Gifts That Will Wow the Receiver, and What They Say About the Giver

Unless you are socially inept, the wow-factor is what you’re looking for when you give your holiday gifts. That perfect present that makes the recipient pause and say, “Wow!”

But with a cornucopia of choices—including a seemingly endless stream of online offers — you need to consider what your gift is saying about you when it’s unwrapped.

The right gift, as consumer behavior expert Kit Yarrow has written, “can enhance connections between people.” A terrible one? Well, we’ve all had to smile graciously, while mentally distancing ourselves from someone who’s present screamed, “Clueless.”

Here’s what your “wow” gifts say about you:

While some women might be thrilled to receive a huge bottle of expensive perfume, others might interpret such an “easy” present the same way one New York writer did when her now ex-boyfriend gifted her after she spent weeks hunting down the perfect briefcase for him: “It just seemed like something he picked up at the airport duty-free store.” Ouch.

•    My taste is flawless. Few things showcase a person’s status like a good watch, and these beauties from Swiss watchmaker Baume & Mercier (www.baume-et-mercier.com) make almost anyone look like a success. For women, the Promesse collection includes an elegant model with a black mother-of-pearl face, punctuated by Roman numerals and 69 well-placed diamonds, with a glossy alligator strap that’s thicker than a foreign empress’ accent.

“It really makes quite a statement,” says Lauren Dimet Waters of Second City Style.

For men, the gold Clifton 10058 — no diamonds adorn this one, but another thick strap — strikes a perfect balance between classic and modern. You can shop both watches at the Baume & Mercier e-boutique or by calling 1-800-MERCIER, where free wrapping and free engraving are available. Watch this video here…  http://youtu.be/IR1a-rMKwXM.

•    I understand your passions. While an Italian roadster may be out of the question for most of us, there is a whole social marketing industry that offers gift certificates for “experiences,” such as a few hours behind the wheel of exotic autos. Too Le Mans for you? There’s also tandem skydiving and whitewater rafting.

•    I’m cooler than you think. If you’re kids roll their eyes, and accuse you of being stuck listening to ’70s music, buy them tickets to the hottest concert in town (Hint: Britney Spears is out. One Direction and 5 Seconds of Summer are in.)

One caveat: If you’re thinking of contributing to a charity in someone else’s name, make sure it’s a cause they believe in as much as you do. Otherwise, the message you may be (unwittingly) sending is, “Enough About You, It’s All About Me.”

#Appreciation #People #Shopping

Personal Style Exploration With Creative Home Decorating Tips From an Artist

Decorating can be one of the most exciting times during your experience as a homeowner. Not only are you creating the essence of your home, you are also adding your very own personal touch and style.

One of the easiest ways to add unique spice to an ordinarily drab room—incorporate exceptional artwork .

“Many of my clients are simply amazed at how effective a colorful painting can be at bringing new life to a room that has become tired,” says Matthew Johnston, an artist known for his vibrant Tall Tulips paintings (talltulips.com).

However, as easy as it sounds, purchasing and hanging a painting on the center of the wall isn’t going to cut it in most cases. Johnston offers his advice to ensure your next painting purchases work with your room rather than against it:

Large High-Traffic Rooms

For family rooms, living rooms and rooms off the kitchen, Johnston recommends figurative diptych paintings to create a story within each area. Diptych paintings consists of two separate panels that hang together and work as one.

“In my figurative diptych paintings, each figure has their own physical space, yet they are a couple,” says Johnston. “Their face is cropped, and viewers can imagine themselves as being in the painting. The viewer has to look to other parts of the painting to imagine a story … each individual person can create a different story for the painting.”

Awkward Wall Spaces

For stairways, long hallways and between windows, Johnston recommends using a tall, narrow painting, like his Tall Tulips.

“They are perfect for hanging up a staircase,” says Johnston. “You can hang the tall tulips at different heights following the risers up the stairs; a great look for a difficult space.”

This style of painting also works well because they are bright and don’t require ideal lighting.

Focal Wall Areas

Spaces like the area over a fireplace will get a lot of attention from passersby. Hanging your prized piece is the perfect step for these spots.

“Many of my clients choose my large floral paintings,” says Johnston. “Oftentimes, they will hang these on a wall which faces the front door … to make an impression when first walking into the home.”

To learn more about Matthew Johnston and his work, visit www.talltulips.com.

#CreativeDIY #CreativeHomeImprovement #Design

Preparing 21st Century Enterprises for Success in the Digital Age

It is no longer a brave new world for businesses. The digital age is here, and if experts are to be believed, businesses that have not already embraced this opportunity, risk joining those companies that refuse to adapt, and consequently are rapidly losing customers and revenue.

Consider this: according to the statistical website multpl.com, during 2015, S&P 500 companies as a group lost 3 percent in sales and 15 percent in earnings. At the same time, “Unicorn” private sectors companies, which are valued at more than $1 billion, including organizations such as Uber and Airbnb, are transforming the global business landscape in the digital age and quickly stepping over the old guard.

So what do the likes of Snapchat and Pinterest have that other companies do not? According to HCL Technologies, a leading global IT services company, technology is at the core of these forward-looking enterprises and there are four distinct characteristics that these companies embrace:

1. Experience-Centric. These companies strive to offer the consumers a unified experience.

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Service-Oriented. These companies change the operating model to focus on customer experience.

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Agile & Lean. These companies optimize their size for fast-paced maneuvers.

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Ecosystem-Driven. These companies collaborate to extend the ecosystem beyond the enterprise.

“Going forward — with the disruptions in the business landscape due to digitalization, new age business models and technologies — the thinking of ‘business as usual’ and expecting to succeed needs a change,” cautions C. Vijay Kumar, President, Global Infrastructure Services, HCL Technologies. “An enterprise can no longer operate in isolation.”

Instead, says Kumar, an enterprise has to look at a holistic business model transformation, overhauling its business functions and operations for a unified experience. A business must hyper-focus on services and collaborate across the entire ecosystem for success.

While there is no blueprint for success, Kumar believes HCL can help guide companies through digital transformation and ultimately be successful through 3rd-generation, IT-outsourcing partnerships. HCL defines this as Next-Gen IT & Operations, and is uniquely positioned to offer integrated transformation services across applications and infrastructure, while adding the unique elements of hybrid cloud and DryICE, HCL’s 3rd-generation automation platform.

C. Vijay Kumar adds that key elements of HCL’s differentiation include “Digital Infrastructure Transformation that leverages our capability in implementing Software-defined Infrastructure Stack, Hybrid Cloud Solutions, Unified Communications and Modern workplace solutions.” HCL’s DryICE automation encompasses 30-plus components, including some of the traditional automation solutions and orchestration, machine learning and cognitive solutions.

This is a modular approach, enabling enterprises to be lean and agile, and has been implemented across all of HCL’s top customers while gaining significant traction among new customers.HCL’s Next-Gen IT&O approach adds significant value in making enterprises agile and lean for the digital age.

#Digital