This website turns gifting into an art form - and it’s addictive

There's normally one in every family - that one person who's a master of thoughtful gifting.

If you want to be on someone's nice list this Christmas, Not On The High Street can help you steal the spotlight.

The online store is a treasure trove of independent retailers, many offering items that can be engraved, stamped or shaped into something entirely personal. Because everything comes from artists or small, creative businesses, there’s a sense of charm and individuality baked into the whole experience.

I put two retailers to the test during what must be for them the busiest time of the year.

I chose a delicate bracelet, a gift for a friend whose birthday falls in January. The 14ct gold-plated bangle, sold by Norfolk-based Lisa Angel, holds a pressed flower representing my friend's birth month and looks much more expensive than the £20.80 I paid for it. It arrived in robust packaging just days later. I half thought about keeping it!

My second choice, a monogrammed weekender holdall, took three weeks to arrive, with my decision to have it personalised delaying delivery slightly. But it really was worth the wait.

The £68 vegan faux leather bag comes in a choice of five colours and a variety of straps. You can even choose the font for your shiny, gold initials. The bag is the perfect weight with protective base feet and ample room.

The icing on the NOTHS cake is that communication from the sellers is warm and reassuring. In fact the online platform isn’t open to any old retailer, there's a vetting process for businesses that are expected to provide high-quality photography and demonstrate that their products are unique and well made.

As well as bags and jewellery, you'll find bespoke prints, artisan homeware and décor, boutique fashion and accessories. At this time of year, the store is, of course, brimming with Christmas gift ideas, covering everything from advent calendars and stocking fillers to hampers and magical Christmas Eve ideas.

Other Christmas gifts that have caught my eye include:

• A personalised photo glass bauble £25
• A personalised watch box in solid oak, £149
• A personalised birth year football club print £18
• Fair Trade hand-knit socks £24.95 (because it wouldn't be Christmas without new socks!)

Be warned, once you're on the website, it's easy to lose an entire afternoon, with every scroll uncovering something unique, inspiring, and very hard to resist.

If you do fall in love with the store, you can join NOTHS & More, an exclusive membership deal which gives you 10% off all year round and a host of other little treats - all for just £10 a year.