Ellie Davis
Ellie Davis

@ellierdavis

SHOPPING • May 2020

Make their day: find the perfect gift

When it comes to locating the perfect present, there is no exact science. You want something that is fun yet functional, playful yet practical and feels just as special as your lucky recipient. Shopping editor Ellie Davis delves into the British Airways Avios eStore so that you can collect Avios while you triumph in the art of gift giving

For the budding botanist
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For the budding botanist

Whether they are a green-fingered fanatic or just starting out, encourage that special someone to start home growing with this Smart Garden (The Conran Shop; 8 Avios/£1). They can cultivate an impressive vegetable or herb garden with the likes of tomatoes and basil, wild strawberries and chili peppers, all without having to worry about balancing the perfect amount of light or water. Or, why not transform their statement plants into little works of art with Louise Madzia’s earthenware pots (Selfridges; 12 Avios/£1). To ensure they have a steady stream of blossoming blooms to brighten their home, a FlowerBx subscription (8 Avios/£1) will do the trick.

For the foodie
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For the foodie

We all know the best way to someone’s heart is through their stomach. Gift the ability to cook mouth-watering stone-baked pizzas at home in just 60 seconds with an Ooni oven (Ooni; 9 Avios/£1). For the cheese lover in your life, this DIY Mediterranean Cheese Making Kit (Selfridges; 12 Avios/£1) contains everything needed to make five homemade varieties, including mozzarella, ricotta, mascarpone, halloumi and labneh. Let them pair the above with a glass of vino, or – even better – a case of the stuff, with The Wine Flyer, the British Airways wine club in association with Laithwaite’s (up to 1,000 Avios). For a little dose of ‘does what it says on the tin’, send them the gift of luxury chocolate with the Pick-Me-Up Chocolate Gift Pack (Hotel Chocolat; 7 Avios/£1). 

For the tech whizz
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For the tech whizz

Technophiles will have likely already eyed up the Beats Powerbeats Pro wireless headphones (Currys; 2 Avios/£1). Small but mighty, they have a secure fit around the ear, nine hours of battery life, impressive sound-cancelling capabilities and come in a variety of colours. And there aren’t many households without a Sonos speaker on the wishlist (Sonos; 10 Avios/£1), with its ability to fill any room with crystal-clear sound as controlled through a tablet or phone. Follow the trail of retro photographs to the Instax LiPlay (Selfridges; 12 Avios/£1) – brimming with innovative features such as a digital screen, a selfie mirror, fun frame additions and the ability to add sound to your snap.

For the beauty buff
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For the beauty buff

Who says you can’t stay looking fresh in lockdown? Beauty fans will love these wireless straighteners from Dyson (1 Avios/£1). They give you 30 minutes of cord-free use and also needs less heat for the same impressive results. A Birchbox subscription (100 Avios) will deliver a box of surprise cult beauty goodies to their doorstep every month, while these manicure Cheat Sheets from Ciate London are the current Insta-sensation (ASOS; 3 Avios/£1). Anya Hindmarch’s playful designer diffusers, meanwhile, will freshen up anyone’s make-up station (MatchesFashion; 7 Avios/£1).

For the travel enthusiast
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For the travel enthusiast

Globetrotters dreaming of future adventures will love the GoPro Hero8 (John Lewis; 2 Avios/£1), a must-have to capture Ultra HD and 4K videos and photos. And, for now at least, it is an easy way to record that daily cycle ride. Horizn Studio’s M5 Smart Cabin Suitcase is set to be next hottest thing in the luggage: it has a removable charger, easily manoeuvrable 360-degree wheels and is brilliantly lightweight (Amara; 12 Avios/£1). A handy gadget for any jetsetter, the handheld Pocketalk device (MenKind; 8 Avios/£1) acts as an immediate translator for up to 74 different languages without the need for any Wi-Fi or data. There’s never been a better time to get to grips with this mind-boggling tech.



Is it your first time on the eStore? You can get 20 per cent bonus Avios on your first transaction when you shop online. To find out more, click here

This article has been tagged Fashion + Style, Food + Drink