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ShopToIt Media Coverage Westside Weekly, December 13, 2006. Byline Dorothy Brotherton At this time of year, we've made our lists and we're checking them off with triumph as we find the perfect gift for each person. But there are always a few toughies on the list. We comb the malls and catalogues but come up empty. Uncle Carl already has everything. Cousin Malorie has narrow tastes. We simply don't know our neighbour, so how can we choose a gift? We've already done boxes of chocolates, three years in a row. The thoughtful gift is always something that says, I know you and I applaud you. Before you spend, think about the person's hobbies, styles and dreams. For the golfer or would-be golfer on your list, think beyond a sleeve of balls and covers for your woods. One place to check out is Main Street Golf in Westbank. No, there is no golf course at the corner of Brown and Main, but a shop chock full of ideas, such as custom-made clubs. Most people just go to stores and buy clubs off the wall, that often don't fit. With custom-made heads, shafts and grips, the set becomes a highly personal gift. "Give somebody a round of golf. When you get the itch in the dead of winter, there's nothing more welcome," suggested Bev Brown at Main Street Golf. Golfers can play through the winter at Main Street's Golfotron. It's a simulation program that was designed by a GSP system from outer space. "You are playing the real golf course, with the exact measurements of the course on the ground. It's as realistic as it gets for simulated golf," said Mike Brown, who teaches lessons using the Golfotron. This intriguing machine allows golfers to experience many types of play -- desert, links, forest, mountain or parkway. Golf lessons are a gift that works for a teen with a budding interest in the game. "Parents who are golfers think they should teach their child. The truth is, they pass on their own bad habits," said Mike. Urban Links, another local indoor golf facility, and the pro shops at Vintage Hills, Shannon Lake and Ponderosa courses are among other places that can custom-serve the needs of golfers on the Westside. If you're unsure of what your golfer wants, you can't go wrong with a gift certificate. For that matter, suppose the tough person on your list is a gardener or a musician or a whatever. A gift certificate will never be unwelcome, especially from a store that you know fits with the interest. Gift certificates are the new in-demand gift this year, with 82 per cent of stores offering them. They also tuck into stockings without wrapping hassles, and it's easier for the buyer to stick to pre-planned budget limits. More of us are solving our shopping dilemmas online, sitting at our computer screens and driving nothing but a mouse. It beats slogging through traffic and battling slush and crowds. The website, www.shoptoit.ca, is touted as Canada's first shopping search engine. More than 1.6 million gift ideas are listed on the site. Clark Johannson, CEO of Shop To It, predicts online shopping revenues will increase by $15 billion in 2006, to total $55 billion. For example, let's say you've already checked your list, and noted that Aunt Clara is a gardener. On www.shoptoit.ca, you may want to look at the Garden Hopper for $29.99. It's a neat little wheeled garden bench that make scooting around the rows easier than crawling on hands and knees. You could also click on a bar of Earth's Garden Soap for $4.99. The costs listed are in Canadian money. Most retailers provide free shipping. Reprinted from Westside Weekly Visit the website at www.ShopToIt.ca |
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