If you know well your friend’s or family member’s tastes, the best thing you can do when shopping for them is play to those preferences. They’ll be much more tickled by the present than “same stuff, different year.”

You’re in luck, too — there are lots of specialty shops on the Greater Kitsap Peninsula, from Nuts About Hi-Fi in Silverdale specializing in all things electronic to Kitchen Karousel in Poulsbo that is filled with gadgets like the heart-shaped waffler and Lefse grills to sweeten any cook’s day.

At The Nordic Maid in Poulsbo, you can find presents of Scandinavian heritage, with 90 percent of the gifts imported from Norway, Finland, Denmark and Sweden. That includes sweaters, pewter flatware, welcome lights, iron candleholders, books and Cds — the list goes on. “People who generally like traditional things…will like the different warm gifts that reflect the home,” said co-owner Julie Elsner. For kids and collectors, the store offers the Matryoshkas — the Russian nesting dolls — as well as one-of-a-kind wood painted Santas hand-carved by Russian artists.

If you know someone who loves to eat, especially spicy foods, you can’t miss the Rocambole Garlic Shop in Poulsbo, which abounds with gourmet hot sauces, and enough garlic and chili pepper related items to fill a museum: gadgets, presses, kitchen décor, exotic garlics, even chili pepper lights and T-shirts.

“This is a collection of all things I love,” said owner Teresa Schultz. “I like to try out new things.”

Rocambole offers custom gift baskets for local “consumption” along with custom gift boxes if you want to ship the gift anywhere in the continental United States.

For someone with fine European taste, take a scenic drive to Gig Harbor to A Chalet in the Woods. As the name implies, this cozy shop is in the middle of nowhere, but the selection ranges from dinnerware and glassware from Finland to Oleana sweaters, shawls and blankets from Norway; to Royal Copenhagen porcelain dinnerware from Denmark.

While in Gig Harbor, stop by Harbor Merchantile for a nautical-theme present. This is where you will find treasures especially nifty for men, like nautical instruments, model ships and telescopes, but women aren’t left out either — the store offers many home décor items for the sea lovers.

Gig Harbor’s Wild Bird Nature Company caters to a different kind of outdoor occupation: birdwatching. For people who love wildlife, you will find items from binoculars to nature-related gift ideas.

Meanwhile, Gig Harbor’s Wild Birds Unlimited offers everything you can imagine for feeding and housing your backyard birds, plus outdoor figurines, books, gifts and more.

Men and women looking for a special item for collectors young and old should visit Springhouse Dolls and Gifts in Port Orchard. It’s more of a ladies shop filled with dolls, villages and teacups, but there are collector’s items for men as well.

For gifts and books that enhance the living from a more metaphysical perspective, Kingston Naturals in Kingston has categories ranging from jewelry and home décor to Native art and handmade paper. And if you are shopping for someone who has a collection of tastes and are not quite sure which one to appease — try any of the specialty gift store scattered around Kitsap, such as Naturium Inc. in the Kitsap Mall, that offer a little bit of everything.