As the festive season approaches, so does the age-old practice of regifting—an art form that stirs a pot of mixed opinions regarding its etiquette and morality. With holiday cheer in mind, let’s dive into the clever strategy of passing along items you no longer want, all while maintaining your reputation as a thoughtful gift-giver.
Regifting can be as tricky as wearing an elf hat to the office party. When executed well, it spreads joy and goodwill. However, if done poorly, it could lead to awkward exchanges and unwanted drama over the fruitcake. With a few handy tips and a sprinkle of common sense, you can reap the benefits of this time- and money-saving approach.
Know Your Recipients
The ideal candidates for regifting are acquaintances or those with whom you share a light connection. Close family and friends deserve gifts that reflect your thoughtfulness. If you’re short on time, your loved ones will understand if you explain that you’ve been overwhelmed and promise to send a special gift soon.
Savvy regifters know to choose recipients who are unlikely to discover the origins of the gift—or who, if they do, won’t mind. Beware of the “Gift Police”—those who scrutinize labels and receipts. On the other hand, your coworker will likely appreciate the thought behind that bottle of wine you received from a party.
Freshen It Up
Once you decide to regift an item, treat it as a brand-new gift.
Rule One: Ensure the item is in its original packaging and unopened. Remove any traces of its previous life—like that heartfelt note tucked inside a book or the picture of your niece that Grandma included.
Rule Two: Wrap it using the same beautiful paper and decorations as your other gifts, and attach a new card.
Rule Three: Make sure the item is contemporary. If the recipient discovers that their new crystal candlesticks haven’t been sold since the ’70s, your cover is blown.
Keep Track
Document who gifted you the item, who you regifted it to, and when this exchange took place. This is crucial in avoiding a faux pas of gifting something back to the original giver.
The safest recipients are often those who live far away or business associates you don’t know well.
Identifying a Regift
As the old saying goes, “There are only two fruitcakes in the world; we just keep passing them back and forth.” I’m actually one of the rare few who enjoy fruitcake, so let’s revise that adage.
In a chat with a corporate gift manager at a high-end department store, I learned that the most commonly regifted items include:
- Scarves and accessories
- Picture frames
- Vases
- Anything that doesn’t come in a specific size (clothes are tricky to regift due to personal taste)
Other popular regifts include wine, spirits, and those extravagant gift baskets filled with “gourmet” items like maple-glazed almonds and fancy olive oil.
Regifts often have that telltale sign of anonymity or a mismatch with the giver’s personality. If it weren’t true, it should be: “The Gift That Was Regifted Was Most Likely a Regift Itself.”
When to Think Twice
Gift-giving is about making both the giver and receiver feel special; it reinforces connections and spreads joy. Even if you think about regifting that paper shredder your boss gifted you, consider getting your sister a thoughtful present instead, and perhaps just be honest about the shredder afterward.
The act of selecting, wrapping, and presenting a gift is significant. It’s not merely the thought that counts—it’s the effort, time, and sometimes even the money that go into it. When it comes to your loved ones, these factors often outweigh practicality.
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In summary, regifting can be a clever way to repurpose unwanted gifts, as long as you keep your audience in mind, refresh the presentation, and maintain a record of your exchanges. When it comes to those you cherish, however, don’t underestimate the value of a genuine gift.