A benefit of using a DOUZO list is being able to ask for gifts from independent retailers, like the fabulous Swings & Pretty Things. Have a look at what they offer.
Jayne Bradshaw started Swings & Pretty Things for products for garden and outdoor living. Since then, the business has expanded to offer home-ware and, more recently, personal gifts.
Home-ware
The website shows a stack of pretty – and covetable – things. There are wall art stickers, funky doorstops, mugs and jugs, and more. As well as things that you can buy as-is, there are some great personalised canvases. “House rules” makes art out of up to 16 of the rules or sayings of your household. “My favourite things” puts anything and everything you hold dear onto a picture for your wall.
This addition to the Swings & Pretty Things range includes elegant purses and make-up bags, and natural soaps with ingredients that evoke warm Mediterranean hillsides. The opportunity to ask for something unique continues here with friendship bracelets and necklaces hung with your choice of charms.
Outdoors
There are chic garden accessories, from herb snips to lanterns to willow home allotments. Some of them are very practical; some are just for fun.
Pretty things indeed, but the stars of the outdoor range have to be the swings.
No matter how old we get, it’s hard to pass a swing and not think of having a go. Drift gently or power high into the air; a swing is as relaxing or exhilarating as you want it to be. Say “garden swing” and many of us will picture a traditional wooden swing, hanging on long ropes from a tree.
Swings & Pretty Things turn the garden swing into an heirloom. The swings are personalised with names, dates, or mottos. The words are hand-carved into green oak which will age beautifully and the swing is hung from high-quality, British-made rope. These are timeless additions to any outdoor space – and to any generation.
Tempted? Find out more from Swings & Pretty Things at http://www.swingsandprettythings.co.uk/
Friday is my day to round up all the links that I tweeted during the week. If you like them, why not follow me as @giftlistbuilder on Twitter?
It’s been a while but I hope you’ll find something useful in this catch-up.
Business
Encouragement to be proud of having a small business: http://t.co/AWrwJaZ
E-retail sales to surge 17% this year | Giftwarepro.com http://t.co/DWfdkbn via @Giftwarepro
Kuoni & Coco de Mer get behind a new site aimed at those who believe that life begins at 50: http://bit.ly/iJkA4b
Children
Sausage & mash cupcakes: cute nibbles and, for parents, an idea worth trying on a picky eater: http://bit.ly/mRL7uE
Tesco predicts this year’s top Christmas toys: http://bit.ly/j9xJ10
Gifts
Think about adding charity gifts to your list, such as these from @Heifer http://bit.ly/fBTZWJ or @oxfamgb http://bit.ly/j7b3Lt
And why not? Couple plan to ask for solar panels as their wedding gift: http://bit.ly/iITkDg
Social media
Think before you type. 35% of Americans have social media regrets: http://t.co/OlZWzEE
Is an app right for your business? Infographic – http://on.mash.to/irnGb2
Take note: 25 reasons why I’ll leave your website in 10 seconds | @econsultancy http://t.co/DTtOptw
New Post: 11 Analytics Metrics That Are Actionable – http://seomz.me/kwZFrL from @paddymoogan
Tips on creating a powerful About Us page – http://bit.ly/kx1GcU (by @sjtanton) (via @MarketingDonut)
Engaged people are easily influenced online, marrieds hardly, singles a bit more, ‘It’s complicated’, look out… http://su.pr/265iLH (via @SocialMedia2Day)
Great directory of how-to posts about using Facebook for business: http://bit.ly/mH1Vuw
10 Tips for Opening Your Next Blog Post http://bit.ly/jc2TRJ (via @problogger)
Nearly half of couples (48%) visit Facebook while on their #wedding honeymoon.
Tools & technology
Google ramps up speed of search – http://bbc.in/ikyoMu (via @22blueuk)
Loads of uses for this free tool that makes it easy to create “how to” tutorials with pics, video, maps etc: http://t.co/WWK2ocF
One to watch: Zapaday scans & consolidates calendar entries to make a free global events calendar: http://t.co/VmlSVij
Weddings
Are increasingly lavish stag/hen do’s putting people off? 35% ducked the party due to cost: http://t.co/ONs0lZo
Have you checked out the wedding media requests on our discussion page? http://ow.ly/5j66P (via @divamarketing)
Why not ask for help on your wedding list? 22% of guests give their time or skills instead of a traditional gift: http://t.co/Rvh4ETi
Attending a wedding costs a guest an average of £504 – rising to £953 for an overseas wedding! http://t.co/Rvh4ETi
In the last three months leading up to their #wedding, brides spend an average of 11 hours a week planning. (via @BrideTide)
We are now officially licensed for weddings and Civil ceremonies 
as well as the more unconventional ceremonies http://fb.me/zwJoyqDk (via @YurtCamp)
A cupcake stand with a difference! http://bit.ly/k1eUDh
Making wedding rings match the wearer’s personality? See this photography-mad couple’s custom-made rings: http://bit.ly/j96cjX
