While fighting the crowds may not be your thing, there’s just something about gift giving around the holidays that charms us into the raging storm that are retail establishments each year. However, with every purchase also comes the chance to support our local economy and the holidays are a major time to honor this commitment with our spending. Also, what if there was a way to find all of the gifts on your list stress-free? A lot of wonderful gifts can be found in Lincoln’s diverse collection of locally owned businesses, and the best part is the customer service—you bring the idea with you and they will make it happen or point you in the right direction! Moreover, by planning now, you not only avoid missing out on what you want but the window of opportunity is open for personalized gifts that need to be special ordered within the next month to be ready in time.
Design Your Own Items
Do you consider yourself a creative type? Or are you looking for special, one-of-a-kind gift ideas? Consider designing your holiday gifts! Jewelry and apparel items are two of the best on the list. Our local jewelers not only have a wonderful selection of jewelry and other gift items, but they also have talented jewelry designers on staff that can create custom pieces especially for you at a surprisingly reasonable price!
This process, however, generally takes approximately 30 days. Here is an example of the time frame:
Day 1: Generate Design Ideas
Day 7-10: Wax or CAD image has been designed and is ready for approval.
Day 10-14: Adjustments can be made to design as needed.
Day 14-30: Item is created and ready to wear or give as the perfect gift.
This timeline is subject to change depending on the workload of the designers during the holiday season and speed of customer approval of designs, but you can easily have your gift ready if you get started soon. Professional guidance during the design consultation is also incredibly valuable—the designer takes your vision combines it with their knowledge and experience to present it in several style ideas with tips and advice on wear, function, etc. Furthermore, a custom design allows you to choose your metal and stones for the perfect piece all around.
It is also important to note that luxurious jewels aren’t the only thing your local jeweler has to offer—although they have plenty to choose from! These specialty retailers also carry a wide variety of designer or costume jewelry as well as limited edition, high quality gifts from the same brands. There are even lovely items to choose from for less than $100 in most cases!
‘Tis the season to order your corporate gifts for clients and employees, and Frosty’s Specialty Advertising is your source for creative promotional products that double as wonderful holiday gifts! Among the popular holiday gifts are customized pens and pen sets and drink ware, but there are literally thousands of items to choose from in every price range. Not only does this get your name out and recognized, but it is a thoughtful gesture of thanks during the holiday season. While you may have heard that “no one is faster than Frosty,” different suppliers have different turnaround times, which can be tricky. The lead time for ordering these customized products is at least a few weeks in most cases, so this is another example of holiday shopping that should be done in October or the beginning of November just to be on the safe side—especially since most plan to give these gifts during the month of December at holiday events and not just at the end of the month around the Christmas holiday.
“The holidays are a great time to show your customers how much you appreciate their business by sending out a little something special from your company, while at the same time promoting your business,” adds Shirts 101 Sales Associate Tyson Poore. “Employee appreciation gifts are an excellent way to say thank you! One of the most popular items for an employee appreciation gift is a jacket. Jackets have a higher perceived value yet can fit in a variety of budgets. Warm employees are happy employees and the free advertising is an additional benefit for your company. We have our finger on the pulse of the newest popular styles in various price ranges. Headwear is always an excellent option to take away the sizing guessing game that many companies struggle with. Some other popular gift items that are perfect for employees but especially customers are ornaments, drink ware stuffed with other goodies and stylus pens. The options for advertising specialties are endless so if you have an idea, we can probably find it.”
Poore also stresses the importance of planning ahead for personalized holiday gifts. “As we all know, the holidays can sneak up on you and there seems to never be enough time to get things done. A lot of holiday office parties are scheduled in November and early December so it’s important to get started early. Budgets are always an issue especially around the holidays. Knowing your budget is the key to planning for holiday gift giving. Employees want to feel valued and we pride ourselves in meeting a budget while helping you find that special item with a higher perceived value. It’s human nature to wait until the last minute, but the process will be less stressful if you allow yourself more time for us to find that perfect item. Go to shirts101.espwebsite.com to start searching for ideas. We look forward to working with you!”
Personalize Your Popcorn
In addition to offering an assortment of ready-made holiday treats, Colby Ridge’s signature popcorn flavors can be customized for family, friends, clients, or employees. Jeff White of Colby Ridge explains, “Color labels can be printed for individual bags of popcorn and you have the option to include your logo, graphics, text, and colors of choice in order to create a one-of-a-kind gift—or just a really cool party favor! Colby Ridge places a major emphasis on being extremely flexible, and our staff works directly with each client to customize products in just about any way you can think of—the possibilities are endless.”
Why try just one flavor when there are so many to choose from? Colby Ridge offers plenty of bag sizes for their popcorn, but for an extra bonus they have a wide selection of themed tins that are excellent for gift giving. When a Colby Ridge popcorn canister shows up, you can be sure nobody will leave disappointed!
Holiday Tins—Tis’ the season to snack! Whether it is a treat for your holiday party or office or a gift for the person who loves the Colby Ridge classics, there are plenty of reasons why holiday tins bring cheer to those who get to enjoy them!
Sports Team Tins—Right now is the time of year when many popular sports are in high gear, and their fans are too. For the sports fanatic in your life, Colby Ridge offers popcorn tins featuring all of your favorite college, NFL, NBA, or MLB teams. These tins offer three different flavors of gourmet popcorn and are great snacks for the game while representing your team spirit.
Unique Flavors—Choose from one, or mix several! Colby Ridge offers plenty of variety and popcorn flavors you won’t find anywhere else. Along with their classic white, caramel, cheese and kettle corn varieties, some great choices are cheesy jalapeno, tutti frutti, cinnamon, toffee nut, rainbow, and caramel apple. They also offer chocolate covered potato chip tins, chocolate caramel corn cluster tins, or a five compartment mixture of their chocolate covered delicacies. In fact, their chocolate covered potato chips are all individually hand-dipped without the use of any machines!
Not a fan of popcorn? Consider a candy bar for your office or holiday party! Colby’s Candy is a candy store with over 200 bins of colorful candy, and custom orders are affordable, unique and festive!
Together, Colby Ridge Popcorn & Gifts and Colby’s Candy cover the sweet and salty bases and offer delicious holiday treats in a rainbow of colors and a wide variety of presentation options.
Share The Gift of Good Health
Many of us are likely to have at least one fitness or sports enthusiast on our gift list. Regardless, gifts that promote a healthy lifestyle can be fun too! Play It Again Sports is full of great finds for kids and adults alike. The store offers both new and gently used items at a fraction of the retail price, and prepare ahead of time for the holiday rush with a significant increase in inventory. This means you have an even better chance of scoring a great deal! As these items get picked over very quickly, the sooner you stop in the better. Gift cards are also available, and are a great gift in lieu of spring sports that are right around the corner after the holidays.
The best part is that Play It Again Sports welcomes trades all year long, even during the holiday season. That concept can help you save money by allowing you to apply those trade dollars to your gift purchases! “We are all about making your holiday shopping experience painless,” says owner Diane Hesson. “We really prepare ahead of time for the holiday rush so shopping for gifts is a breeze on any budget. Aside from our sporting goods, we also carry a full line of fitness equipment and accessories. The holidays can be rough on all of us—physically and mentally. Whether you want to get in shape or stay in shape, we have solutions for everyone to utilize during and after the holidays.”
Good health is a combination of mind, body and spirit—so it’s safe to say that a little relaxation and pampering is sometimes just what the doctor ordered! Spa services are a lovely treat, and a popular holiday gift that you can almost guarantee will delight whoever is on the receiving end. While gift certificates are popular because the recipient gets to choose the services that they prefer, you may also consider hosting a spa event as a gift to your employees or friends as a way to relax, unwind and enjoy each other’s company during the holiday season. Just as retail stores are busy for the holidays, so are businesses in the beauty and wellness industries, so scheduling your appointment or event as soon as possible will secure your date and give everyone the chance to make it work with their jam-packed holiday schedules.
Along the lines of good health and New Year’s resolutions, a popular gift idea that was fairly new last year but has since become far more common is electronic cigarette devices, or E-cigs. Know a smoker who is trying to quit? Show them you care and want to support them in their efforts to quit with a healthier, safer option for delivery of nicotine without all of the carcinogens and other poisons commonly found in traditional cigarettes. This allows the person to gradually ease themselves out of their addiction by controlling and subsequently lowering the nicotine content delivered in each puff. In fact, according to the “Principles to Guide AAPHP Tobacco Policy” published by the American Association of Public Health Physicians in July 2013, the organization suggests that those who are unwilling to quit tobacco smoking or unable to quit with medical advice and pharmaceutical methods should consider other nicotine containing products such as electronic cigarettes for long term use instead of smoking. The appealing part is that the E-juice is made-to-order with the amount of nicotine you want and there are tons of flavors to choose from. While they may not be for everyone, E-cigs are an increasingly popular method for getting away from the nasty effects of smoking cigarettes and are well worth giving a try. As with most things, trying it out for free because someone gave it to you as a gift is even better!
GNS Vapor is a locally owned and operated retailer of E-cigs and E-juices, and offer Starter Kits that make the perfect holiday gift. All are welcome to stop in at any of the three convenient locations this holiday season to find out more about the products or to check them out in person.
Unique Boutique Finds
The treasures you can find at local boutiques are often just as unique as custom ordered gifts. The merchandise is hand-picked and doesn’t stay on the shelves long, so every opportunity you have to visit these retailers comes with a brand new set of options. Customers also have access to lines of clothing and jewelry that aren’t carried anywhere else in town. Many of these boutiques will be receiving loads of new merchandise this month to prepare for the holidays, which for savvy shoppers, means getting a head start this month. Even if you don’t find that perfect gift right away, there’s a good chance you’ll find something perfect to wear for an upcoming holiday party or event or the accessories that complete your holiday looks!
The Nines, a new women’s and men’s boutique that recently opened in Fallbrook, has a whole store full of brand new inventory just in time for the holiday season! “We have a lot of festive items for the holidays, whether you’re looking for a gift or something to wear to upcoming holiday parties and events,” says owner Kathy Hagge. “Adding a little sparkle to your wardrobe will work out nicely during the holidays for an effortless yet festive look. Versatile pieces such as dresses with some gold or silver threading, faux metallic leggings or leather pants to jazz up an outfit, a shiny scarf and glittery accessories are all on trend. These items can all be dressed up or dressed down accordingly as well. I can’t stress comfort enough—simple dresses, sweaters and leggings with a little sparkle are chic but still comfy. For office or formal attire, we carry a great line of slimming undergarments, Bodywear, that is really popular among our clientele so far. These comfortable undergarments tone and smooth the body while being breathable and allowing fluid movement. Ponchos are also a big thing this season and along with other wardrobe staples, are available in vibrant colors. Aside from clothing items, you can find a wide variety of accessories at The Nines that are a safe bet if you’re worried about getting the size right, and even in price ranges commonly set for work or family gift exchanges. However, when it comes to choosing the right size or style, we are able to access each of our client’s purchase history in order to make recommendations. This allows us to help with holiday shopping by providing size information, the items they already have in their wardrobe and what styles, colors, looks etc. they prefer. If all else fails, the trusty gift certificate is also available and it’s a fun way to give that special someone a chance to check out the newest boutique in Lincoln!”
A holiday gift from Rachel’s Boutique will definitely impress the special ladies on your holiday gift list. Rachel’s Boutique offers a wonderful selection of women’s clothing and accessories. Some favorites include gorgeous Brighton handbags, jewelry collections and belts. They also carry Pandora bracelets with special beads and charms, and several other unique lines of jewelry as well. Cherie Travis, owner of Rachel’s Boutique, says, “If you’re looking for a one-of-a-kind gift this year, there are plenty of lovely finds waiting for you at Rachel’s Boutique. We seek out lines that you might not see in Lincoln, and will be receiving a lot of new merchandise especially for the holidays. We recently introduced two new fashion lines this fall: Joseph Ribkoff and Cartise. Joseph Ribkoff, the designer of this internationally recognized clothing line, offers a unique style with his dresses and separates. Cartise offers a bit more flare with colors and bold prints, a collection that will surely get you noticed. Both lines of women’s clothing include dresses as well as separates in sizes 2-16 and up to 18 in select pieces. We are happy to provide individual assistance and offer free gift wrapping for any purchase. We also offer gift items that would work well for corporate gifts—clocks, frames, and select jewelry are among the most popular choices.
My advice for finding the perfect holiday gift is just to give it some thought. You could even send her into Rachel’s and have her fill out a wish list–we keep them on file at the store. That way she receives the gift she wants and you stay off the naughty list! Also, for the ladies who are out and about holiday shopping, why not treat yourself to something special too. After all, Rachel’s Boutique carries What Women Want!”
Planning Your Holiday Gift List…AND Budget
The holidays are coming, brace yourself and your bank account for some serious retail damage. Before you get started, think about organizing the mission before you tear off in the direction of the first holiday sale. Furthermore, think about where you will find your gifts and be just as conscious of where you are purchasing items as you are of what items you want to purchase. Gather yourself everyone, holiday shopping is upon us!
Here are some common holiday shopping mistakes and tips on how you can avoid them:
You Don’t Make a List, or Check it Twice
If you don’t know who is on your holiday shopping list, or set a limit for how much you are going to spend, things can spiral out of control really quickly. There’s no time like the holidays to be compelled to buy every gadget and hit every sale, but if you make a plan that allows for a little wiggle room and you stick to it, you can treat everyone on your gift list without going broke. In addition to overbuying, around the holidays if you don’t do your homework and put in a little effort beforehand you also run the risk of overpaying. Once you have all of the details in front of you, it’s much easier to get everything taken care of.
You Buy Everything Online to Avoid the Crowds
It may not be as convenient to shop locally in some instances, but making the decision to support local businesses makes the holidays that much brighter for our neighbors and our community. Plus, shipping costs can really add up. Take our word for it, you’ll get a dose of the holiday spirit in every local business you visit and you will find some really cool stuff that is just as reasonably priced with the added bonus of great customer service. Among the items that are not worth buying online are heavy items, clothing, appliances and electronics. Especially with the latter items, sales are generally much better in stores and you avoid the enormous hassle of returns via mail. This is also true for inexpensive items—don’t pay $5 in shipping for a $5 item! For diehard online shoppers, check out the websites of local businesses and give them a shot first.
You Literally Shop ‘Til You Drop
During the holidays shopping can seem like a non-stop endeavor; a constant challenge to be conquered. Not giving yourself enough time to relax, unwind, and enjoy the company of others (or even just the company of yourself) because you are sucked into a retail whirlwind really takes away from the full holiday experience. Treat yourself every once in a while, even if it’s just grabbing a festive holiday drink, cuddling up for a holiday movie, or taking time for a spa treatment.
You Forget To Spread The Cheer
Do you have a lot of holiday parties on your agenda? Don’t forget to work gifts for your hosts into the budget. If you don’t have set plans yet, buy a few standard gifts that most anyone would appreciate. You certainly don’t have to go overboard but it’s the small gestures like this that really count, and it’s just good etiquette. Also, holiday cards are a wonderful way to send your season’s greetings without overdoing it. And remember to be kind to everyone on your shopping journeys. Behave courteously at all times; after all, it’s our kids, neighbors, parents and grandparents who are all out there shopping or working in retail too. Make it a point to pass on the holiday spirit this year!
So, while we are only in October and still preoccupied with finding Elsa and Anna or Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles costumes, it doesn’t hurt to start thinking about holiday gifts. This way, you can have more fun and less stress when shopping, and you have the opportunity to be thoughtful instead of panic stricken when making your choices. In kicking off the 2014 holiday season, we wish all of our readers and their families a fun, safe and very Happy Halloween and we hope you all enjoy this gorgeous autumn season that is upon us.