Think outside the (gift)box

Opportunity: A tasty mix of Status Skills in the large pot of Hobby Economics with a pinch of Holiday Season herbs

Last week, while making a list with gift ideas for friends and family it occurred to me that it would be much more fun and much more appreciated if, instead of just buying a lot of useless stuff, I would make the gifts myself. The problem is I’m not too skilled at knitting, nor at pottery making and I’m really clueless about homemade candles.

And guess what, so are 99% of all the people who will be buying Christmas gifts this year. So why not offer them an option? There is a surprising number of people who would try out the services of a business that would offer courses on topics ranging from cooking and knitting to pottery and small carpentry. The purpose could be creating gifts for loved ones or just developing skills.

Trendwatching noticed last year that in many mature consumer societies in which owning status symbols was emphasized, consumers have started to value creativity, and thus become interested in mastering “STATUS SKILLS”. It certainly is a facet of what Seth Godin calls “Hobby Economy” : “More and more people are spending more and more time (and money) on pursuits that have no pay off other than satisfaction.”

There are quite a few start-ups that sell status skills online, like Instructables or wikiHow where one can learn how to create lots of useful or less useful things.

If we add to this trend, the Buy Nothing Christmas or Do-It-Yourself Gifts ones we have a niche for our business. Whether it’s an online start-up or an actual place where you can go, choose a course and receive the appropriate materials as well as the knowledge to transform them in something that can be offered as a gift, it would be a whole new way of shopping for Christmas (or any other anniversary that requires a gift). And I would gladly give them my money instead of spending it at the mall on sweaters or scarves.

What about you? What would you like to make as a gift for your loved ones?

Written by Anca Dragusin


2 Responses to “Think outside the (gift)box”

  1. Steve Says:
    December 20th, 2007 at 11:06 pm

    interesting idea. I didn’t do too well with the glue and sparkle paint in pre-school. Is there a remedial course?

  2. Anca Dragusin Says:
    December 21st, 2007 at 2:45 pm

    Maybe a course on creating Christmas Tree ornaments from old cd’s or cassettes, or any other reusable stuff. :)

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