Gift Registry - To Have Or Have Not

by Billie Ann Woo 

Although not everyone encounters one, it’s important to understand how a gift registry works. Not all gift registries are for weddings, we encourage their use as a personal wish list or to gather ideas for gifts for others. A registry is a list of items requested, this eliminates the “what should I get?” question but also provides gift givers a peek into the receiver’s tastes.

For those creating a registry, resist the temptation to add the entire store on your list! As fun as it is, curate the items thoughtfully and take into consideration a few points:

What do you need now?

Only have one plate in your cupboard? Maybe this is the time to add a few more to your set. Consider the items you use every day that you would like to add to/upgrade or small appliances that are nearing their end and will need to be replaced.

Ideas: Dinnerware, small appliances 

What will you need in the future?

This is where the “entertaining” part comes in. It’s almost cliché, but for those starting a family you may want to consider the idea that one day YOU will be hosting a Thanksgiving or holiday dinner! Or the soccer team, ballet class, birthday party….

Ideas:  Additional sets of cutlery and glasses, linens, serveware

Encompass a range of budgets.

Not everyone can afford to gift you a Kitchen Aid mixer or Dualit toaster, so make sure to include gifts for a range of budgets. Certainly include the bigger ticket items you’d love to have, but round out your list with smaller items. This also allows for gifters to mix and match items.

Ideas: Tools and gadgets, gift cards

For those buying from a registry, the options are not exclusive to the list. If you’re not sure where to start, here are a few points to help you: (it’s what they want)

Mix and match

Any gifts purchased from a registry will be gratefully and appreciatively received – so it’s not a big deal if you choose a pepper mill and four napkins, it’s what they requested!

It’s All In The Family

If the registry has ‘trends’ – let’s say a loyalty to Lodge cookware or Wusthof knives, consider branching out into those lines to choose something off the registry. We’ll do our best at CTKB to do some investigating for you, but if all their requested cutlery is of Henckels’ Jessica design, they’d probably welcome additional items from the line.

Exchange Policies

Most registries have very flexible exchange policies. CTKB’s policy is extended for registry gifts to 30 days so if the recipient has received too many toasters (hey, it happens) we’ll make sure that no one gets burned in the end (and over-purchasing on a CTKB registry isn’t a bad thing – it will still qualify for the 10%-back gift card).

CTKB kicks in a little extra too. The recipients get a gift card worth 10% of the total amount of good purchased off the registry! Another bonus from buying off the registry is that the good purchased have an extended exchange policy (30 days) over non-registered items.  

Want to start a CTKB registry? It’s easy, online and more accessible than ever!

Check out: http://callthekettleblack.com/gift-registry

Create an account and set up a registry.

Start adding items to your registry!

Once you’re doing, invite guests to view your registry. Guests have up until 30 days after the event to purchase gifts to qualify for registry perks.

For more information, visit your local CTKB!