Exotic chocolates and homemade cakes

Birthday, anniversaries, Christmas, new year, promotion, thank-you gift, when feeling low

Wedding, as there is enough of cakes and sweets anyway.

Acquaintances, colleagues, close friends, relatives, just visiting children

Elderly people who are sick or are recovering from illness

Don't give chocolate cake on birthday. Instead go for orange or lemon cake. For Christmas instead of plum try date or carrot cake.

Put cakes on cake stands or plates & cover with cellophane. Chocolates come in attractive packaging itself.

Fruits and flowers

Birthdays with another gift, sickness and housewarming.

Wedding day

Flowers go only for women and fruits preferably for women

Children and also men especially flowers.

Avoid giving a single stem of flower. Select flowers according to their color as different flowers mean different things.

Give flowers or fruits in a disposable container especially when visiting sick. Flowers can also be given with a nice vase.

Audio & video

Birthdays, anniversaries, festivals, get well soon gifts, congratulatory gifts

Weddings

Anyone and everyone…keep their age and choice in mind.

Managers. You don't know their taste in music

Don't buy the most obvious cd. Gift something they like but is unique as well.

Present a cd on a cd rack.

Gift checks

Weddings, for parents, simply surprising them.

Birthdays and anniversaries

People who are close to you in another city. Weddings where you would like them to pick up something of their choice.

Elderly. They may be too old to shop around.

Give gift checks for for something that you can't get across like a microwave coupon for your mom.

Put the gift check in a pretty envelop instead of the shop envelop.

Hampers

Any occasion or festival.

On the spot gifting

Anyone keeping in mind their likings. Good for newborns.

Acquaintances

Go for theme based hampers like wine, fruit and cheese etc.

Attractive baskets and buckets for children hampers.

Health products

Sick and casual visits, health conscious friends

Occasions, events and festivals

Close friends and relatives.

Children and acquaintances

Get unusual stuff like roasted snacks, therapeutic foot soak etc.

Gift wrap in a towel or bathrobe & decorate with fresh flowers.

Body care products

Friends, bridal shower

Occasions, events and festivals

Close friends and relatives.

People of opposite sex except your spouse.

Go for herbal and homemade products

Put in a wicker basket with some scented soaps and candles.

New books

Any occasion, festival or event. Summer vacation gift for kids

Acquaintances whose reading habits are unknown to you.

Anyone

A complete book reader, he may have already read it. Or tell the shopkeeper you may need to exchange it.

Keep the person in mind and go for the latest Harry potter book or a coffee table book.

Instead of a gift tag go for a bookmark. One can also give book ends.

Stationary

Colleague birthdays, promotions, new job or opening a new office.

Festivals and weddings

Colleagues, children, people from abroad.

Close friend or relative unless it is for a promotion or something on similar lines.

Avoid pen sets, except for the best qualities.

Make a formal gift wrap.

Clothes and accessories

Birthdays, pre-wedding celebrations, festivals.

Impersonal events or celebrations

Close friends and relatives

Colleagues and acquaintances

Avoid tight fitting clothes. No make up stuff. Perfumes are acceptable

Wrap them in proper boxes and gift-wraps.

Gadgets

Any celebration

Festivals

Close friends, relatives, teens, spouse

Someone who knows more about gadgets than you.

Give only educational gadgets to a young child.

A large tied in net with an attractive ribbon is perfect.