions of their culture for centuries and is a sign of respect. The shape of presents a gift recipient is so important is as important if not more than the gift of himself.
Presenting a gift, a Japanese partner or customer, if the gift sending or giving in person, it is important to never let that they arrive without notice, make sure that the recipient is aware of his imminent arrival. If you give the gift in person, should be given at the end of your visit so that you can open later once gone. Presenting a gift in person at Japan or Hong Kong, it is important to do it using both hands. The gift with your right hand would be submitted to the East.Singapore to present a gift to a client is tradition for the gift recipient must reject the gift three times before aceptarla.Es important to ensure that offer gift three times to make sure that the gift is accepted. It is generally tasteless to give a gift that shows the logo of a company in it.
Spain, Portugal and Greece customers would not view this as a gift but a blatant form of advertising and offensive.

Give gift has always had a central place in practices of business, helping to build and strengthen links between the companies.When he is considered a gift delivery to a customer or the person who is important to do some research to find out what would be appropriate for the research destinatario.Esta gift is useful to avoid offending the Office intended recipient or religious beliefs, but can also help you to get more information about the person, such as restrictions special diet, for an example of sending to one one person diabetic a gift basket filled with chocolates and sweets loses the intended impact.
One should never underestimate the impact that may have a gift in a business or personal relationship. Knowledge of the recipient will help in the selection of a gift which has a more personal touch, creating a greater impact.
Here are some general tips label can help prevent situations uncomfortable or embarrassing gift gifts.

When giving gifts to people of a different culture, some research to find out about the culture of the recipients, traditions and beliefs and use this information to create a more personalized gift. When giving gifts business give gifts that reflect the, as well as the image of your company. Never give gifts that display your company logo (a logo products tend to be seen as an ad not a gift).To give a business gift check with the company of the recipient to know if you have a policy of its employees accept gifts and if there is a spending limit.Having an understanding of the culture, customs and beliefs about receiving gifts and the appropriate way to give them respect their traditions and culture of the recipient.Choose gourmet products for business gifts, such as baskets gift, know the contents of the gift to make sure none of the elements to offend religious beliefs of the recipient or customs.To maximize the impact of a gift, customize by taking into account the recipients outside interest, customs and tastes personales.Use your imagination and make gift stand out (in a good way).With any gift that gives the gift must reflect the value that is placed on the business relationship or most important personal.El that the person is most attention which should be in the gift them da.Recuerde note attached to the gift has as much if not more important than the gift of Yes mismo.Cuando possible handwritten note and wherever personal and heartfelt

One thing to take away from this is that a person should never under the impact that even the smallest gift can have a commercial relationship or estimating staff and one must have an understanding of the person or company's customs, culture, traditions and beliefs of giving a regalo.Dar gift is a wonderful thing and if done correctly will allow a business relationship with flower to grow and flourish, but if done incorrectly can cause a relationship grind to a screeching halt or destroy it completely.

Rick Inglett
Founder
http://www.arcanagiftbaskets.com

Modern and traditional anniversary gifts

Most people know that the 50th anniversary of the wedding is the anniversary of "gold", and the 25th is silver. But beyond that? Here are some traditional and modern conventions to follow when selecting anniversary gifts.

But not to confine their gifts gifts listed below for each anniversary year.It is likely that if you didn't know what was the gift for that year, then, the recipients don't know well! use your imagination, but most importantly, use your heart.

Year: 1

Traditional Gift (s): book

Modern Gift (s): watches

Year: 2

Traditional Gift (s): cotton

Modern Gift (s): China

Year: 3

Traditional Gift (s): leather

Modern Gift (s): glass, glass

Year: 4

Traditional Gift (s): fruits, flowers

Modern Gift (s): devices

Year: 5

Traditional Gift (s): Wood

Modern Gift (s): Silver

Year: 6

Traditional Gift (s): Candy, iron

Modern Gift (s): Candy, iron

Year: 7

Traditional Gift (s): Lana, copper

Modern Gift (s): customer sets

Year: 8

Traditional Gift (s): bronze, ceramics

Modern Gift (s): bronze, ceramics

Year: 9

Traditional Gift (s): ceramics, Willow

Modern Gift (s): clothes, lace

Year: 10

Traditional Gift (s): Tin, aluminium

Modern Gift (s): leather

Year: XI

Traditional Gift (s): steel

Modern Gift (s): Jewelry

Year: 12

Traditional Gift (s): silk, flax

Modern Gift (s): Pearl

Year: XIII

Traditional Gift (s): lace

Modern Gift (s): textile, fur

Year: 14

Traditional Gift (s): Ivory

Modern Gift (s): gold jewelry

Year: 15

Traditional Gift (s): Crystal

Modern Gift (s): watches

Year: XX

Traditional Gift (s): China

Modern Gift (s): Platinum

Year: 25

Traditional Gift (s): Silver

Modern Gift (s): Silver

Year: 30

Traditional Gift (s): Pearl

Modern Gift (s): Diamond

Year: 35

Traditional Gift (s): coral

Modern Gift (s): Jade

Year: 40a

Traditional Gift (s): Ruby

Modern Gift (s): Ruby

Year: 45

Traditional Gift (s): Sapphire

Modern Gift (s): Sapphire

Year: 50

Traditional Gift (s): Gold

Modern Gift (s): Gold

Year: 55

Traditional Gift (s): Emerald

Modern Gift (s): Emerald

Year: 60

Traditional Gift (s): Diamond

Modern Gift (s): Diamond

I hope that you find useful!

A Heath is a gift for http://www.the-gift-wizard.com researcher

Gifts Gift Ideas, Flowers, Gift Baskets

Business Thank You Etiquette

Business etiquette is a very important factor in business today.The following suggestions may help you when acknowledging a compliment or a gift, or when you are extending a thank you to someone for a job well done.

Saying "please" and "thank you" are not empty gestures. When you say "thank you," you are showing appreciation and displaying confidence.

Receiving compliments graciously should not be hard to do. The trick is to simply say, "thank you" to the colleague, supervisor or client who has complimented you on a job well done.

How do you say thank you after a business breakfast, lunch or dinner? Of course, give an immediate verbal thank you to your host, and then follow up with a note of thanks. Even if you communicate frequently by email a quick, hand-written note is a much more personal and much under used method of conveying extra thanks.

If a co-worker or business associate refers a client to you, thank them for their assistance. A short note will let them know how much you appreciate their collegiality. And they are more likely to refer to you again.

If you have pulled a meeting together with speakers or special guests, make sure to write a thank you to each immediately after the event. Keep a small supply of thank you cards in your desk drawer to make this kind of follow-up quick and easy.There are many events in the corporate world for which gifts are a necessity. When a company shows its appreciation for employees, clients, suppliers, and any other group of people who help to make them the success they are....

Client Appreciation

Travel/Conference Comforts

New Contact Introduction

Company Growth

Congratulations

Closing the Deal

Thank You

Customized Marketing Tools

What Are Gifts and Incentives?

It's very important to realize that corporate gifts are not promotional items. Gifts and incentives are totally different from promotional items given out at trade shows.
Corporate gifts are given to clients with whom you have an ongoing working relationship. They can also be given to your employees to recognize outstanding performance or for personal achievements such as a promotion or birthday.

Please note that sales incentives also differ from gifts. They recognize employees who reach certain goals and employees work to achieve these goals in order to get the incentive. Incentives range in value and type but are usually more extravagant than corporate gifts.

When To Buy For Clients

We usually think of the holiday season as the time when businesses give corporate gifts to their clients. So why don't you make yourself stand out from the crowd by giving gifts in the off season. There's no gift giving protocol that requires you to send gifts only in the holiday season.

For example, think about giving a gift to celebrate the completion of a big project you've worked on with your client. Or how about recognizing a special event? Did your client just open a new office? Gifts are a great way to say "congratulations."

While there are many appropriate times to give gifts - there are also times when you absolutely should NOT give a gift. For example, giving a gift during a bidding process could be seen as bribery.

When To Buy For Employees As with clients, holidays are a popular time to buy for employees. It's a good way to say "thanks for a great year" and the best time to give an annual bonus.

You can also recognize personal achievements, like birthdays, promotions, and the birth of a child with gifts. Small gifts are appropriate and always appreciated.

When considering incentives there are many choices. We often consider sales incentives, but you may also want to consider rewarding a marketing team who creates a great campaign or technical team who works over to get you up and running ahead of schedule. Consider gifts like fruit of the month clubs

Gifts For Clients

After you decide when to give, the question now is what to give. And here you have so many options.

Food gift baskets are a very popular and cost-effective choice. Gourmet gift baskets are sure to please everyone and you can choose from gift baskets ranging in price from $ 20.00 to over $ 100.00 . Popular non-food gifts that are also fairly inexpensive include flowers, and office items.

Whatever you give, if possible try to make it relevant to your client. Think back to your conversations with your client. Did they mention a special hobby or interest? If the gift coincides with a hobby, the gift will be even more appreciated.

For example, if your client mentioned they love fishing, a simple book on fishing would be perfect.

Then make it even more personal by adding their name and a short thank you on the inside cover.

I personally don't suggest charitable donations ... some clients could find this offensive

Gifts For Employees

Plaques and trophies are always a great way to recognize a special achievement your employee makes. They're personal and can be displayed wherever the employee chooses.

Bonuses are a good idea for employees. The idea may seem impersonal, but you can be sure money will be well received. It can be given as a year-end gift, or as an incentive.

Of course, an incentive doesn't have to be money; it can be a holiday, or even a car. Remember that the bigger the incentive, the harder your employees will work for it.

Gift Etiquette

The most important rule, with both employees and clients, is to not offend! And that doesn't just mean not giving a gourmet gift basket with pork to your Jewish client. There are many other ways to offend that you really should make sure to avoid.

Find out if your clients company has a gift giving policy. This is very easy to do by calling the business and ask the receptionist or HR department. Do you know if your own company has a policy, you should also check it out before choosing a gift for your employees or workmates.

Very extravagant corporate gifts (not incentives) are considered inappropriate in most cases. Not only can they appear as bribery with clients, they can make the recipient feel uncomfortable (especially if they want to return a gift).

If you would like to deliver the gift in person this is fine but it is a good idea not to wait around while they open it. If you've sent the gift through the mail, don't ask the recipient if they've received it. The best idea is to call the vendor.

How Much Should You Pay?

You needn't spend a lot to make a good impression with your clients or employees.

It's very common for businesses to spend less than $50 total for each client gift. It's also a good idea to tailor each gift to specific clients ( if you can )- you may also want to spend more on clients that do more business with you.

Monetary gifts for employees are at your discretion and can be a set amount or a percentage of the employee's salary.

If you're a small business and considering an incentive program, big ticket items are out of the question. Instead, consider awarding day trips to somewhere close by like an amusement park for the family, or leisure-oriented items such as theatre tickets, a day at a spa, or a night at a hotel.

Even if you are on a small budget, you can still give gifts and incentives. You just need to be creative. There may well be some creative and crafty people within your organization who will be happy to help you out with ideas or the actual gifts.

With all of the choices out there, gifts and incentives are within any budget. And just think -- gift-giving and incentive programs are not just a sign of generosity; they are a very important part of maintaining positive and healthy relationships with your clients and employees alike.

This article was provided by http://www.gifts-flowers-giftbaskets.com

You are welcome to reprint this article as long as you supply a link to our site

Annual anniversary Gift Giving Guide

Is your anniversary here again? Don't know what to buy their orange mean? Perhaps you can help the anniversary gift guide. The Guide has been updated with some gift ideas to make your shopping a little easier.

1st anniversary - the first anniversary is the year of paper.Paper gifts are not so boring as one pensar.puede as simple as a poem written by hand or so luxurious as a plane ticket.

2nd anniversary - the second anniversary is cotton.A gift of good cotton is the ropa.Personalizarlo makes it even more special. You can now customize anything.

3rd anniversary gift anniversary - the third is cuero.Carteras and purses are nice leather gifts.There are also cans of leather can be customized as well. (Former leather bracelets.)(custom or briefcases)

4Th anniversary - clothing is the fourth anniversary gift.Flax gifts include table linen and linen holiday also known as Cancun shirts.

v anniversary - Wood is fifth anniversary gift. Range of furniture gift baskets gift ideas.

6Th anniversary - the sixth anniversary is the iron hierro.Regalos include candleholders and picture frames.

7Th anniversary-depending that you request, the anniversary of seven years is copper or lana.Cooper gifts include vases and bowls.Wool gifts include sweaters and scarves.

8Th anniversary - bronze is the eighth anniversary gift. Bronze gifts could be anything from a candleholder or a vessel to a trinket or memorable memory is tanned.

9Th anniversary - ceramics is the ninth anniversary. Sculptures, vases and bowls are the most common of these regalos.Una great gift idea would enjoy a pottery class together.

10th anniversary - Tin or aluminum is gifts during 10 years of jewellery felicidad.Cuadros or gift tin containers filled with goodies make gifts of large Tin/aluminium. Containers of gift basket would be a great can incorporate or aluminium.

11Th anniversary - 11 years of marriage as a gift from steel. Gifts can be anything from a clock hanging or stainless steel to stainless steel kitchen appliances.

12Th anniversary - Silk is the twelfth anniversary gift. Silk pajamas and leaves are a wonderful gift.Bathrobes bathroom and linen are also great.

13Th anniversary of thirteenth anniversary - is from the East encaje.Elemento anniversary gift is more for the ladies. Table of lace, hankies and nightshirts bedding are wonderful gifts of socket.

14Th anniversary - ivory is fourteen years of marriage gift imagination is important for this year gifts.An ivory brooch is a mundane gift for his wife and if her husband is open to anything, try a tusk elephant ivory.Is not likely eh? what ivory SOAP?I tried from at least.

15Th anniversary - fifteen years of committed happiness win Crystal.Conjunto of Swarovski crystals in a pendant, clock or other piece of jewelry is a good idea.For single people, a vase of glass or personalized Champagne flutes touch that romance.

20Th anniversary - 20 years of transmission is fairly explanatory China.Es gift.

25th anniversary - twenty five years of marriage is also known as the silver anniversary.Silver jewelry or nice jewelry boxes are always safe bets.

30th anniversary - Pearl is an anniversary of thirty years. Pearl gift can be given as a necklace or placed in a ring.

thirty-fifth anniversary - coral jade is the gift for this aniversario.Usted can find choral gifts such as vases, sculptures, trays or made games or coral.Jade gifts are usually jewels such as bracelets, and earrings.

40th anniversary - fortieth year anniversary gift is Ruby.Along with many gifts, jewelry is a great gift.

45th anniversary - sapphires represent forty years of marriage.Jewelry

50th anniversary Anniversary-The gold is one of the conocidos.Regalos gold can be anything from jewelry to gilded vases, cups, frames, figurines and other trinkets.

55Th anniversary - emeralds are gifts this year jewelry is a joint gift.

60th anniversary - 60 years of marriage with more deserves Diamonds. what could be better than the diamond jewelry?

sixty-fifth anniversary - Blue sapphires are gifts this year. once more jewelry is appropriate... you deserve!

70th anniversary - Platinum gifts are representative of seventies matrimonio.Regalos Platinum Platinum include figurines, gift boxes, jewelry, music boxes.

75th anniversary - once again Diamond is the gift of choice. after seventy-five years of marriage, is, undoubtedly, merece.Mejor gift...Jewelry!

80th anniversary - Oak eighty represents matrimonio.Si years have been married eighties that marriage is stronger than the roble.Sin however a fantastic gift oak is home to Oak! if not you can afford it, there are tons of gifts craft, oak furniture, Wall shelves and many more.

Another gift suggestion is either of these elementos.Ahora flowers there are shops that offer flowers of cotton, wood, Tin or encajes.Especifique what they have.

Cynthia Marcano is owner of Simply Sinful cestas.Visite [http://www.simplysinfulbaskets.com] for great gifts for any occasion.

When cesar gift of languages?

No one was more "charismatic" than the Apostle Paul. He wrote to the Corinthian church that "they came behind no other church" when it came to the gifts of the Holy Spirit (1 Cor. 1:7)--no church had more of the gifts of the Holy Spirit than the Corinthian church, yet Paul says that he spoke in tongues more than all of them (1 Cor. 14:18)!

No one was more charismatic than Paul, yet the Lord revealed to him that those sign gifts were going to cease:

"whether there are prophecies, they will fail; whether there are tongues, they will cease; whether there is knowledge, it will vanish away" (1 Cor. 13:8).1

Here Paul writes of the gift of tongues, the gift of prophecy and the gift of knowledge (see 1 Cor. 13:1-2) and states that the Lord Jesus had revealed to him (1 Cor. 11:23; 15:3; Gal. 1:11,12) that a time was coming when these sign gifts were going to cease to operate.

The question has always been: when? When would these gifts cease?

This study focuses on that question--when did the sign gifts cease?

Arranging Paul's letters in the order that he wrote them

We begin by setting up a time line of Paul's ministry. Paul was saved in Acts 9 when the Lord appeared to him on the road to Damascus. Paul would go on to write 13 letters in the New Testament--from the Letter to the Romans to the Letter to Philemon. When we remember that Paul is the subject of at least half of the Book of Acts, we realize that half of the 27 books in the New Testament are either about him (The Book of Acts) or were written by him (13 letters).

Paul's letters are arranged in our Bible by two principles: The letters to the churches are put first--nine letters from Romans to 2 Thessalonians, then the four letters written to individuals--from 1 Timothy to Philemon.

The letters are also arranged by length--Romans is longest and is first, then the Corinthian letters, then Galatians, etc. Longer letters are first, shorter ones later.

But to understand when the sign gifts ceased, we need to read Paul's letters in the order that he wrote them. When we arrange the letters in the order that they were written, all becomes clear!

Paul's Letters in the order that he wrote them:

The first 6 of Paul's letters can be fit into the Book of Acts--we can read Acts and then read Paul's letters and we can see where Paul was when he wrote these letters.

The Letter to the Galatians is first

In Acts 13,14 Paul and Barnabas went on their first apostolic journey which took them into Galatia--cities like Antioch, Lystra, Derbe, etc. Soon after Paul returned from this journey he wrote the letter to the Galatians (see Galatians 1:6 where Paul writes to the Galatians and says, you are "so quickly turned."). Galatians was written soon after Paul returned from that first journey--soon after Acts 14:27. That makes Galatians the earliest of Paul's letters.

1 and 2 Thessalonians

The next letters Paul wrote are the two letters to the Thessalonians. In Acts 17, Paul, on his second apostolic journey, came to Thessalonica and preached there. Many were saved, but Paul was driven out of town. Paul continued on to Corinth where he wrote the two letters to the Thessalonians. Timothy's return from Macedonia mentioned in Acts 18:5 is also reported in 1 Thessalonians 3:6. And in 2 Thessalonians 2:5 Paul reminds the Thessalonians of his teaching, as if it had not been very long since he had been with them. So the writing of 1 and 2 Thessalonians can be placed into Acts 18 during Paul's ministry in Corinth, and that makes them the second and third letters that Paul wrote.

1 and 2 Corinthians

The next two letters that Paul wrote are the two letters to the Corinthians. In Acts 18 Paul spent a year and a half ministering in Corinth--see Acts 18:11. He later returned to his home base at Antioch (Acts 18:22), and later in his third apostolic journey he arrived in Ephesus (his ministry in Ephesus extends all the way through Acts 19--a period of more than two years, see verse 10). It is here in Ephesus during Acts 19 that Paul wrote 1 Corinthians--see I Corinthians 16:19. Shortly after that Paul traveled to Macedonia (see Acts 20:1 and 2 Cor. 2:13) and that is where he wrote the second letter to the Corinthians.

Romans

In Acts 20:2,3 Paul arrived in "Greece," i.e. in Corinth again, and spent three months there enjoying the hospitality of a believer named Gaius (mentioned in 1 Cor. 1:14). In Gaius's home, in Corinth, Paul wrote the letter to the Romans (see Rom. 16:23).

This is the last letter written during the Book of Acts. In Acts 21:33 Paul was arrested in Jerusalem, and would spend the next 5 years in prison, right through the end of the Book of Acts.

In Acts 21 Paul was arrested and remained a prisoner through to Acts 28, and beyond.

The Prison Epistles--Ephesians, Colossians, Philemon, and Philippians

Shortly after the end of the Book of Acts, while he was still a prisoner, now in Rome, Paul wrote four letters--the "prison epistles": Ephesians, Colossians, Philemon and Philippians. In each of these letters he writes of his "chains"--see Ephesians 6:20, Colossians 4:18, Philemon 13 and Philippians 1:13.

The Pastoral Epistles--The letters to Titus, First and Second Timothy

Paul was released from this imprisonment and continued his ministry for a few years, perhaps 3 years. During this time he wrote the three letters known as the "Pastoral Epistles," because these letters were written to Paul's co-workers--Pastor Timothy and Titus. Finally at the end of his life he is again in prison. This time he anticipates being beheaded for the Lord and writes the last letter, Second Timothy.

Now let's read the letters in the order Paul wrote them

Having surveyed the 13 letters and having put them into their chronological order, let's see what they tell us about the question: when did the sign gifts cease?

In the first six letters, all written during the period covered by the Book of Acts, we find that the sign gifts were operating in all these churches. All through the Book of Acts we read of tongues, the gift of prophecy, the gift of healing, etc.--for example, tongues and prophecy in Acts 19:6, the gift of prophecy in Acts 21:10-14, the gift of healing in Acts 19:11-12 and 28:8,9, etc.

And in the "Acts Epistles" we read of the gifts operating in the churches that Paul founded. In Galatians 3:5, 1 Thessalonians 5:20, 1 Corinthians 12,13,14, 2 Corinthians 12:12, Romans 12:6--in all these letters we read about the gifts in operation right through to the end of the Book of Acts.

But, during this time in the Book of Acts, the Lord revealed to Paul that the sign gifts were going to cease--1 Corinthians 13:8-12. The gifts were all in operation all through the Book of Acts period and are mentioned in the letters written during that time, but the Lord had revealed that the sign gifts were going to cease at some time in the future.

When the gift of tongues ceased

Now we turn to the prison epistles, the four letters written shortly after the end of the Book of Acts, while Paul was a prisoner in Rome--Ephesians, Colossians, Philemon and Philippians...and we find that there is not one word about tongues, or the gift of healing. Even where we might have expected Paul to write of tongues in the passage about being "filled with the Spirit" in Ephesians 5:17, he has nothing to say about tongues. And as for the gift of healing, we read of a co-worker of Paul's, Epaphroditus, who fell seriously ill during this time (Phil. 2:25-30) and Paul no longer had the gift of healing, and was no longer able to heal as he did only a few years earlier in Acts 28:9. The sign gifts were no longer operating at the time that Paul wrote the Prison Epistles.

Tongues in the Pastoral Epistles?

In the 3 Pastoral Epistles, as in the prison epistles, we do not read of tongues or the gift of healing operating at this time. We do read of prophecies that had been made about Timothy in 1 Timothy 1:18 and 4:14 and 2 Timothy 1:6, but these were given years before. So far as we read in these three letters, we wouldn't even know that there had been a "gift of tongues."

And, again, in places where we would have expected Paul to mention the sign gifts, he is silent. When Paul gives Timothy and Titus instructions regarding the choice of men to be elders in the churches, Paul says nothing about the desirability of these men having a gift such as prophecy, or healing, or other sign gifts (see Titus 1:6-9 and 1 Tim. 3:1-10). The gifts of tongues, prophecy, etc. were no longer in operation by the time Paul wrote the pastoral epistles.

It is clear that the gift of healing has ceased because, as in Philippians, Paul was no longer able to heal, even his co-workers. Timothy was suffering stomach problems and frequent infirmities (1 Tim. 5:23) and Paul can't heal him, doesn't recommend that he go to a healer in the church, doesn't send a prayer cloth or a bottle of anointing oil (remember the miracles of some 8 years earlier in Acts 19:11-12). Likewise in 2 Timothy 4:20, Paul has to leave behind his co-worker Trophimus who had fallen sick on the last journey. Paul's gift of healing (Acts 28:9) was no longer operating in Philippians 2:27, 1 Timothy 5:23 and 2 Timothy 4:20.

Summary

The sign gifts, tongues, prophecy, the gift of healing, etc. were operating all through the Book of Acts, and these gifts are mentioned in the letters that Paul wrote during the Acts period. But when we turn to the letters written after the Book of Acts--the 4 Prison Epistles, and the 3 Pastoral Epistles, we find that the sign gifts either aren't mentioned at all or we see--as with the gift of healing--that they were no longer operating in Paul's life. What he could do in Acts 28, he could no longer do in Philippians, or in 1 and 2 Timothy. He could heal all the sick on the island in Acts 28:9, but he couldn't heal any of his closest co-workers--Timothy, Epaphroditus, Trophimus--after the close of the Book of Acts.

Arranging Paul's letters in the order that he wrote them allows us to see the pattern of truth that is found in the Word of God:

The sign gifts were operating in Acts and in all of the Acts Epistles: Galatians, 1 & 2 Thessalonians, 1 & 2 Corinthians and Romans.

But in this time period, in 1 Corinthians 13:8-12, Paul tells us that the Lord had revealed to him that these gifts would cease some day. And they did, because in the letters written after the Book of Acts, the sign gifts had ceased, just as the Lord said that they would.

The pattern could not be clearer, and the contrast could not be sharper between the earlier letters and the later letters, between the time when all the sign gifts were operating, and the time when all the sign gifts had ceased.

We can now give a scriptural answer to the question that we started with: when did the sign gifts cease?

The answer: The sign gifts ceased at the end of the Book of Acts. There is no record in Scripture of any of the sign gifts operating in any of the letters that Paul wrote after the end of the Acts period, and it is clear that the gift of healing had ceased since Paul could no longer heal even his closest co-workers after the close of the Book of Acts.

Why did the sign gifts cease?

Having seen the pattern of truth regarding the gifts, we need to ask, why did the gifts cease at this time?

Paul wrote in 1 Corinthians 13:8-12--

"Love never fails. But whether there are prophecies, they will fail; whether there are tongues, they will cease; whether there is knowledge, it will vanish away. For we know in part and we prophesy in part. But when that which is perfect has come, then that which is in part will be done away.

"When I was a child, I spoke as a child, I understood as a child, I thought as a child; but when I became a man, I put away childish things. For now we see in a mirror, dimly, but then face to face. Now I know in part, but then I shall know just as I also am known."

The gift of tongues, prophecy and knowledge during the Acts period were only "in part"--they were incomplete, they did not communicate the full knowledge that the Lord had to reveal. But the Lord revealed to Paul that "that which is perfect" was coming. In English, as in Greek, this is a neuter pronoun--"that thing which is perfect." Paul was not writing about the coming of "He who is perfect" but of the coming of a "thing" which is perfect. When it came, then the gifts which were only "in part" would cease.

It would be like the difference between being a child and becoming a grown man, or between seeing someone's face reflected in a wavy ancient mirror, and seeing the person face-to-face.

Before the end of the Book of Acts, during the Acts period, and in the letters written during the Acts period, the Lord had only revealed part of the "dispensation of grace" (Eph. 3:2) to the Apostle Paul, but He had not yet revealed the entire message to him. It was still only "in part" during the Acts period, but with the close of the Book of Acts, the Lord completed the revelation of the "Mystery" (see Eph. 3:3,4,9 and Col. 1:26,27, etc.). "That which is perfect" was finally revealed in all its fullness to the Apostle Paul and at that moment, those things which were only "in part" passed away from God's program.

Paul wrote in 1 Corinthians 13:12--

"Now I know in part, but then I shall know just as I also am known."

When Paul wrote "now I know in part," he used the common word for "know," the Greek word gnosis.

But then, when he wrote "but then I shall know..." he changes the word from gnosis to epignosis, "to fully know."

We could paraphrase Paul's statement: "Now, as I'm writing 1 Corinthians in Acts 19, I have gnosis--I know, in part, what God's message is for us today in the dispensation of grace, but then--when that which is perfect has come--I shall have epignosis--the full knowledge of God's message of grace for us today."

All through the Book of Acts Paul had only "gnosis," partial knowledge of the message of grace, but when we turn to the Prison Letters we suddenly find Paul using that word "epignosis"--he had now received that "full knowledge" which he didn't have when he wrote to the Corinthians:

"For I want you to know what a great conflict I have for you and those in Laodicea, and for as many as have not seen my face in the flesh, that their hearts may be encouraged, being knit together in love, and attaining to all riches of the full assurance of understanding, to the knowledge (epignosis--full knowledge) of the mystery of God, both of the Father and of Christ" (Col. 2:1-2).

"For this reason we also, since the day we heard it, do not cease to pray for you, and to ask that you may be filled with the knowledge (epignosis--full knowledge) of His will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding; that you may walk worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing Him, being fruitful in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God; strengthened with all might, according to His glorious power, for all patience and longsuffering with joy; giving thanks to the Father who has qualified us to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in the light" (Col. 1:9-12).

In all the seven letters written after the close of the Book of Acts, Paul uses this word "epignosis"--the full knowledge. What he had not yet received in 1 Corinthians 13, he now has. That which is perfect had come and so the sign gifts had passed away.

The "sign gifts" were signs for God's "sign people"

The close of the Book of Acts was also the close of God's dealings with the nation of Israel for now nearly 2000 years. Acts 28:25-28 stands as God's last words to the nation of Israel for nearly two millennia. The Jews sought after signs (1 Cor. 1:22) so God gave them signs--among the Gentiles!--in order to provoke Israel to jealousy (Rom. 11:14). But with the close of Acts, God sets aside Israel for a time, and when God gave up on the "sign people" for a time, the sign gifts passed out of His program.

I speak in tongues, what should I do?

Many Christians today have had an experience that they think is the scriptural gift of tongues. After studying Paul's letters and the scriptural teaching concerning the cessation of the gift of tongues, they ask, "What should I do now?" There are several possible explanations for the experience--it may be a psychological experience or even a spiritual experience, but clearly, from the Word of God, it is not the Spirit's gift of tongues.

What should they do? Simply: Stop! Stop speaking in the tongue because it is not from the Holy Spirit.

For many this is a great relief. They've been taught that a person has to speak in tongues to prove that he is really saved, or that he really has the Holy Spirit dwelling within. So they've "learned" to speak in tongues, but when they see from Scripture that this gift is not in operation from the Lord today, they can at last cease their effort to prove their salvation and start to walk by faith and not by sight.

For some, Paul's instructions to the prophets at Corinth will be pertinent:

"If anything is revealed to another who sits by, let the first keep silent. For you can all prophesy one by one, that all may learn and all may be encouraged. And the spirits of the prophets are subject to the prophets. For God is not the author of confusion but of peace, as in all the churches of the saints" (1 Cor. 14:30-33).

When we are having an experience that we learn from the Scriptures is not from the Lord, it is time to "keep silent," and remember that our spirits are to be under our own control--"the spirits of the prophets are subject to the prophets."

The Lord's warning

The Lord warned that experiences can be deceiving:

"Many will say to Me in that day, `Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in Your name, cast out demons in Your name, and done many wonders in Your name?' And then I will declare to them, `I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness!'" (Matt. 7:22-23).

Yes, they really had had these experiences. They had prophesied in Jesus' name, they had cast out demons and done miracles in His name. The Lord does not deny that they had done these things. But then He tells them that even while they were doing these things, He had never ever known them. It is important that our faith be based on the Word of God and not on experiences because experiences can deceive us.

Endnote

1. All references have been taken from the New King James Version.

This article originally appeared in the Berean Searchlight, the free monthly Bible study magazine of the Berean Bible Society in Germantown, Wisconsin.

What men Give women so many Bad gifts?

Every day millions of women receive dumb gifts from the male gender that lack creativity, thoughtfulness or indicate a total lack of knowledge about what women want, like or need.

Research has suggested that over 65% of the gifts men give to women for birthdays, anniversaries, Valentines day and all of the other holidays combined are returned, never used or worn or are stored in some obscure place or in the attic. Billions of dollars are wasted every year on gifts for women by men. Why?

Are men and women really different?

Numerous books have been written pointing out how men and women are different. In some cases I accept those apparent differences and in others I think the authors were just trying to sell more books by offering the readers a controversial title or topic. I am not concerned here, I know your time is limited, with the physiological, actuarial, physical, mental or emotional differences, as many as there are.

My concern is, how are women different from men when it comes to needs, expectations, reactions, hopes, dreams or frustrations in the area of giving and receiving gifts.

Here is what I think. Any gift that says you love her, cherish her, respect her, understand her, know her, want her, believe in her or desire her (this list is too long to continue) is usually pretty safe. The problem is, I dare you to show me even one man, even after fifty years of marriage who knows a fraction of any of these.

Ask one women what is a BAD gift and she will tell you "anything that has a cord and a plug." My wife wanted a color TV for the kitchen for Christmas one year. Now, here is the problem, it couldn't have a plug. It took me three days and a lot of shopping to find one that was battery operated. It also had a back-up plug. Guess which power source she uses? You guessed it the plug. What is it with plugs anyway? Many of the best gift examples in Chapter ten show that plugs are O.K as long as it is something she wants.

Ladies, if you have never received a dumb or thoughtless gift from a man you have either spent your entire life living alone in a cabin in Vermont or you have done an excellent job of training the men in your life.

Gentlemen, if you have never given a woman a less-than-well-received gift, the rest of us poor souls salute you. You must have either been raised in a cave filled with women of all ages, or--like Mel Gibson's character Nick Marshall in the movie What Women Want--you are just light years ahead of the rest of us who are searching for just that right gift that will earn us a special place in the corner of her heart for the rest of our life.

I have spent the better part of my adult life trying to figure out what women really want and what will make them happy and satisfied when it comes to gifts. Believe me, I have made more bad choices than good ones over the years, but after painstaking research I believe that I finally have the answer.

Now keep in mind that when I am talking about gifts for her, I am referring to any or all of the following special events or holidays:

- birthdays

- Christmas or Hanukkah

- Mother's Day

- Valentine's Day

- Grandmother's Day

- Groundhog Day

- the first day of spring

- the last day of summer

- the second Tuesday in June

- plus any other holiday or occasion I may have overlooked.

Got it? Any day is an appropriate day for gift giving from the women's perspective, and until you learn this simple lesson, you may spend a lot of time agonizing, apologizing, hiding, or squirming, or all of the above.

Here are the top twenty mistakes males make when giving gifts to women. Make any one of them to your peril.

A BAD Gift is any gift that:

1. Plugs in. (It depends--see gift-giving rules.)

2. Reminds her of a former relationship. (Always.)

3. Says, you were too busy to be creative. (Shame on you.)

4. Is really for your benefit and not hers. (Gotcha.)

5. Says, she is getting old. (Head for the hills, bucko.)

6. Says, she is not as beautiful as the day you met her. (You will be sleeping alone a lot from now on.)
7. Is re-packaged in any way. (I am not even going to give this one any energy.)

8. Looks like you were being cheap. (If you were, make sure you are with yourself as well.)

9. Reminds you of a former relationship of yours. (What are you, just plain stupid?)

10. Says, she needs to lose a little weight. (Ditto, no. 9 above.)

11. You believe will make her life easier. (Did you just land here from some distant planet?)

12. Lacks romance. (Better read Romance 101 again.)

13. Says, you really don't know me. (You are history, bubba.)

14. Says, you are guilty of something. (If you are, gifts are not going to do it for you here, dude; better consider just fessing up.)

15. Tries to buy your way out of the doghouse. (Just learn to be happy there.)

16. Says, she is not the center of your world. (You better get a new girl friend.)

17. Helps her be more successful in her career. (This one could be a little touchy, boys.)

18. Helps her with her domestic responsibilities. (Big freaking deal.)

19. Shows your general lack of thoughtfulness. (Your mother will not be happy about this one.)

20. Originates from motives that are less than honest. (You are not fooling anyone.)

Here are my twenty gift giving rules if you want to be a hero and not an idiot the next time you give the love of your life a gift.

There are gifts that cost money and there are gifts from your heart. Here are just a few.

The gift of honesty.

The gift of support.

The gift of acknowledgement.

The gift of interest.

The gift of friendship.

The gift of respect.

The gift of trust.

The gift of unconditional love.

The gift of conversation.

The gift of listening.

The gift of caring.

The gift of a romantic spirit.

The gift of touch.

The gift of talk.

The gift of thoughtfulness.

The gift of appreciation.

The best gifts are;

- Your time. And I don't mean just your time but your active and conscious presence while you are with her. You have to "be there" and not secretly wishing you were fishing or on the golf course.

-Your creativity. Any idiot can buy a gift certificate. Or, if you have more money than God any jerk can buy an expensive piece of jewelry. It takes imagination and creativity to give her a gift that will bring tears of joy to her face and a smile in her heart. Trust me, these will be remembered long after she has forgotten the jewelry.

-Surprise trips. And, I don't mean fishing trips. But an evening on the town or a weekend at the beach that she wasn't expecting. It will have even greater positive emotional impact if you have gone out of your way in some way to make the event special like arranging for a baby sitter or clearing it with her boss.

-Something from the past. A photo collage of a number pictures taken while on a special trip years ago or something that has special significance like a family heirloom that she always liked but never could have, for any number of reasons.

Let's end this with fifteen of the twenty gift giving rules. Follow them and you will never again give a bad gift.

Rule Number One -If she didn't ask for it make sure it is a personal item.

Rule Number Two: If it plugs in don't give it to her for Valentines day, her birthday, Mothers day or Christmas or unless she asks for it.

Rule Number Three: If it reminds her of a former relationship, hers or yours, forget it.

Rule Number Four: Flowers express your thoughtfulness but save them for special times. Don't use them as gifts.

Rule Number Five: Cards can mean a lot but they are not gifts. They will never make up for an expectation of a gift.

Rule Number Six: A promise of a gift is not a gift. Don't make promises - either give the gift or don't talk about it or promise it.

Rule Number Nine: If it is not something she likes or wants, it doesn't matter how much it sets you back financially.

Rule Number Ten: The worst gifts are gifts you THINK she wants or will like because you like them.

Rule Number Eleven: If the gift is an act of barter - you give her something to get something in return - it will backfire every time.

Rule Number Twelve: You can hardly ever go wrong if the gift has a romantic overtone.

Rule Number Thirteen: If the gift says you were too busy, don't really know her or it has a hidden agenda - beware.

Rule Number Fourteen: Once you give a gift, don't keep reminding her of how much it cost. All you do is make her feel like she isn't worth it.

Rule Number Fifteen: When you give a gift. Leave it at that. Resist the tendency to add a lot of verbiage and useless words to the gift. Let your gift speak for itself.

Rule Number Sixteen: When you give her a gift make sure it is for HER and not YOU.

Rule Number Seventeen: If it has a plug, make sure she asked for it.

Rule Number Nineteen: If it's on sale make sure you take the tags off of it.

Tim Connor, CSP is an internationally renowned sales, relationship, management and leadership speaker, trainer and best selling author. Since 1981 he has given over 3500 presentations in 21 countries on a variety of sales, management and relationship topics. He is the best selling author of over 60 books including; He can be reached at tim@timconnor.com, 704-895-1230 or visit his website at http://www.timconnor.com.

Wedding Gift Giving - frequently asked questions and answers too

Over time, our visitors, both Invitees and Marrying Couples, have asked many questions regarding Wedding Gift Giving

This article is formatted as Questions and answers.
A-wedding Day hopes that they will help answer some of your questions. If not, please feel free to Email us your questions.

Please note that
Q stands for Question

S stands for Statement

A stands for Answer

WEDDING GUESTS ASK:

Q. I am invited to a wedding. The invitation arrived and with it a wish list and store registries where the bride and groom entered the items they want to receive.

S. I do not plan to attend. Do I need to send a gift?
A. You do not have to, but it is a nice gesture to send a gift whether or not you plan to attend.

Q. Do I have to give an item chosen by the bride and groom?
A. No! While it is nice to help the couple acquire items they have chosen, a unique gift can be just as and even more welcomed.

Q. Do I have to purchase from one of their bridal registries?
A. No. You may shop anywhere, though the bridal registries will inform you of which items have already been purchased.

Q. Can I purchase a gift for the wedding itself rather than for the future?
A. Absolutely! Providing the bride and groom receive it in time for the wedding. In fact it is a good idea because just about any gift used at the wedding will become a cherished keepsake.

Q. What would make a memorable gift for the wedding?
Any item personalized with the bride and groom's first names and wedding date such as: Toasting Flutes, Cake Servers, Unity Candles, etc...
One, a few or even an entire collection of Wedding Accessories such as: Toasting Flutes, Cake Servers, Unity Candles, Guest Books and matching pens, Garters, Ring Bearer Pillow, hankies, caketops etc... But DO NOT make it a surprise gift. Consult with the bride and groom to assure that they do not have these items yet. If not, find out if they plan a theme wedding and purchase accordingly or better yet, let THEM CHOOSE the items.

Q. Can I shop on line for wedding gifts?
A.Sure! Actually this is the easiest way to engage the bride and groom, near or far, should you need their input in choosing a gift for the wedding.
Shopping online is your most convenient way to acquire unique gifts which may not be available in stores.
Ideas: Personalized wedding gifts, personalized candles, etc... When you shop on line, a click of the mouse or a phone call from your home or office, allows you to purchase, gift wrap, enclose a personalized gift card and ship a gift to directly to the couple.

Q. Should I bring my gift to the wedding site?
A. Preferably not!
Most wedding sites do not provide security. Thus, Gifts can easily be damaged or misplaced or, sad to say taken. The bride and groom are much too busy and excited to worry about gathering up gifts. Thus, some gifts could easily be left behind.

Q. How do I make sure that the bride and groom receive my gift?
A. Send the gift to the Bride's address, grooms address or the address on the RSVP envelope that came with the wedding invitation.

BRIDES AND GROOMS ASK:

S. We plan to give each other gifts at the wedding. What is the best time to do so?
A. Gift exchange between brides and grooms has become rather popular. The best time for brides and grooms to exchange gifts is at the ceremony, as soon as they are no longer bride and groom. That is immediately following the officiant presenting the new Mr. and Mrs. but after lighting the Unity Candle.

Q. What kinds of gifts will be appropriate?
A. Give each other gifts that are keepsakes. Personalized gifts and jewelry top the list.

S. As a blending family, we plan to acknowledge our kids as part of our union. We would like to give them special gifts at the wedding.

Q. What is the best time to do so?
A. This is a wonderful way to welcome your kids into the new family creatid by your union.
The best time for you to give your kids a gift is at the ceremony immediately following your gift exchange, or immediately after your rings exchange and vows. This is especially appropriate if you plan to include the kids in your vows and, if age appropriate, in lighting the Unity Candle.

Q. What kinds of gifts will be appropriate?
Here a piece of jewelry such as the family unity jewelry (pendants, rings, lapel pins/tie clips etc...) will be a perfect gift.

Q. Are there specific etiquetes regarding giving gifts to our wedding party and family?
S. We need some ideas of gifts of appreciation to our bestman, maid of honor, bridesmaids, ushers, groomsmen, parents grand parents flower girl and ring bearer (boy).
A. Gifts, their cost and whether you should give everyone the same gift is at your discresion. But since you asked, we'll provide you with some ideas.

IDEAS for GIFTS for WOMEN

Gifts for Maid of Honor, Bridesmaids, mothers, grandmothers

A. The most appropriate gifts will be keepsake mementos.
The mothers and the maid of Honor generally receive gift of greater value than the bridesmaids, but this is not mandatory.
Gifts personalized with either their names, title (mother, maid of honor etc...), or bride and groom's name and wedding date serve as both thank you and keepsake mementos.
Ideas: Personalized candles, frames or photo albums to later add your wedding pictures to, jewelry, some part of their wedding attire, toasting flutes or mugs, jewelry boxes, key chains, clocks, make-up kits, crystal or silver vases, crystal bowls, collectibles etc...
Pampering gifts Ideas:bath oils, gift baskets, candles, a day at a spa etc...

IDEAS for GIFTS FOR MEN

Gifts for Best Man, Groomsmen/Ushers, fathers, grandfathers

A. Here too the most appropriate gifts will be keepsake mementos.
The fathers and the best man generally receive gifts of greater value than the Groomsmen/Ushers, but this is not mandatory.
Ideas: Personalized candles, frames or photo albums to later add your wedding pictures to, beer mugs or pilsners, toasting flutes, drinks shakers, can cooler koozies, money clips, travel cases, wood jewelry boxes, unique items reflecting their individual interests, bar sets, desk clocks, business card holders, key chains, pocket watches, Swiss Army products, high quality pens/pen sets.

IDEAS for GIFTS FOR PARENTS and GRANDPARENTS

A. Wedding mementos including a special album, picture frames and video/cd of your wedding are most appreciated by parents. They will display them and re-live your happy day every time they look at your wedding pictures.

IDEAS for GIFTS FOR FLOWERGIRL(S)/RING BEARER(S)

Ideas: Here your gift such as a coloring book set, or books about being a flower girl or ring bearer may will depend on the age of the child. However, long lasting gifts can be given to a child of any age. Ideas: Jewlry, jewelry box, silver bank, a framed photo of him/her with you on your wedding day, something relating to the child's interest, a stuffed animal etc...

IDEAS for GIFTS FOR GUESTS

S. It has become customary to gift your wedding guests with wedding favors to thank them for helping you celebrate your big day.
Actually, favors should be multi-purpose.
ideas: Insert place cards in Small frames, Insert place cards in silver holders, order personalized pens and have each guest keep the pen after signing your guest book, place a dessert (Candy, nuts, cake, etc..) in a keepsake container, etc... Assign one of your attendants to announce that these are Thank you souvineers from the bride and groom.

S. We plan to give our guests memento thank you gifts.

Q. Should we also send them Thank-You notes?
A. Absolutely! Each guests gave you a gift personally. Most guests put thought into what to get and purchased, wrapped and delivered it to you on or before your wedding.
You must acknowledge their efforts individually with a Thank-You note.

S. We have a large wedding party. By the time we add both sets of parents, grandparents and a few other relatives, we come up with more than 10 men and more than 10 women. We are on a budget. Giving each a large gift is prohibitive but we do not want to give "cheapy" gifts.

Q. Can you help?
A. We hope so! You must consider your budget when choosing your gifts but you do not necessarily have to pass up gifts you like. Always remember that a little creativity and thoughtfulness can go a long way. If you are creative you can put together gifts from the heart. Write or draw someting special and place it in a frame. find small items that will be appreciated by a sports enthusiast, stamp collectors, a gardening buffs, etc... and make little gift baskets. Your thoughtfullness will be appreciated by the recipients.
Otherwise, choose two gifts - one for the men and one for women - and buy them in bulk. Many retailers will give you a price break based on quantity - IF YOU ASK THEM TO.
This will help keep your costs down and save you time too.
If you shop on-line Email a note to the online vendors asking if they can give you a break for buying X number of the same item. They may not offer it but some may consider doing so when requested. We at A-wedding Day do.
S. Be aware that because of the way internet shopping carts are set up, the discount will not show up on your online confirmation. The vendor will have to deduct the discount when charging your credit card and will need to email you the amount actually charged. It should reflect your cost after the price reduction.

Q. When is the best time to present our thank you gifts to our parents, grandparents and wedding attendants?
A. You may do so at the rehearsal dinner because of the intimate setting with your family and closest friends. Or, you may choose to present each in a private setting where you can express your gratitude to each participant individually.

Copyrights © 2007 All Rights Reserved Nily Glaser of A-wedding Day.

Please feel free to post this Article in your newsletter, on your website, and forward it to your friends. If you post or otherwise publish this article, please ensure that you post it as is with no additions or deletions and that the copyright as well as the author's entire bylines box remain intact. As follows: Copyrights ? 2007 All Rights Reserved Nily Glaser, Nily Glaser the CEO of A-wedding Day. is a published author who has presented workshops to wedding professionals all over the USA. A wedding Day a very popular Wedding Resource and Information Center, and a Discount Bridal Mall for wedding gifts, supplies and bridal accessories. To read other articles by Nily Glaser CLICK HERE