Mr Gift blog

The unusual name behind German pen brand, ‘e+m’ derives from two words: Ehmann + Mümmler. Ehmann founded e+m in 1899 (it was known as Turnery Ehmann back then) and Mümmler is the current CEO and owner of the e+m brand today.

 Prior to World War II, Ehmann’s company became the largest manufacturer of nib penholders in Germany. Sadly, production was abandoned during the war, with only a few models produced after the war ended. The war resulted in a movement towards technical wood turnings, which e+m continued to focus on and produce after the war.

A desire “to keep the old traditions of classical manufacturing alive and to transform them into the modern production process” motivated Wolfram Mümmler (fourth generation of the founding family) to restart production of these unique writing instruments in 1983. Wooden pens, mechanical pencils, clutch pencils and other office accessories were developed and are now the major product lines. Once again, e+m have firmly established their place as a leading manufacturer of quality writing instruments not just in Germany, but also internationally.

Why we love e+m:
e+m’s high quality products are like an unforgettable dining experience from a five-star restaurant, where only the finest quality ingredients are used. As one customer recently pointed out to us, the thick wooden shaft of e+m writing instruments are beautifully balanced and ideal for people with arthritis or limited movement in their hands and fingers. e+m’s timeless design is unlike anything we’ve come across and we’re confident that e+m’s writing instruments are gifts that will be treasured for many years to come. It’s refreshing to see a return to simple, traditional writing implements in a world dominated by computers, tablets and mobile phones.

BUY NOW and receive FREE DELIVERY on any e+m product purchased before 5pm Thurs 8 November 2012. Simply enter coupon code E+M when you place your order.

It’s fair to say that most women enjoy shopping for clothes, shoes and accessories (some a little too much!). Women seem to have it made when it comes to reinvigorating their wardrobe and buying new clothes. They have the support of fellow female friends to debate whether or not they can pull of the neon trend, as well as a plethora of magazines dedicated to the latest fashion looks clamouring for their attention.

But what about men? Sure, there are some great men’s mags out there, but you’d sooner see your average bloke at the pub discussing which cleaning products he prefers before deliberating what he should wear to his next business function with his mates. So how do men with an untrained eye put together a wardrobe that works? Enter stylist and personal shopping expert, Sally Mackinnon, founder of Styled by Sally. Sally has over 5 years’ experience working as a full time personal stylist in Melbourne. 

Sally Mackinnon – style guru and founder of Styled by Sally

Mr Gift is proud to have partnered with Sally to offer a personal shopping and styling gift voucher for guys that need a wardrobe shake up. Whether you’re a guy about to embark on a new career and need to sharpen your look, or a dad whose wardrobe needs a bit of TLC, Sally can offer a wealth of advice on outfits to suit your body type, occupation and budget in a fun, non-intimidating environment. You can read more about Sally’s service and BUY GIFT VOUCHERS here.

We had a chat with Sally about what it takes to be a top stylist and learned how her personal shopping and styling service helps her clients, especially guys. Sally also shared some of her top style tips for men this season…

Mr Gift: How did you get in to styling and what qualities do you need to be a stylist?

Sally: After working in Education for 13 years I needed a career change. I decided to follow my passion for fashion and my innate knowledge of style and what suits the body. I took the plunge, registered my business name and embarked on an extensive advertising campaign directed at my target market. So for about 18 months I ‘moonlighted’ as a stylist before building the business to the point that I could resign from my day job…and the rest is history! There are a lot of really imperative qualities you need to be a good stylist, the most important being a good listener. If you don’t listen to your clients’ needs, then you’ll have a dissatisfied client. Also, well organized; most stylists work for themselves, so it’s up to you to do everything, from booking appointments, invoicing, chasing payments, returning emails and phone calls, social media (Twitter/Facebook) and of course preparing for (and following up) the day’s client. This is a very personal job, so you have to be very personable; every day you work with a new client with different needs. You won’t get anywhere as a Personal Stylist if you can’t relate to people on their level.

Mr Gift: When we think of styling we often think of women’s fashion. However, men can also get value from the assistance of a stylist. What benefits can men expect from your styling services?

Sally: Just like women, men too can find shopping stressful and the amount of choices confusing. Men can benefit from a personal stylist in exactly the same way women do. Men can learn what cuts and styles flatter their shape. Although the variety for men is less, men can still get it wrong. I can show a male client how to dress for his proportions so that the clothing he wears creates the right impression. I show men how to update their look and how to put outfits together for a variety of purposes from the corporate office to a first date.
Men are usually pretty matter of fact when it comes to style and shopping, and want decisions made quickly. So my male clients love the efficiency of the Personal Shopping service. In 2-3 hours they’re in and out with all purchases made and their wardrobe sorted until the next season.

Sally’s top tips: “Guys, don’t forget about your shoes!” and “Have some fun with colour” this season.

Mr Gift: What’s the key thing men should focus on when putting together an outfit for themselves?

Sally: Guys, don’t forget about your shoes! Shoes really do make or break an outfit. The most expensive suit can be ruined with the wrong shoes – an out-dated style, scuffed or dirty shoes, or just the wrong style for the outfit. Dress in clothing that flatters your frame. If you’re still wearing oversized shirts and baggy jeans, it’s time to update! Modern cuts of clothing flatter a man’s physique so much better than the shapeless, oversized styles of the 80s and 90s.

Mr Gift: What’s your top style tip for men this season?

Sally: Have some fun with colour. Try a coloured jean or chino instead of the usual blue denim this Spring/Summer. A coloured pant will still work with most men’s shirts, as a navy, light blue, red, grey, white or black shirt are most commonly found in their wardrobes. Avoid wearing coloured jeans with black shoes though; a brown or tan leather shoe is a better choice or otherwise a casual trainer for a relaxed look.

Mr Gift: What’s the best gift you have:
A) ever bought someone?

Sally: I bought my husband a vegetarian cooking course for Christmas.

B) ever received?

Sally: My engagement ring

My first encounter with KeepCup was when a thoughtful workmate purchased one for me after raving about hers for weeks. I was sceptical at first – surely this was just another cup to wash up? But once I started using it I was hooked. The sealable lid is obviously a key advantage. I could walk to work with my morning coffee without worrying about any spillages, and being the world’s slowest coffee drinker, my coffee stayed hot for ages. I have had my trusty KeepCup for over a year now and faithfully use it every day. It still looks as great as the day I first received it, despite countless spins in the dishwasher and microwave. I also get a kick thinking about how many disposable coffee cups I have saved from landfill over the last year.

Did you know that most disposable coffee cups are actually not recyclable? The waterproof coating made from synthetic latex and wax or polyethylene found in many disposable cups limits the recycling process. Here are some other facts about disposable coffee cups that you might not know:

Annually, disposable coffee cups account for the following worldwide:
• 4.5 million tonnes of landfill
• 54 million felled trees
• 340 million gigajoules of energy (enough to power five million homes for a year)

With confronting facts like these, it’s hard to ignore the benefits of a reusable coffee cup like the KeepCup. KeepCups are designed with the environment, consumer and baristas in mind. The KeepCup is the first barista-standard reusable coffee cup and speciality coffee roasters, Campos Coffee say, “We strongly believe this is the Coffee Product of the Year. The first Barista Standard, Australian reusable cup for takeaways. Affordable and environmental – this year, we hope to sell 10,000 of these cups to cut down on an estimated 4.65 tonnes of landfill. We are receiving excellent feedback on all fronts.”

Here are the main reasons why you need a KeepCup:
1. They are non-toxic, manufactured from polypropylene #5 – the safest food grade plastic, which is BPA Free.
2. Say goodbye to leaking coffee cups – KeepCups have a sealable lid and plug for sipper hole
3. Lid on or off, the thoughtfully designed shape is a pleasure to drink from
4. They are lightweight and stackable
5. Easy care – they are dishwasher and microwave safe
6. Perfect for travelling – fits in car cup holders
7. Perfectly sized – designed to fit under the group heads of most espresso machines.

What is the KeepCup silicone band for?
Each KeepCup has a thermal silicone band with coffee preferences debossed on it. A permanent marker can be used to mark your coffee preference for your barista.

Tip: Use a gold or silver pen to mark darker coloured bands. 
Once you’ve tried a KeepCup you’ll never want to drink out of a disposable coffee cup again!

Take advantage of our introductory multi purchase offer: 2 KeepCups for $25 (or $14.95ea), in addition to our Brand of the Week Offer.

BUY NOW and receive FREE DELIVERY on any KeepCups purchased before
5pm Fri 1 June 2012. Simply enter code KEEPCUP when you place your order.

A childhood fascination with watches has become a full-time career for jewellery designer Robin Frances. Fond childhood memories of her father bringing home interesting timepieces ignited Robin’s desire to collect watches. A curiosity about the mysterious interior of the inner mechanisms of her watches spurred Robin to remove the watch casings to investigate further. The collection of cogs, wheels and rubies dotted throughout the intricately crafted Swiss movements discovered within was like stumbling upon a Lost World. It was this discovery that motivated Robin to showcase the hidden inner beauty of her watches. 

The popularity of French cuffs inspired Robin to transform her timepieces into cufflinks, from which her brand, It’s About Time was born. The majority of watches used are vintage – from the 1920s to the 1960s.

The cufflinks are sold in pairs, so Robin has her work cut out for her trying to match the inner mechanisms of the vintage watches she sources. Sometimes pairs differ slightly (although it is often challenging to spot the difference two mechanisms). However, no two pairs are alike, which adds to the unique charm of these cufflinks, ensuring that they are really one-of-a-kind pieces.

Watchmaker inscriptions appear on most pieces and include renowned names such as: Benrus, Bulova, Gruen, Hamilton, Omega, Waltham and others.

Each set of cufflinks is impeccably presented in a lacquered wooden box and comes with a Certificate of Authenticity making them the ideal unique gift for someone that is difficult to buy for.

How are they made?
Each timepiece mechanism is set on a hinged sterling silver cufflink shank. 

Caring for your cufflinks:
To keep your cufflinks in tip-top condition, store them in their presentation box when they are not being worn to prevent dust from collecting in the fine mechanisms. Any dust that accumulates over time can be removed with a small, soft brush (such as a cosmetic brush or paint brush).

What other customers are saying:
“I love the Cufflinks and my Fiancé loved them as well. He has made several comments about cherishing them for a lifetime, as well as mentioning, it’s something he can pass down to the next generation, when that time comes.”

BUY NOW and receive FREE DELIVERY on any It’s About Time Cufflinks purchased before 5pm Fri 15 June 2012. Simply enter code TIME when you place your order.

Everyone should own a stunning timepiece and beautiful clocks make excellent gifts as they combine style with function – a great idea for someone that is hard to buy for. You can never really have too many clocks, especially since they can be used in every room of a house.

With brands like Karlsson, you are spoilt for choice when it comes to selecting a gorgeous clock. Karlsson is a Dutch brand that is renowned for “good quality, stunning graphics, aesthetic shapes and innovative design”. Karlsson’s design philosophy is brought to life by the confluence of the Karlsson design team with national and international designers.

Karlsson’s collection is updated twice a year and consists of three key collections: The “Timeless Collection”, the “Time of your Life Collection” and the “KarLSson Works Collection”. As the names suggests, the Timeless Collection consists of pieces that have a “timeless” quality to them. They are not influenced by trends and feature classic styles designed with longevity in mind. The “Time of your Life Collection” features contemporary pieces that are designed to make a statement in your home or office. Unique technical features and original design is the key focus of the “KarLSson Works Collection”.

BUY NOW and receive FREE DELIVERY on any Karlsson products purchased before
5pm Fri 8 June 2012. Simply enter code KARLSSON when you place your order.