“People wait until the last minute. They buy all their gifts in the same half-day. They rush and sometimes choose just anything.” This observation comes from Fred, the manager of the Oxbow store at Nicétoile. What can be done to avoid these last-minute purchases? Simply think. Make a small list for each person. There are still some “one-size-fits-all” gifts that will always be well-received. Jessica, a specialist in the aisles of Virgin, as she spends all her Wednesdays there, offers some ideas: “I think this year I’m going to give DVDs to my parents and friends. It’s the simplest thing. It also allows me to enjoy them.” Comedy DVDs are highly favored and dominate the display shelves: Eric and Ramzy, Jamel, Franck Dubosc, or the best of De Caunes and Garcia. Not to forget, of course, our local comedic pride, Noëlle Perna.
TV series box sets might fulfill teenagers: Alias, Sex and the City, 24. For the older ones, people in their thirties, recalling the good old days and long boring Saturday afternoons in front of the TV, Nice-Première recommends the complete Baywatch series. Just to drool over. Or to ask oneself a terrible existential question: how did I manage to fantasize about Pamela’s bust rather than revise for my Physics Chemistry test? In short, crazy things happen in the post-puberty period!
For fans of Star Academy 5 and especially the dance lessons, and for the younger ones, there is the Kamel Ouali kit with the accompanying DVD and especially the headset microphone to dance and sing at the same time. Just like Jérémy or Magalie… Well, almost!
The food lovers are catered for with a gift tip from Marilyse, a saleswoman at Wonderland, rue de la Boucherie: “As an original gift, I suggest edible underwear for €12.” A real treat and hard to resist when it’s offered by a young and smiling saleswoman.
Fred from the Oxbow store, more softly, suggests for €20 some clothing accessories: a beanie or scarf. “This year the men’s jacket is the bestseller, but for a last-minute gift, it’s a bit pricey,” admits Fred. When you don’t know the person too well or really have no idea, it is recommended to turn to decorative items: lamps, frames, ashtrays… And anything that is crockery: six glasses, six cups… To use a familiar phrase: “it can always come in handy.”
Some new products to note are cosmetic and body care products which are available in assortments and can be a nice idea. Following the same line, and if you have followed our previous articles and even though it costs more (€300): why not some rejuvenating botox injections? Another innovation of 2005 and ideal as a last resort to be sure it will please: offering gift vouchers. Many stores, especially chains like Habitat at Nicetoile or shopping centers, offer them.
Nice-première has attempted to save you the annual headache of finding original Christmas gifts. Feel free to submit more ideas in our forum. In the meantime, happy shopping!
