I Finally Found the Best Place to Buy Gifts My Friends Actually Want (Bonus: There’s a Sale!)

updated May 28, 2021
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I have a confession: I often end up re-gifting tons of things that would otherwise sit around collecting dust. You see, I’ve been on the receiving end of some pretty underwhelming gifts in my day. Don’t get me wrong — I’m eternally grateful for the gesture, but some gifts have made me think, “Do you even know me at all?” Admittedly, I’ve been told I’m a very difficult person to shop for even by those who know me well. It could be because I always buy what’s on my wish list before others know what I want, or maybe I haven’t dropped enough hints about my candle obsession

That all changed recently when an old college friend, who never fails to mail me something for my birthday, sent me a gift box from Lockwood Shop. It was unlike any I had ever received before. This curated gift box had a selection of assorted self-care items that were each special and unique, and I couldn’t wait to dive in. Inside, I found a 2-oz. tin candle, a beautiful canvas journal, two lavender aromatherapy shower bombs, a charcoal face mask, and champagne-flavored gummy bears. As I unboxed item after item, I thought, “It’s like he really knows me.” Finally!

I hadn’t heard of Lockwood Shop before, so I immediately went onto their website to find out what this quirky and cool retailer was all about. I found a world of decor, trinkets, and meaningful mementos that I wish I’d known about sooner. The New York City-based shop prides itself on sourcing unique decor, stationery, clothing, kid’s gifts, and affordable lifestyle goods created by local makers and underground brands. And when it comes to gifting, Lockwood Shop’s selection is second to none. Whether you want to remind your bestie that she’s as good as gold on her birthday or congratulate a new mom, Lockwood’s got a gift for literally everybody.

But what about those times where you just don’t know what to get? Well, that’s where Lockwood Shop really comes through in the clutch. The “create your own bundle” option takes the onus off of you to find the perfect gift. Just take a brief quiz about the person you’re shopping for (how well you know them, what their interests are, etc.), enter the amount you want to spend (prices range from $50 to $250), and voila! Lockwood will build a curated gift box based on your responses.

Lucky for us, Lockwood is offering 15 percent off their tried-and-true gifts today through May 31. All you have to do is use code SUMMERTIME at checkout. With so many gifting-focused holidays around the corner (hello, dads and grads!) do yourself the favor of taking the guesswork out of shopping — and save someone I love the hassle of re-gifting …