Some people are easy to shop for — they’ve already told you exactly what they want, sometimes months in advance. Others aren’t wired that way. They chase new hobbies, new flavours, new experiences, and hitting them with another predictable gift feels almost like an insult to how they live.
For that second kind of person, the fix isn’t a bigger budget. It’s a different question entirely.
Stop Asking What They Need. Ask What They Haven’t Tried.
People who love novelty respond better to curiosity than utility. Instead of “what item do they need,” try:
- What new activity might actually pull them in?
- Is there something they’d enjoy more with friends around?
- A food or drink they’ve never had?
- Something that nudges them toward a new hobby?
- Will they still be talking about it a week later?
That shift alone tends to produce better gifts than any amount of extra research.
1. Lean Into a New Skill
A hobby-adjacent gift works because it gives someone something to do, not just something to own. A skill-based game, a cooking kit, a creative activity — anything that rewards a bit of practice.
People who get bored with ordinary gifts tend to respond well here, because the gift keeps giving them something to improve at, long after the wrapping paper’s gone.
2. Make It Something to Share
Novelty hits harder with company. Games, a tasting experience, a cooking kit for two, snacks built for a movie night, drinks meant for a small celebration — none of it needs to be enjoyed solo.
The recipient gets to be the one who introduces something new to their friends, which is its own kind of gift.
3. Champagne and Chocolate, for the Person Who Likes Pairing Flavors
Food and drink is an easy entry point into “something new.” Champagne and chocolate work particularly well together — different textures, contrasting flavours, and a curated set turns what would be an ordinary bottle into something closer to a tasting experience.
It suits someone who enjoys discovering unexpected combinations, or anyone who likes turning a regular evening into a small celebration for no real reason. Birthdays, anniversaries, congratulations, holiday gatherings — all fair game.
Explore gift combinations if that sounds like the kind of person you’re buying for.
4. Pick Something They’d Never Buy Themselves
Not random — just outside their usual pattern. An adventurous person might want a new activity. Someone food-curious might want an unfamiliar flavor profile.
Before deciding, ask:
- Have they tried something like this before?
- Would it actually push them to explore, or just sit there?
- Can they enjoy it more than once?
- Does it fit who they actually are?
- Could this turn into a new favorite?
Those five questions cut the guesswork down fast.
5. Prosecco, for Someone Who Likes Sparkling Wine Without the Weight
La Marca Prosecco tends to suit people who want to explore sparkling wine without committing to something heavier. Paired with chocolates, gourmet treats, glasses, or a personalized touch, it reads as more considered than a bottle grabbed off a shelf.
Works for birthdays, celebrations, weddings, anniversaries — or just surprising someone who enjoys discovering new tastes without much prompting.
Find gifts for their next celebration if sparkling wine fits the person you have in mind.
6. Aim for a Moment, Not Permanence
A gift doesn’t need to last years to matter. A box of treats becomes part of a movie night. A new game turns into an evening with friends. A bottle of something sparkling ends up folded into a birthday dinner nobody planned to make special.
The real question worth asking: what will this person actually do after they unwrap it? If the answer involves tasting, playing, learning, or celebrating, you’re probably ahead of whatever sits quietly on a shelf.
7. Blend Practical With a Little Unexpected
Not every gift has to be wildly novel. A useful accessory paired with something hobby-related. Gourmet treats alongside a drink. A game plus snacks for the night it’s meant for. Balance beats going all-in on strange.
8. When You Can’t Guess Right, Browse Wider
Different people want different things — one leans creative, another leans social, another just wants good food and a good drink. When you’re not confident about the exact match, comparing across styles beats guessing at one.
Browse for different occasions to weigh options side by side before settling on something.
A Simple Way to Land on the Right Gift
Think about their personality. Adventurous, creative, social, competitive, quietly curious — it shapes everything else.
Look at what they already enjoy. Current hobbies usually hint at what they’d want to try next.
Find something with an experience attached. Tasted, played, learned, shared — anything beats “displayed.”
Factor in the occasion. A birthday can afford to be playful; a wedding or anniversary leans more celebratory.
Add a personal detail. A short note does more work than people expect.
Why Novelty Makes a Gift Stick
There’s something genuinely exciting about discovering a new favourite — a game that becomes a weekend habit, a flavour combination that turns into a standing order, a sparkling wine that ends up at every future celebration.
That sense of discovery is the whole difference. You’re not handing over another predictable item. You’re handing over a reason to try something.
Final Thoughts
Shopping for someone who loves trying new things doesn’t need to be complicated. Start with their personality, think about the kinds of experiences they gravitate toward, and look for a gift that lets them taste, play, learn, or share something new.
The gift that lands best usually isn’t the one they expected. It’s the one that introduces them to something they didn’t know they’d like — and that small surprise is what actually makes it memorable.
