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Gift buying have you stressed out? Help is on the way
By
Melissa Hirschl
It’s almost that
time of year, when we join the caroling, toast the holidays and bring out the
plastic. I’ve always been intrigued with how most of us have several months to
buy holiday gifts and yet end up doing our shopping at the same time—the last
minute.
Sometimes we
procrastinate because we’re clueless about defining “the perfect gift,”
the one that will remembered for eternity, or at least until next Christmas.
Finding the ideal
gift can be a labor of love for some and a major headache for others. Either
way, holiday shopping can take a lot more time than we’d like.
For those who have
more money than time, there’s hope: Westcor, owner of the Chandler Pavillions
and six other malls in Arizona, has created a remedy for these shopping
dilemmas.
The company’s gift
guru, Dana Christensen, can let Kyrene Corridor residents know the latest and
hottest selling items at Chandler’s newest mall at the 101 Freeway and
Chandler Boulevard.
Whether you’re
looking for a gift for your rock-climbing boyfriend or your 90-year-old mom who
still skydives, Christensen can come up with some ideas.
“We’ve got a
website at westcor.com,” says Christensen. “The beauty of this site is that
the public can learn the hottest-selling items on the market, just with the
click of the computer.
“Plus, by plugging
in information on the gift recipient, such as age, gender, interests, hobbies
and favorite colors, I can give you a choice of appropriate gifts. I talk to
merchants and totally research what their stores have to offer. This makes it
easy for me to match customers’ gift needs to a variety of suggestions.”
This is the third
year Westcor will be undertaking the program, which Christensen calls a labor of
love. With a background in retailing, marketing and tourism, Christensen says
her role as “gift guru” is a perfect match.
“Shopping is my
favorite thing to do, and because of the flexible hours, it was an easy decision
to take this job. A lot of times, people want to know how I got it.”
According to
Christensen, last year’s best-selling gift was the Harley Davidson pen, which
came in a case shaped like a Harley motorcycle gas tank.
What are some of
Christensen’s top-selling recommendations for this year? For under $25,
there’s America in a Box, similar to a Monopoly game except that you trade
major points of interest all over the country. Perfect for learning general
geography and cultures. Barnes and Noble, $25
Another is the Radio
Ball, which lets you watch your favorite game while listening to another
favorite game on the radio. Eddie Bauer, $18.
For those cool teens
on your list, Christensen recommends the faux fur coat, available in a variety
of styles and colors, including red, to keep warm this season. Charlotte Russe,
$80.
How about a Fossil
Watch, the most popular watch this fall, with a yellow or orange face.
Tells day of week, date and has stop watch. For him only. Pac Sun,
$65-$85.
What shopping list
would be complete without gift ideas for the person who has everything?
For those us lucky
enough to be in this category, the choices include Body Scan, a service that
includes a heart and lung scan along with imaging the neck, abdomen and pelvis.
AmeriScan, $960.
Another must-have is
the Programmable Meade Telescope. It will let you look at the stars like a pro
with its remote controlled lens and tri-pod. Museum Company, $299.
Some hot toy ideas
for Santa include the Harry Potter Box Set. They all come in hard cover and a
beautifully illustrated box. The collection includes Harry Potter and the
Sorcerer’s Stone, Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets, Harry Potter and
the Prisoner of Azkaban and Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire. F. Dalton
Booksellers, $85. For adventure-seeking tykes, there’s the Air Pogo Stick by
Razor, easily collapsible for travel and play, made of a high-grade aluminum.
Sharper Image, $80.
Check out the Gift Guru’s website for more imaginative ideas
and suggestions at www.westcor.com. Click on Gift Guru.
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