Chamber Notes: Think Local When Shopping for Last Minute Gifts

We’ve procrastinated long enough.  With only a few days remaining until Christmas, it’s time to get serious about shopping and do our best to accomplish this task without total frustration.

Rest assured that you’re not alone in this dilemma.  You can go to any big box store in the area and find fellow shoppers wandering aimlessly in search of inspiration.  The men are often clustered near the fragrance counter and most likely will leave empty handed, and while the women may make a purchase, they’re smart enough to enclose a gift receipt.  Online shopping has also lost its luster as delivery is now questionable due to the short time frame.  So, what are we to do?

Start by doing what should have been done weeks ago and focus on shopping locally.  Pull up the Chamber of Commerce website and check the membership listing for local businesses (www.oswegochamber.org is a great place to look). Now, begin thinking out of the box by considering gifts that would not only be appreciated by your recipient but would also be practical.

Restaurant gift certificates, for example, make great gifts ranging from extravagant dinners to coffee to go.  And while you’re considering food and beverage gift certificates, don’t overlook the wine purveyors and caterers in the area.  One of my favorite gifts from last year was a package of frozen steaks which were enjoyed in the Spring hot off the grill.

Entertainment & fitness is another great gift certificate source.  A foursome or season pass at a local course would certainly be appreciated by the golfer on your list or how about movie passes and trips to a fitness center?

As you continue reading that list of local businesses you’ll find numerous service businesses.  Is there someone on your list that would like their snow plowed this winter or lawn mowed next summer?  The list of possibilities is almost endless ranging from gift certificates for oil changes to spa visits, from house cleaning to flowers and from doggy daycare to cleaning up the back yard after our canine friends.  How about a certificate for an overnight get-away at a local hotel or a ½ dozen cupcakes from a local bakery?

There’s also an area in the Chamber membership list that identifies charitable institutions that provide for the neediest among us.  Consider a donation given in the name of your gift recipient.  After all, isn’t giving what it’s all about?  Give some serious thought to the likes and dislikes of your gift recipient and you’ll be surprised how easy it is to find the perfect gift.

Merry Christmas!

Chamber Notes is an occasional column written and provided by Steve Hatcher, the president and CEO of the Oswego Chamber of Commerce.