How bespoke gift curation actually works at Sunset Badger

The gift curation service at Sunset Badger started because people kept emailing to ask for recommendations and Helen found herself writing the same kind of reply: a few questions about the person, a shortlist of options, a suggestion about how to combine things. At some point it made sense to formalise it. Here's how it works now.

What to include in your first email ¶

The more specific you can be, the more useful the shortlist will be. Useful information includes: the person's rough age and whether they live alone or with others, whether they tend toward the practical or the decorative, any materials or scents they dislike, and your budget. You don't need all of this. Even a budget and 'she likes things for the kitchen' is enough to work with.

What doesn't help much: 'she likes nice things' or 'he's hard to buy for'. Helen will ask follow-up questions if the brief is very open, but a little specificity upfront saves a round of emails.

The shortlist and how to respond to it ¶

Helen will reply within one business day with a shortlist of three to five items from the current stock. The shortlist includes a brief note on each item explaining why it fits the brief, and a suggested total if you want to combine more than one thing. You can take the whole shortlist, pick one item, or ask for alternatives. There's no pressure to commit to the first suggestion.

If something on the shortlist sells out between the email and your reply, Helen will flag it and suggest a substitute. Stock moves quickly on some items, so it's worth responding within a day or two if you see something you want.

Packing and dispatch ¶

Once you confirm, Helen packs the order within two to three working days. Gift orders go out in a kraft box with tissue, a wax-sealed ribbon, and a handwritten note with whatever message you'd like included. The gift wrapping is included in the curation service. There's no separate charge on top of the ¥570.50 gift wrap fee that applies to standard orders.

Dispatch follows the usual Tuesday and Friday schedule. You'll get a confirmation email with tracking when the parcel leaves the studio.

If you're not sure whether a gift curation makes sense for what you need, it's worth emailing anyway. The worst outcome is a reply saying the current stock isn't quite right.