Whether you’ve received a last-minute party invitation, your fervent wish for a personal shopper to materialize fell through, or you’re king of the procrastinators, these last minute gift ideas should help you avoid the shame of showing up with a Chia pet or a pine tree air freshener and some anti-freeze from PetroCan.
Tech – For the techie – not Trekkie, that’s a whole different nerd – consider accessories. Earbuds, headphones, USB car chargers, mobile chargers like the iGO, or phone cases are a good option. My personal favourite is Nu-Touch Gloves. These tech friendly gloves keep your digits warm while you use them on your touch screen devices.
Pop Culture Lover – Consider boxed sets of movies, iTunes gift cards, movie tickets, a bobble head of a favourite TV or movie character, or an updated version of a favourite childhood game like the “Glee” version of UNO.
Music Fan – The obvious choice is an iTunes gift card but consider a book by a musician. Everyone from Jay Z, Anthony Keidis, George Harrison and Leonard Cohen has published books. Headphones, classic CD’s, tapes or vinyl and concert tickets are also a great idea. Feeling generous? How about the MP3 Recording Karaoke Player for that friend who’s constantly trying to get you to go out for karaoke after work.
Athlete – Gift certificates to sporting goods stores, arm warmers, compression sleeves, strings for their tennis racquet, sessions with a personal trainer or coach to improve their swing/stroke/slap shot/stride…you get the picture.
Readers – Consider boxed sets of book series’ like the Hunger Games trilogy, A Song of Ice and Fire, Charlaine Harris’ Sookie Stackhouse novels, or The Walking Dead graphic novels. With 2012 being the 100th anniversary of the War of 1812, several excellent books have been published from both the Canadian and American perspectives. If you don’t know where to start, Indigo has a list of their current top sellers so you can match interest to author. An LED book light, tote bag, bookplates they can personalize, or moleskin journals are good possibilities. Amazon and iTunes gift cards are an alternative, especially if the individual uses an eReader.
Foodie – Cooking classes, any of the myriad of celebrity cookbooks – there’s even one based on HBO’s Game of Thrones – a tea set, gourmet chocolate, coffee beans, teas or exotic spices. Go to any kitchen supply store and pick up gadgets like an oil mister, mandolin, tea infuser, French press, kitschy aprons and potholders, or even onion goggles.
Fair Trade/Eco Friendly – Fair Trade coffee and teas, donations to a favourite charity supporting green initiatives, defending human rights, sustainable farms, or providing education opportunities to women and girls in poverty or those facing discrimination. Ten Thousand Villages has retail stores selling a variety of fair trade products including jewelry, scarves, Christmas ornaments, pottery and select home furnishings, all designed and crafted around the world.
Hopefully these suggestions will help get you started. Why are you still reading? You’re running out of time! Go!
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