THE GO-TO

When it comes to gifting, it seems not to just be the thought that counts. Research conducted showed that 94% of people look for inspiration when buying a gift and 50% of UK adults dislike at least 1 gift they receive a year.

The gargantuan task of finding the perfect present with a personal touch has too many considerations to contend with - logistics, budget, timeline etc, so no wonder many people end up choosing a candle, socks, gift vouchers or chocolate.



The pressure of giving thoughtful presents that people will actually like is enough to suck the fun out of what is supposed to be a joyous occasion. Personally I only enjoy giving people something I know they really need, rather than endless hours lost to website scrolling to guess what they may like or want. The idea of my gift being re-gifted or put away in a draw puts me off making the initial gesture at all. I want the recipient to really really love my present.



Launched in March last year The Go-To offers a solution for identifying meaningful and unique gifts based on recipients’ lifestyles and interests. Their mission is to provide independent brands and customers with a consolidated online platform. Founded by Victoire Tardy-Joubert (ex-MatchesFashion), the Go-To is filled with ideas which have been curated by expert shoppers.

With another wedding season just around the corner, the Go-To challenges the traditional model by taking the focus away from key trading days, such as Christmas and Valentine’s Day, to create a year round destination.



No generic presents here, in collections such as Tech, Just Because and Personalised.

The gift edits by occasion and personality type are helpful - ‘Athlete’ and 'World Traveller' - and blog content such as the 15 best housewarming presents.

I will be browsing for my friends born at this time of the year.

By Anna Bance
January 2024