Let’s be honest, for plenty of men, buying a gift for their mate often falls to the bottom of their priority list. Sometimes it’s due to a lack of planning, and other times it might be down to feeling a tad awkward about gifting something meaningful. But is this the case for everyone? And how do all the dads, brothers, boyfriends, and best mates out there really feel about receiving a thoughtful gift?
Well, with International Men’s Day coming up on 18th November, we thought it was the perfect time to dig a little bit deeper and uncover the kinds of gifts men really love.
While you’ll have to dive into the below insights to find out, here’s a little spoiler: it appears men appreciate gift-giving way more than you might think!
Do men shop for their male friends?
There seems to be a bit of a stereotype floating around that men aren’t exactly pros at picking out thoughtful gifts, especially when it comes to their mates. And honestly, while this might be somewhat true (remember that time your brother completely forgot your birthday, twice?) it turns out there’s more to the story.
When we asked about how often men shop for their mates, we found that 14% always pick up a card and a gift, with 9% shopping for milestone occasions in particular, like 21st and 30th birthdays.
7% always grab a gift for bigger life events like weddings and engagements, while 10% did admit to some last-minute tendencies, revealing that they only shop when they remember. Finally, 41% said that they do buy gifts for friends, but it’s admittedly more of an occasional thing.
So, while some men are still prone to a bit of sporadic last-minute shopping, it’s clear that others are way more thoughtful than they’re given credit for.
How men really feel about gifting
Over half of our participants (59%) said that they feel happy and comfortable with the idea of gifting something to a pal, with 19% feeling like it’s a wholesome thing to do.
Only 7% said they’d feel embarrassed, with even fewer (3%) revealing that they’d feel uncomfortable. Another 4% also said that they’d prefer an in-person celebration over giving a gift!
When it comes to receiving gifts, the story is similar. Most men (41%) said that receiving a thoughtful present would make them happy, with a further 38% saying they’d feel super appreciated.
While 3% said that they’ve mutually agreed with their mates to do away with gifting altogether, overall, the message is pretty clear: men enjoy being thought of when it comes to cards and gifts just as much as anyone else!
What gifts men actually want
Now it’s time for the big question, what gifts do men really want? Well, plenty of our participants (27%) love a good tech gadget, while 23% said that experience gifts are their favourite thing to receive. 22% prefer something personal and meaningful, showing the importance of putting plenty of thought into gift-giving.
Alcohol and clothing cropped up as well (20% and 19%), plus fragrances and gifts related to hobbies (13% and 15%). And in case you’re wondering, yes, flowers even made the cut, with 6% of men revealing they’d love to receive an unexpected flower gift. When’s the last time you bought a man in your life a bunch of flowers? Never? Well, it might be time to change that!
It’s not all about materialistic things either, with 13% mentioning the importance of spending time with loved ones, and 16% putting days out with friends at the top of their wish lists. For many, it’s clear that connection and shared experiences matter way more than having something physical to unwrap.
Final thoughts…
Whether it’s your dad’s birthday, your best mate’s wedding, or just a random Monday when you feel like cheering someone up, a thoughtful gift (and card, obviously) can go a long way in showing you care. And by the looks of things, it appears that the men in your life will appreciate it more than you might think!
Stuck for ideas on what to get? Don’t worry, we’ve got a bunch of options for you to explore right here at thortful. Our gifts for him range is filled with everything from beer and snacks to fun-filled experience days. So, whatever he’s into, you’ll be able to pick out something to make him smile!
And don’t forget to check out some of our wonderful cards while you’re here too, including our birthday cards for him and anniversary cards for him. From cheeky to funny and sentimental designs, they’re the perfect finishing touch to any thoughtful gift.
