West Newsmagazine 11-13-19

22
HOLIDAY WISH BOOK
KATE UPTERGROVE
In the age of internet shopping,
it’s easy to do all your
holiday gifting with the click of
a button. Resist that temptation.
Holiday shopping is about so much more
than just procuring a list of required gifts.
It’s a chance to support locally owned
business, experience shopping districts,
discover new favorites, meet local shop
owners and have fun with friends. The trick
is to plan ahead and give yourself enough
time to thoroughly enjoy the experience.
1. Don’t go alone.
Make it a celebration by going with
friends. Seriously, we guarantee you’ll
have more fun together than shopping
online or in-store alone.
2. Map it out.
As a group, plan a strategy
for getting specific shopping
needs accomplished while
enjoying each other’s company.
Before you go, know
what stores you plan to visit
and who you hope to shop for
at each store.
November 13, 2019
WEST NEWSMAGAZINE
3. Keep it Local.
Focus on exploring a collection of stores
in close proximity to one another, such
as those in and near Wildwood’s Town
Center, Eureka’s Old Town, along Manchester
Road from Ellisville to Des Peres,
or throughout Chesterfield.
4. Avoid the ‘big
box’.
The whole point of
shopping local is getting
to know local businesses
and discovering new
favorites. Never been to
that cute boutique you
pass on your way to the
grocery store? Now is
the time to check it out.
5. Be inspired.
Take cues from your
friends and local business
owners as to what
might make a perfect gift,
especially for hard-to-shop for individuals
on your list.
6. Be sure to eat.
You can’t shop on an empty stomach.
Make sure you stop for food and drink
along the way. And, dress appropriately,
including wearing comfortable shoes.
7. Indulge in holiday delights.
Whether it means sampling seasonal
treats or simply enjoying the
sights and sounds of the season, be
sure to stop and appreciate
the effort local shopkeepers
and restauranteurs
have taken to capture the
spirit of the season.
season down the road.
8. Let them wrap it.
Many smaller retailers
offer to remove price tags
[hint: they’re better at it than
you are] and wrap gifts. Let
them. You can always add
custom touches at home,
but having gifts wrapped
moments after buying
them will allow more
time to enjoy the
9. Choose gift cards wisely.
Remember, that well-chosen gift cards
do make excellent presents, especially for
@WESTNEWSMAG
WESTNEWSMAGAZINE.COM
10 ways to turn holiday shopping into a seasonal delight
Three French Hens in Wildwood
[Rae Sutton photo]
people whose tastes and preferences you
may not be familiar with but whom you
want to celebrate. Consider your child’s
teacher. The temptation is to pop into a
local big box store and pick up a scented
candle or a trio of lotions or order something.
Resist that urge! Seriously, how
many scented candles and bottles of
lotion can one teacher use? Instead, consider
using that same $15 to purchase a
gift certificate from a local restaurant or
bakery. Or purchase a movie gift card to
provide a much needed break from grading
papers. Or consider a gift certificate to a
local boutique where countless fun items
may be found.
10. Repeat the fun.
Don’t try to get all your shopping done
in one trip. Plan several shopping trips: one
with your friends, one with your spouse,
one with the kids – you get the idea. No two
experiences will be the same, we assure
you. Perhaps you’ll enjoy lunch with
friends, dinner with your husband, a
visit with Santa with the kids. When
all is said and done, you should be able
to check shopping off your list along with
a few holiday-themed experiences, which
is not something you can do on the internet.
When you’re ready, we can help.
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