I tend to just google specific items. And see where the search takes me.
I like to buy blank manilla stationary & use brown paper bags for gifts. Basically because it has multiple uses, you can accent whatever the occasion with white tissue, its so simple and understated it can be attractive just in nostalgia alone. Oh I get gift boxes that are plain white. I will simply tie ribbon around it department store style and attach a small subtle bow. I get all these sorts of various items from the Dollar Tree.
As far as dissecting what people should get for a gift. Usually I assess if someone is a practical person or a sentimental person. If the person is usually more practical I will get them something more sentimental, if the person is usually more sentimental I will get them something more practical. Yes you read that right. Why because usually practical people take care of practical needs of others and themselves and forget to indulge in novelty. These people have a greater appreciation for something usually heartfelt. While someone more sentimental in most cases often has plenty of novelty items but can forget to consider very simple practical things for themselves so they will often appreciate the most obvious and apparent things. There are of course people more like myself who are more middle who can go either end of that spectrum.
The big gift for most of my teen 2nd cuzs this year is pop socket things for phones, not really all that innovative or cool but they are a practical price and an easy sell. I have always been pretty big on Spencers for teenagers as far as novelty stuff. Pretty easy to get a funky light or whatever for most teens and at least be moderately in the ball park of somewhat satisfying. Otherwise Barnes & Noble.
I have a knack for hearing a friend say they do not have any place to put jewelry and remembering it several months later and getting that for them. I will usually look in more eclectic type of gift shops for unique versions of such gifts though. My brother said he had no pocket knife several months back so I intended to get him a really nice one and go look directly in some specialty sections for that kind of item.
