7 Creative Ways to Brighten Someone’s Day With a Surprise Gift

Unexpected gifts are the best kind. And no, you don’t need to wait for a special occasion to give someone a present. The best gifts are those that come on a random day, with no specific reason, other than making someone happy.

Send Something Anonymous (at Least at First)

There is a type of gift that doesn’t automatically imply reciprocity. A gift that arrives attached to no name, that leaves the receiver guessing who went out of their way to astound them, is half a gift. The rest is you.

This form of giving wouldn’t work if it didn’t stir the pot: Consumed by curiosity, the gifted party doesn’t quite know where to direct their thanks. You, the giver? Fate? The postman?

Less obvious, though, is why you, the giver, would ever choose remain willfully anonymous. At least, not until this singular choice is dissected. Having the recipient’s full, undivided absorption must be appealing. They needn’t split their sentiment: Obliged to thank you, driven to know you.

Use Local Expertise For Time-Sensitive Deliveries

The significance of logistics is frequently underestimated. A gift that shows up late or withered doesn’t just flunk; it makes far more negative impact than if no gift had been sent at all.

City logistics is fiendishly complex. Traffic flows, access loading docks (or the lack thereof), rush hour variations, construction re-routing, out-of-town dispatch inconsistencies, and even climatic peculiarities from suburb to suburb can all conspire to ensure that your lovingly selected blooms arrive looking more like the picture on the “sale” table than the one in the glossy brochure. This is why choosing a florist intimately acquainted with the city is a bigger deal than you might suppose. For those organizing flower delivery Sydney, the difference between a local operator and one of the international “order-gatherers” who route deliveries through freight depots in capital cities thousands of kilometers away can be as substantial as the difference between fresh and forgotten.

It’s the same with same-day delivery: show me a business that’s flogging it, and I’ll show you a business that’s flogging something that wasn’t good enough to sell yesterday either.

Celebrate the Small Wins

Most gift-giving happens in a very scheduled way. We give for birthdays, anniversaries, and holidays. And we celebrate the people in our lives only a few times a year in very predictable fashion.

The far more interesting gift is the one given on a regular old day. The gift given for no reason at all. The gift given because you made it through a rough week, or a late night, or a toddler teething that week.

Layer the Senses, Not Just the Visuals

Many individuals perceive flowers primarily as a visual present. However, flowers that are highly scented can altogether change an arrangement such as gardenias, sweet peas, or hyacinths as they will transform it into something that can be noticed by the entire room. In addition, succulents and textured foliage will provide something that you can feel.

When selecting an arrangement, consider what the person will experience for the next week, instead of only the first five minutes. Generally, seasonal blossoms last longer and have a more fragrant smell compared to out-of-season blossoms that are old. The journey to the destination also affects the life of the flowers. The long the transport, the shorter the enjoyment. Flower food sachets, floral preservatives that are found in almost all good arrangements, can lengthen vase life by multiple days. This will also increase the number of days the recipient gets to think about the sender.

Choose Gifts That Stay

A potted plant, a dried floral piece, or a bundle of herbs the recipient can grow on a windowsill, these are all elegant and excellent long-lasting gifts. Some florists design arrangements to be half-dried and then preserved. The living gift or the memory of the original gift lives on. That’s the gift working twice.

If you stay with cut flowers, the quality of the stem matters more than the size of the bouquet. A smaller lovely-cut fresh stem will easily outlast a larger one that’s long gone over the hill. Hint around about the farm where the flowers are grown. Ethical sourcing and good farm practices often locate better product.

Write the Note by Hand

A handwritten note adds a personal touch that a printed card can never achieve. Keeping it short but specific to the recipient is more effective than a generic warm paragraph. Make a real mention, reference an inside detail. It will be cherished much longer than anything else.

Start a Recurring Rhythm

One-time surprises are nice. But the surprises that come over and over again, they create something.

A few florists these days provide subscriptions: monthly or seasonal deliveries that clients don’t have to call in for. The first delivery is a gift. The third delivery is a delightful anticipation. It doesn’t replace remembering someone’s birthday, but it’s a different kind of relationship compliment.

The point isn’t to transactionalize relationships. It’s to stop assuming you’re not allowed to do nice things unless it’s dictated by a special day. The occasion isn’t what’s special. The thought is.

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Becky

Meet the award-nominated UK lifestyle blogger behind Spirited Puddle Jumper – a mum of three living in South East London! Becky shares the real ups and downs of family life, parenting tips, and lifestyle inspiration, proving that being a mum doesn’t mean you stop being fun or having other interests! Follow along for honest insights into UK family life and opinions on a whole range of topics, from travel and food, to beauty reviews, home and DIY, business and health and wellness.