Gift for my European Friends- How about Hershey?
Apr 4th, 2015, 12:27 AM
#83
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You don't need to convert quantities if you have a scale pan and a measuring jug that shows both. They are commonplace in the U.K. Our digital bathroom scales have a switch so that we can weigh in kilos, pounds, or stones and pounds, which is the traditional British way.
Apr 4th, 2015, 12:04 PM
#86
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Rain is universal - as are umbrellas! The visitor's center at the Waterworks across from the Water Tower at Michigan and Pearson) used to have a nifty small umbrella with a collage of Chicago landmarks printed on it. A real conversation starter for your guests and a reminder of where you got it!
Apr 4th, 2015, 05:15 PM
#89
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I agree with those who suggested a gift from a museum shop or the Waterworks. You can get really nice tote bags or an umbrella, You don't even have to go to the museum, you can order it online, if that is more convenient
Apr 4th, 2015, 06:13 PM
#90
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According to MarketWatch, in 2014, Hershey Co. achieved 7.42 Billion in sales. That's an amazing amount of revenue, so millions and millions of people seem to like the stuff.
How can anyone smartly judge the taste buds of strangers?
If you're going to give the gift of sugar, make sure the recipient isn't diabetic. If you're going to give the gift of alcohol, make sure the recipient isn't in recovery.
Many of the suggested gifts on this thread are VERY un-sexy. There are a lot of people who love to travel who are stricken with a serious lack of imagination. Many are stricken with bad taste.
For someone I don't know, I love to give the gift of beautifully designed crystal. But a lovely flower vase or serving platter from Tiffany's won't be easy with a budget of $30-$50.
How can anyone smartly judge the taste buds of strangers?
If you're going to give the gift of sugar, make sure the recipient isn't diabetic. If you're going to give the gift of alcohol, make sure the recipient isn't in recovery.
Many of the suggested gifts on this thread are VERY un-sexy. There are a lot of people who love to travel who are stricken with a serious lack of imagination. Many are stricken with bad taste.
For someone I don't know, I love to give the gift of beautifully designed crystal. But a lovely flower vase or serving platter from Tiffany's won't be easy with a budget of $30-$50.
Apr 4th, 2015, 06:29 PM
#91
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On a personal note, I have a slight passion for artistic letter openers and antique magnifying glasses. I collect them. Several friends know this about me, and I have received amazing, hand-crafted gifts through the years from international artisans. As a woman of very refined taste, I love to open every piece of mail with an instrument of fine art. And some print is so fine, I always keep a magnifying glass near any desk I own. Something like that might fit within your budget. Don't hesitate to check Etsy.com.
Apr 4th, 2015, 08:25 PM
#92
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Just as McDonald's leads hamburger chains in sales, does not mean it is the best burger. It is among other things the best known, the most widely advertised and the most convenient. The same could be said of Hershey's.
And BTW Foodsnob, if I ever visit in Europe, I will be sure to bring you a letter opener.
And a ironically, if not a bit off track, Etsy is being accused of marketing mass produced items rather than from individual craftspeople. A lot like Hershey's and McDonald's.
And BTW Foodsnob, if I ever visit in Europe, I will be sure to bring you a letter opener.
And a ironically, if not a bit off track, Etsy is being accused of marketing mass produced items rather than from individual craftspeople. A lot like Hershey's and McDonald's.
Apr 5th, 2015, 01:04 AM
#94
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I certainly never said that Hershey's makes the best chocolate, and nor did I try to imply such a thing simply because their sales are astronomically successful. All too often on this board, certain posters take words and twist them for their own entertainment.
The OP happens to think Hershey's chocolate is special. Clearly, millions of people agree. Personally, I haven't tasted the stuff in several decades. As a proud chocolate snob, once you've had Pierre Hermé, La Maison, Viziovirtù, Teuscher, François Payard, Jacques Torres, Vosges, and many others, there is no going back to the god-awful, dreary taste of Hershey. For cooking, Lindt produces far superior results to anything made by Hershey.
And for those who are not informed, Etsy is primarily a peer-to-peer e-commerce website focused on assisting individual artisans who create fine-art craft items or sell vintage items and supplies. For many artisans who sell there, Etsy is simply a hosting site with e-commerce capability, very similar to the way VRBO hosts vacation rental owners and eBay has "stores." Factory manufacturers are permitted to purchase hosting space on Etsy and set up a store, but they are not what I was referring to when I mentioned Etsy earlier.
The OP happens to think Hershey's chocolate is special. Clearly, millions of people agree. Personally, I haven't tasted the stuff in several decades. As a proud chocolate snob, once you've had Pierre Hermé, La Maison, Viziovirtù, Teuscher, François Payard, Jacques Torres, Vosges, and many others, there is no going back to the god-awful, dreary taste of Hershey. For cooking, Lindt produces far superior results to anything made by Hershey.
And for those who are not informed, Etsy is primarily a peer-to-peer e-commerce website focused on assisting individual artisans who create fine-art craft items or sell vintage items and supplies. For many artisans who sell there, Etsy is simply a hosting site with e-commerce capability, very similar to the way VRBO hosts vacation rental owners and eBay has "stores." Factory manufacturers are permitted to purchase hosting space on Etsy and set up a store, but they are not what I was referring to when I mentioned Etsy earlier.
Apr 5th, 2015, 01:18 AM
#95
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Crystal? Flower vases? Magnifying glasses? Being reminded of my grandmother's house is "sexy"?
Just goes to show you that some people's "taste" is other people dust collector or for-the-next-garage-sale.
It is really a challenge to give just the right gift when you don't know someone -- but something to bear in mind is that most adults receiving any gift find it a bit awkward, especially if the gift is expensive, and that goes triple if the gift is not something they want on display in their house (or to eat).
Also, many people in Europe do not live in the oversized houses than many Americans who can afford to travel do. So there is not a lot of closet space to hide unwanted flower vases.
Just goes to show you that some people's "taste" is other people dust collector or for-the-next-garage-sale.
It is really a challenge to give just the right gift when you don't know someone -- but something to bear in mind is that most adults receiving any gift find it a bit awkward, especially if the gift is expensive, and that goes triple if the gift is not something they want on display in their house (or to eat).
Also, many people in Europe do not live in the oversized houses than many Americans who can afford to travel do. So there is not a lot of closet space to hide unwanted flower vases.
Apr 5th, 2015, 01:34 AM
#96
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As a European, I will say what I would like to receive as a gift from America:
- Certainly NOT Hershey's. It is much worse than European chocolate.
- Native American artifacts, e.g. a dreamcatcher, a sandpaiting or whatever the Natives produce in your region (consider "region" very generously).
- Traditional handmade artifacts from your region, e.g. a quilt or something like that. Select a piece that is not too eccentric or kitschy. The gift stores of museums in your area are full of such things.
- Oven mitts or coasters from your region with nice design.
- Special food products or spices from your region, e.g. maple syrup from the northeast or chile from the southwest.
- T-shirts or sweatshirt with regional motives. Why not one with the logo of your local college?
- Certainly NOT Hershey's. It is much worse than European chocolate.
- Native American artifacts, e.g. a dreamcatcher, a sandpaiting or whatever the Natives produce in your region (consider "region" very generously).
- Traditional handmade artifacts from your region, e.g. a quilt or something like that. Select a piece that is not too eccentric or kitschy. The gift stores of museums in your area are full of such things.
- Oven mitts or coasters from your region with nice design.
- Special food products or spices from your region, e.g. maple syrup from the northeast or chile from the southwest.
- T-shirts or sweatshirt with regional motives. Why not one with the logo of your local college?
Apr 5th, 2015, 02:13 AM
#97
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<i><font color=#555555>"Being reminded of my grandmother's house is "sexy"?"</font></i>
If your grandmother wasn't sexy and she had bad taste, then why would anyone want to be reminded of that?
<i><font color=#555555>"Just goes to show you that some people's "taste" is other people dust collector or for-the-next-garage-sale."</font></i>
I've never seen a garage sale in Europe. The concept sounds very middle America to me. If the recipient of your gift does not have a housekeeper, then perhaps any "beauty" item intended to sit out will eventually collect dust. If she's a lazy slob, then perhaps stick to a food gift. By all means don't buy her anything brass or silver.
Btw, my sexy grandmother's collectibles did quite well at auction. They fetched far more money then she spent for them. Not a bad investment at all.
<i><font color=#555555>"something to bear in mind is that most adults receiving any gift find it a bit awkward, especially if the gift is expensive"</font></i>
Most people with manners, who weren't brought up by wolves, don't stand there and force someone to open a gift while you stare and analyze their reaction. I love to give and receive gifts. I always have. And why should a woman feel awkward receiving something expensive? Is she not worth it? Does she suffer from low self-esteem?
And if someone is not thrilled with my gift, I NEVER take it personally, and I'm happy to take it back and try again. Sometimes, you can't always score a 100% win with every good deed. Sometimes, you get punished.
<i><font color=#555555>"So there is not a lot of closet space to hide unwanted flower vases.</font></i>
I store them under the kitchen sink. I take them with me when I travel, because I love fresh flowers in every room. If I really don't like them, I leave them behind. Easy and very useful.
Negative thinkers are rarely gifted.
If your grandmother wasn't sexy and she had bad taste, then why would anyone want to be reminded of that?
<i><font color=#555555>"Just goes to show you that some people's "taste" is other people dust collector or for-the-next-garage-sale."</font></i>
I've never seen a garage sale in Europe. The concept sounds very middle America to me. If the recipient of your gift does not have a housekeeper, then perhaps any "beauty" item intended to sit out will eventually collect dust. If she's a lazy slob, then perhaps stick to a food gift. By all means don't buy her anything brass or silver.
Btw, my sexy grandmother's collectibles did quite well at auction. They fetched far more money then she spent for them. Not a bad investment at all.
<i><font color=#555555>"something to bear in mind is that most adults receiving any gift find it a bit awkward, especially if the gift is expensive"</font></i>
Most people with manners, who weren't brought up by wolves, don't stand there and force someone to open a gift while you stare and analyze their reaction. I love to give and receive gifts. I always have. And why should a woman feel awkward receiving something expensive? Is she not worth it? Does she suffer from low self-esteem?
And if someone is not thrilled with my gift, I NEVER take it personally, and I'm happy to take it back and try again. Sometimes, you can't always score a 100% win with every good deed. Sometimes, you get punished.
<i><font color=#555555>"So there is not a lot of closet space to hide unwanted flower vases.</font></i>
I store them under the kitchen sink. I take them with me when I travel, because I love fresh flowers in every room. If I really don't like them, I leave them behind. Easy and very useful.
Negative thinkers are rarely gifted.
Apr 5th, 2015, 02:46 AM
#98
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At least nobody is suggesting cake mixes ;-)
I remember being given a box of birthday cards from an American museum. They were wonderful for those, "Help, I forgot to get a card for X" moments. Decorative and disposable. The shopping bag idea is good too.
The British equivalent of a garage sale is a car-boot sale where you drive into a field and sell things from the back of your car.
I remember being given a box of birthday cards from an American museum. They were wonderful for those, "Help, I forgot to get a card for X" moments. Decorative and disposable. The shopping bag idea is good too.
The British equivalent of a garage sale is a car-boot sale where you drive into a field and sell things from the back of your car.
