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Okay Role Mommies, you've got a little over a week to get all your Christmas shopping completed and if you're part of the Hanukah contingent (that would be me), then you'd better head to the mall tonight and get busy (exactly what I'm doing). For those of you who spend most of your time buying office supplies (again me), then gift giving expert and author of The Purple Book, the definitive guide to the best shopping sites on the Internet, Hillary Mendelsohn has the perfect multi-tasking solution for busy moms...buy your holiday gifts at Office Depot! Who knew it could be that easy?
Great Shopping Tips for the Holidays by
Hillary Mendelsohn
It can be easy to lose your holiday cheer with all of the pressures and time commitments that come with the season. Since shopping will take up most of an on-the-go mom’s time, it is important to get on the path of organized gift giving. According to a recent Office Depot survey, respondents stated that they will spend nearly 40 percent of their time shopping for gifts in December. That leaves a whole lot less time for work, working out, participating in holiday festivities, caring for your family and most importantly, caring for yourself!
If the average mom is anything like me, she may already be searching for gifts. In order to lend a helping hand this holiday season, I’ve partnered with Office Depot to develop fun, creative solutions for holiday shopping that help reduce stress and boost productivity.
First of all, I believe moms should be creative with their shopping. One way to get the creative juices flowing is to find gifts in unusual places. Consider venues that enable you to combine shopping experiences so you can cut down on the total number of store visits. For example, at Office Depot you can purchase everyday school and office essentials and stock up on the hottest technology gifts that family and friends will enjoy.
With a little advanced preparation and the correct resources, you will be amazed at the amount of time and aggravation that can be saved when searching for holiday gifts. These suggestions and gift ideas help me survive the holiday season. Adapt them to become your own and they’ll save you too.
Create a list of people you plan to buy gifts for and establish your budget. Include notes on each person’s hobbies and interests to help build unique or creative gift ideas.
Shop online. This enables you to reduce stress and increase productivity during the holidays: from in-store pick up and free shipping options to the convenience of purchasing anytime of day or night—even after the kids are asleep.
Personalize gifts without breaking the bank. With a little thought, gifts can be transformed from practical objects into useful, customized tools. Some of the most thoughtful gifts are the one that reflect the recipient’s interests.
Choose gift cards over fruit cakes. According to the survey, 72 percent of respondents would prefer to receive gift cards from co-workers. Moms can save time by picking up a few gift cards for teachers, doormen or the mailman and pairing them with smaller gifts like colorful pens.
Select a gift that gives back. I’ve noticed that people are really getting into the habit of buying gifts that have meaning. One of my holiday favorites is the ultra-cute Teddy B. Caring Bear from Office Depot. All of the proceeds benefit Toys for Tots and over the past few years Office Depot has raised more than $400,000 for this worthwhile organization.
Here are a few gift ideas to kick start your holiday season:
· For the music lover: The definitive gift for all music lovers this season is the highly-anticipated
Microsoft Zune Player. The 30GB digital media player comes equipped with wireless functionality for Zune-to-Zune sharing of music, pictures and video.
· For the executive: Give the gift of organization. The Foray™ line of business cases, sold exclusively at Office Depot, blend durability and organization into stylish carryalls for both men and women.
· For the photographer: Gift a digital camera and add a few accessories to the mix. A stylish leather Foray camera bag and Ativa™ 2GB Camera Memory Card ensure that the gift is ready for action.
· For the traveler: Get them the ultimate travel-seeking device: the Navman F20 GPS Receiver. This easy-to-use navigation device allows users to search millions of places of interest with its 3-D moving maps.
· For the movie buff or TV enthusiast: For the person on your list who never likes to miss his/her favorite TV show, the ARCHOS portable media player and DVR station are the perfect gifts. Designed for watching video on the go, the ARCHOS portable media player features a 4.5-inch screen and 30GB of storage capacity. The new Slingbox AV also makes a terrific gift. Compatible with your DVR, digital cable box, and satellite receiver, the Slingbox allows you to enjoy live television anywhere you have an internet connection. To visit the Office Depot website, Click Here. Or to return to the Role Mommy home page, then Click Here.
