John Lewis department stores offer a gift-list service. In the past, a family member would have this massive list with all your presents on, and people would call and ask what needed buying. The John Lewis service streamlines the process - an engaged couple can go around the store with a barcode scanner, scanning all the things they want, and a list is created. This list is then available in-store, and also online.

The online lists are completely open - anybody can access them - and they're searchable by surname.

I sometimes buy small gifts for couples from their lists, and this process is documented here.

Sometimes I get emails from the recipients - they're here too. New replies will be added as we go along.