Gift Giving Ideas - Sifting Through Gift Ads

Tips for Finding Online Shops that Cater to Consumers During the Mad Rush of Christmas Shopping

Advice Seeker: Dear April,

With Christmas around the corner, I'm starting to feel the pressure to find the perfect gifts for those special people in my life, specifically my new boyfriend. I want to get him something to show him that I'm going to be his best girlfriend yet, but I have NO idea what to get this guy! The closest I've come so far with gift ideas are from the magazine ads and website pop-ups advertising the newest thing everyone must have. I don't know if I can picture my loved ones wanting any of that stuff, but maybe they know better than I do. Should I believe these ads when buying Christmas presents? Do you have any gift buying tips for understanding it all?

Signed,

Gift Girl

April Masini's advice:

Dear Gift Girl,

You are not alone in your pressured search for the perfect holiday gift. And like everyone else, you are bombarded by advertisements telling you what those perfect holiday gifts are. It's up to you to decide between the ultimate Christmas present or fancily-packaged garbage.

Advertising matters! Especially at holiday time when people are looking to make purchases. While old standbys and faithful loyalty exist, everyone is always looking for something new -- and that may be a new product, a new store, or a new twist on one of the above. It may also mean a new experience.

Some of the best advertising this season involves:

* Internet advertising. More than ever, the Internet is our backyard. The girl next door is not literally next door, but the girl on the Internet. The stores that people shop at are the ones with website access. And dating is such a huge industry that advertising on dating sites, like mine, mean big business for advertisers.

* Free shipping. When shipping is free, it doesn't make sense to spend gas money to drive to a store, fight to find a parking place and hope to find what you're looking for. Free return policies make advertising online services a no-brainer for shoppers.

* Open-minded advertising is always better than closed-minded advertising. There is a lot of inter-marrying and dating between cultures and religions -- more than ever before, and an open-minded practice in advertising will bring in this new market segment of blended and mixed couples and families.