Life Begins At.....
Issue link: http://ebook.aprs.com.au/i/23233
CHRISTMAS FEAST Electronics Electronics are becoming an increasingly popular gift, particularly for fathers and younger boys. This year the iPad is a great choice for fathers. The iPod shuffle or other MP3 players are great reasonably priced gifts for any girl, boy, man or woman who likes listening to their own music on the go. For those who have everything already, including a portable music device, why not buy a pair of speakers that fits an iPod or iPhone. This is a great gift for teenagers and young adults. Books and CDs Books and CDs are always a good choice for Christmas gifts. In fact, last year 70 per cent of shoppers were planning to buy books as Christmas gifts. Your local book retailer will be able to give you advice about which authors are popular with different demographics but this year books are entering the digital age. Some of the most popular Christmas gifts this year will be ebooks like the Kobo e-reader and Sony readers that allow avid readers to store and read up to 1000 books on one electronic device. Toys If you have young children or grandchildren, toys will no doubt be high priority on your Christmas As your family grows, suddenly shopping for Christmas presents may not be as easy as it once was. There are grown children, grandchildren and in-laws all with their own tastes and interests to consider. But traditional gifts like books, CDs and clothes stand the test of time and are always popular. Here are some ideas from the Australian Retailers Association (ARA) to add to your 2010 Christmas shopping list. shopping list. Last year 42 per cent of consumers bought Lego or board games as Christmas presents which are always popular with young boys and girls. Monopoly Revolution is a new twist on an old favourite with the inclusion of moving parts and sound. Popular Lego sets for 2010 include Lego City (Power Functions train sets, the new Airport and the Public Transportation set), Star Wars Lego and Harry Potter Lego. Fashion Clothes are always a good idea, particularly for young girls and women at Christmas time. This year keep an eye out for the following fashion trends: Bags: Smaller over the shoulder bags Dresses: Maxi dresses that are floor length with summery straps Colours: Nude is a big colour for this summer’s fashion Gift Certificates Although gift certificates can seem impersonal, they are actually quite a sought after gift because they allow the receiver to purchase something they really want. Many larger retailers offer gift certificates but if you don’t want to limit the receiver to one shop pre- paid gift credit cards can be purchased from Australia Post, 7-Eleven stores or banks across the country and used at most retail outlets. With the everyone full of the Christmas spirit and most shops keeping their doors open late, sometimes the crowds of shoppers doing last minute gift buying can make a trip to the shops a little overwhelming to say the least. Often shoppers who don’t plan properly are pressed for time over the Christmas season and become frustrated with crowds and customer service delays due to long and slow-moving check-out lines. Here are the ARA’s top three tips for avoiding Christmas crowds: • Get organised: Planning ahead pre-Christmas to finalise shopping as early as possible is a good way for shoppers to avoid getting irritated. • Shop without kids: It’s also much easier for parents and grandparents to keep their cool when negotiating Christmas crowds if they can leave children with trusted friends or family member. • Go smaller: Rather than focusing on larger retailers and department stores, consumers can also avoid crowd delays by shopping at smaller and independent retailers. THE RETIREE SUMMER 105