The joy of retail therapy has been somewhat overshadowed by the current global pandemic. It will be a long while before we can grasp our bestie’s hand and skip through the aisles of Primark, grabbing a bargain at every turn. For now, we shop alone, with a face mask, a pair of disposable gloves and a bottle of hand sanitiser, feeling grubby and sad.
Lockdown gift buying from the comfort of your own home
Pending we adhere to the doorstep delivery protocol, the safest way to fulfill our wildest shopping dreams or lockdown gift buying is from the comfort of our own home.
No queues, no two metre distance ruling, just you, a tipple of your choice and your computer. It’s all about e-Retail. With a couple of clicks, your chosen goodies/lockdown gift can be with you within 24 hours. The excitement of seeing a white truck pull up outside your house is almost unbearable. The familiar face of the local delivery driver brings joy to our life in the form of an unknown package because we forgot what we ordered.
Who’s guilty of the fantasy shop? You save items in your multiple virtual shopping baskets. It’s 3am and you’ve decided you simply must own a sonic scrubber even though you have zero intention of ever using it.
Shopping online is not without risks. How many times have you purchased something and on receiving it, it’s not being quite as you expected? Use your best judgment but also leave room to be creative with your gifting. For example, if you’re looking for something for your other half, why not check out the unique range of gifts from Manly Man Co – where you can pick up unique, custom and curated gifts including beef jerky bouquets – far more exciting than pyjamas in our book!
Speaking of which, if you are opting for clothing, don’t guess clothes sizes, you’ll only be disappointed and let’s face it over these past weeks, we’ve either worked out our way to a size 0 or eaten ourselves into triple figures. Have you had an online purchasing calamity? I’d love to hear about it.
Research, research, research
When purchasing a gift for a loved one, it’s worth putting in the research. You can find incredibly thoughtful and affordable gifts. Take your time to read product reviews. Be wary of third party retailers charging over the odds. If a deal seems too good to be true, it probably is.
Price comparisons can vary wildly and you need to be shrewd. Make use of the online chat function that most websites offer to ask as many questions as you can. This is way less annoying than the assistant that follows you round in an actual store.
With financial uncertainty for many at the moment, there are some great options for shopping online. Pay weekly catalogues offers a variety of payment solutions therefore offering flexibility at this time.
Lockdown gift inspiration
Father’s Day is just round the corner and with the likelihood of the shopping ritual remaining sterile, let’s get to the virtual mall and have a browse for the ultimate gift. A funky sock subscription is a fun and sensible option if you’re struggling for ideas. Or perhaps a personalised pillow with a picture of your face on it.
Lockdown birthdays have been a very strange affair. Perhaps you could book a virtual wine tasting experience and make the most of not having to get an Uber home. There are lots of online businesses offering wonderous treats such as afternoon teas, reminding the people you love that you are thinking of them while you can’t be with them. Jump on a video call and enjoy the moment together.
What’s in your virtual basket?
