If you’re like me, Christmas shopping is fun, but more “second-job fun” than festive. This year I asked Santa for some web tools to help make my holiday season jolly. It looks like lots of people asked him for the same thing…because Christmas 2007 turned out to be a great shopping experience. Here are some of the cool new-age shopper- delights I’ve found this holiday season.
- The i-phone: I know it’s still a pricey investment, but it has seriously saved my life. The notes tool put an end to my pile-o-papers known as the holiday shopping list. Instead, I can carry the entire Stuart family wish list in a hand-held device! Additionally, I always struggle to remember which transformer my nephew wants so I have him email me the link to my i-phone where the photo, name and pricing info can be stored and retrieved mid-aisle at Toys R Us. Since you can view a word document on your i-phone you can also keep a broader digital list and access details from your phone. It really is holiday magic, check it out here on my how to use video…
[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zrPN54tsD4o[/youtube]
- Lord and Taylor: I know it may come as a surprise, but you can buy almost every gift on your list at Lord and Taylor. They have festive gifts for people you don’t know, educational toys and games to annoy your Wii-obsessed kids, a fantastic selection of clothes, cologne, handbags and cosmetics to fill your own stocking (because we all do it) and a nice selection of ties for dad. It’s a no-brainer. But little did you know, Lord and Taylor has one of the most effective and aggressive friends and family discounts around. Loyal customers (like me) are rewarded with a 20% off shopping card that comes with a matching one for your friend. It really motivates you to shop with a buddy and the coupon is actually good off almost everything in the store! So to recap, you can get everything, Lord and Taylor stores actually observe the rack-spacing restrictions and keep the store clean, bright and easy to navigate AND you pay the same as those hassle-heavy department stores.
- Mac Store: When you’re in a hurry, nothing sounds better than having a floating cash register. Actually, the only thing better is a floating cash register with a brain, product knowledge and the ability to ring you out without waiting in a line! When you shop with a credit card at the Mac store, you can buy everything from i-tunes gift cards to shuffles without leaving the store entryway. It’s bliss, and it’s just another way Mac demonstrates their consumer-focused values on a daily basis.
- Gifts.com: I don’t usually like the idea of using a website to help me pick a gift for someone I know and love, it just seems so thoughtless. The truth is, most of us could use some help, if not just a bit of inspiration. Gifts.com is a great place to beat the what-to-get-grandma-blues. Because they pull from myriad brands, stores and sites, they have an incredible product selection. What’s more, they organize gift recommendations by recipient, personality, occasion and price, so you can easily navigate and quickly find the perfect gift. You can even drill down into the person’s unique likes and dislikes for an even more targeted selection. They also have some shoppers resources like videos, blogs and etiquette to help those in need.
Here’s a cool profile of gifts for me, in case my husband is reading this….GIFT PROFILE
- NHL.COM Store: Just before the holiday season hit hard, the NHL Store sent me an e-news blast that went to former customers and team fan opt-ins. The whole store was on sale for 20% off for one night only. The exclusivity, timeliness and rarity of this offer piqued interest from Mom’s who don’t typically relish spending $90 on a hockey jersey, but know it’s exactly what their son is hoping for. Professional sports teams are great at building anticipation around events and occasions, it’s good to see the NHL store is following and presenting real-time offers that get even Christmas shoppers excited.
