With Father’s Day fast approaching we can hear the groans from here. What to buy? Dad has everything! Can I get away with socks again?

Poor old Dad. Whether it’s his first Father’s Day or his 51^st we think he deserves a bit more thought than a last minute card from the supermarket. Just think of all the times he’s been there for you over the years, with or without his wallet. Everyone loves to feel appreciated, so what better way to let him know you love him than thinking of the perfect present.

At The Great Gift Company we spend most of our waking hours sourcing unusual gifts for men, so we’ve done all the hard work for you. Even if you think you can’t possibly find him something that’ll make him smile, we know otherwise.

So what’s the excuse? We know that all these special days can make us feel under pressure to spend money, but we do think Dads get a raw deal in the present stakes. It doesn’t have to cost the earth, but we bet he’ll appreciate the gesture, and you never know it may count in your favour when you need the bank of Dad again to bail you out! Check out more ideas at www.thegreatgiftcompany.com 

Now that the sun's eventually starting to come out of hiding, how about giving him the perfect gift for £20 that will ensure his favourite Sauvignon Blanc is chilled to perfection? http://www.thegreatgiftcompany.com/misc_categories/gift_ideas/mens/corkcicle_wine_chiller.htm 

If your dad likes spending time in his garden, we have lots of ideas - everything from tool belts to BBQ aprons. Or help him keep the birds well fed with a £11 Cube Apple House http://www.thegreatgiftcompany.com/misc_categories/gift_ideas/mens/cube_apple_house.htm 

Books are always a favourite and we have a great selection of unusual books - even some that he might acutally read! A best-seller is 1001 Battles http://www.thegreatgiftcompany.com/misc_categories/gift_ideas/boys_8-16/1001_battles.htm which has 965 pages of fascinating information on battles through the ages.

Who's the most handsome daddy in the world? For a meagre £10 you can let him know that, to you, he is worthy of that title http://www.thegreatgiftcompany.com/misc_categories/gift_ideas/mens/devilishly_handsome_mug.htm or brighten up his mornings with the My Dad Is A Superhero Sppon for £16 http://www.thegreatgiftcompany.com/misc_categories/gift_ideas/mens/my_dad_is_a_superhero_spoon.htm

We were thrilled to get our post today. In it was a letter notifying us that we have reached the finals of The Greats Gift Retailer Awards 2013. Now in its 11^th year, The Greats Retail Awards celebrate excellence within gift retailing. The Great Gift Company are finalists in the Best Online Retailer and Mail Order Gift Retailer category.

Mette Downer, who started the company is delighted. “It is really wonderful for us to have our hard work acknowledged. The online gift market is full of excellent retailers and just being a finalist is very rewarding. Whether we win or not, it will definitely encourage us onwards and upwards”.

The winners of The Greats Retail Awards will be announced at a glamorous awards ceremony at The Savoy in London on 9^th May. 

Father’s Day. A thank you that lasts all year.

It’s Father’s Day on Sunday 17^th June 2012 – the day when fathers and father figures including grandfathers, step-dads and fathers-in-law are honoured and acknowledged. Invented in the US in the early 1900’s, it is now celebrated in almost every country of the world and is the day to say thank you to the men who have been there for us and given us some pretty awesome hugs along the way.

Whether your father is the male equivalent of Mary Poppins or you only see him a few times a year, every father deserves to be recognised and Father’s Day is the perfect opportunity to stop and say thank you. Or remember. I don’t know anyone who doesn’t bask and grow several inches in the light of praise and thanks and the father figures in your life are probably no different.

Many dads are referred to by their children as “the Bank” and the men themselves probably smile wryly when they look in their wallets and find photos where there used to be cash! Secretly he probably loves being needed, even if it is as a human cash machine, but when was the last time he was properly, genuinely thanked without being asked for more?

Acknowledging everything he is and all that he does doesn’t have to cost a fortune.  Have the children make him something.  Cook him his favourite meal.  Make a CD of music he will enjoy or clean his car. And don’t forget that spending time with him is often worth more than any gift.

Bill Cosby is famously quoted as saying that “Fatherhood is pretending the present you love most is soap-on-a-rope” – hopefully things have moved on a bit since then and there are now hundreds of inspired gifts available for dads, grandfathers and fathers-in-law that will make him feel happy and appreciated.

So whether you just want to say “thanks” or “I Love You” or “You’re the best dad in the whole world”, you’ll hopefully find some great gifts at our site that will express exactly how you feel.

Our team of girlies ventured north early this morning, with our moods lifted by the glorious sunshine and Jessie J on the stereo. Destination? Birmingham's NEC and The Gadget Show 2012. 

None of the three of us had ever been to a show dedicated to "gadgets" before and we weren't really sure what to expect.

We were all pleasantly surprised. It was mind-blowing.

And that was just the stuff we understood.

There were entire stands full of gizmos that we couldn't even categorize. We tried to act blase when groups of 10 year olds went straight up and started playing!

The show is really well organised and the gadgets are helpfully in "areas" around the halls eg all the games in one place, all the latest in car stereos in another etc 

We were completely blown away by a display that showed the progress of technology. The first home computer? 1980

And who remembers how thrilled we were to get hold of a Sony Walkman that played our cassettes? Or, even more exciting at the time - the Discman? Looking at one today, we realised a Discman is about the size of SIX iPhones!?

Yes, technology has come a long way and there are awesome developments every day. And great gadgets.

Our favourites? Some of the 3D home cinemas were just incredible - we wouldn't ever want to leave home! And even though we are not "gamers" there were some pretty amazing looking games (certainly had all the guys hooked!)

So we did find about half a dozen really cool things that we will be testing and considering for inclusion on The Great Gift Company's website - gadgets that we think the men and boys will love - we'll keep you posted

It’s not just us girls that like a bit of romance – despite their tough exteriors, men are just as appreciative of gestures that show them they are loved and appreciated

Valentine’s Day gives us the perfect opportunity to show him how we feel – but it doesn’t have to cost a fortune

Here’s a couple of ideas

If you both have a bike why not give him “Escape Routes” (£17)  – full of brilliant bicycle rides all over Britain – pack a picnic (remember to pack a jar of “Be my baby” fruit jellies (£7), let him choose a route and go off for the day together

Email or post him a “Meal with Movie Coupon” and ask him to RSVP – Cook him his favourite meal, light some candles and then enjoy your favourite movie together while you feed him ice cream (for a touch of elegance buy him the “silver plated ice cream tub holder” £38 so he a re-useable memento)

Buy “His Life Story Book” (£35) and start if off for him. You can make it about his life (in which case enlist the help of his parents, friends and family) or make it about your life together. If you have any cards, ticket stubs, photos, maps, etc from things you have already done together then put them in the book and give it to him. Then have fun creating memories together that you can record in the book and have to cherish forever 

Why not valet his car for him as a surprise? Wash, polish and vacuum and then hang a jar of “I Love You chocolates” (£7) from the rear view mirror. Or get him the “Any man can be a father; it takes a special man to be a dad” silver plated key ring (£12) and put it on his car keys

See - just a little bit of imagination and ingenuity ...... have a look at the site and be inspired. Do something different but DO show him how you feel - he'll love you for it!