In times of looking for that special gift, lean on Julian Givi for sound advice. Givi, assistant professor of marketing, is an expert on gifting.
In his research, he has uncovered various mismatches between giver and recipient. For instance, recipients welcome sentimental presents like handwritten notes or photographs, or unconventional gifts like an e-reader for Valentine’s Day, but they won’t get those from most givers, who see too much risk that these gifts will miss the mark.
And Givi has discovered that givers focus on the gratifying moment when the bow comes off, the fun present is revealed and the smile lights up, while recipients want practical gifts they can use for a long time. Read more about Givi’s research here.
