The Palm Beach Post I SECTION E I PalmBeachPost.com I MONDAY, NOVEMBER 8, 2010
By STACI STURROCK
Palm Beach Post Fashion Editor
The thought does count (but creativity doesn’t hurt.)
A Q&A with
Sherry Thomas,
founder and CEO of
Palm Beach Etiquette:
Q: When should you take a
hostess gift to a party?
A: “For the most part, you
should not arrive empty
handed. A hostess gift is not
obligatory, but it is certainly
good etiquette.”
Q: But what if you’re on a
budget?
A: Personalize your gift.
Thomas likes to create a
customized wine label on
her computer. “Nothing
elaborate, but with the date,
venue, event, maybe their
photo” – and affix it to a nice,
but affordable, bottle of wine.
She’s also made CDs of holiday
music and slid a customized
label into the front of the
CD jewel box. “Now you’ve
created a souvenir,” she says.
Q: Would you recommend
keeping a small stockpile of gifts
ready to go at a moment’s notice?
A: ”Yes, I do that. I have
wine stoppers, little crystal
ornaments. I have a small
collection of things so I
don’t have to think too, too
much – but I always want to
personalize them with a label
or a card.”
Q&A CONTINUES
PAGE3E
Q: If you’re the hostess,
should you open the gift
immediately?
A: ”A seasoned
hostess will ask, ‘Would
you like me to open this
now or later?’ as you
would ask about-a bottle
of wine. Now the gift
giver should make clear
to the hostess if it’s a
special bottle of wine by
saying, ‘I brought this
for you to enjoy later.'”
Q: Should you send
a thank-you note for a
hostess gift?
A: ”A written thank
you for a thank-you
– is not necessary. But
a verbal thank-you is
always necessary.”