Most people buy presents they'd want themselves. A professional gift consultant charges $150 to help you avoid that mistake.

"My career in HR helped me figure out people's personalities and how they like to be recognized. It's very satisfying when I hear that the present hit the mark."

"It's easy to take the easy route by choosing something that you would like, rather than taking the time and effort to consider the recipient. She realized her sister would have preferred an experience like a special lunch together, followed by a visit to a museum, rather than a material thing."

"Even if you are not particularly enthusiastic about a concept yourself, it's the person who counts. Silver comes up with gift ideas after grilling her clients about the recipient's interests."

Alanna Silver, an HR professional, leveraged her expertise in understanding people to launch The Gift Strategist, a professional gift advisory service. After successfully helping a colleague find the perfect gift, Silver recognized a market need for personalized gift consultation. She charges $150 for her services, which involve discussing the recipient's interests, likes, and dislikes before providing up to 10 tailored suggestions. Silver emphasizes that effective gift-giving prioritizes the recipient's preferences over the giver's own tastes. She learned this lesson personally when a gift she chose for herself rather than her sister failed to generate genuine enthusiasm. Silver advocates for considering experiential gifts and understanding what truly resonates with each individual.

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