Is there a better time of the year than Christmas? Shop windows are dressed in their finest festive garb, eager little faces whisper secret wishes into Santa's ear, the nights are cool and the smell of pine and sound of carols fill the air. But planning for the big day can be stressful: tree decorations, gifts, cards, cooking, parties, family and friends. It's a lot to squeeze in. What if there were a way to create that perfect day, to find that perfect gift and cook that perfect meal without having to leave home? Bring on the virtual Christmas.
Wandering in Wan Chaiby Imi Bond and Tara Jenkins from Zzzoom Photography.
Mother of three Margaret Yeh says that while she likes shopping, her goal at Christmas is to spend as little time as possible buying in stores. "I hate dealing with the crowds and the queues and online shopping eliminates all that," she says. "I do almost 100 per cent of my Christmas shopping online. I do still go into stores during the holidays. I love the decorations and the music, but since I have done the bulk of my shopping online there isn't the pressure to find the perfect gift and I can just enjoy the experience."
Yeh is not alone. A growing number of shoppers are turning to the internet to get Christmas all wrapped up. Georgina Verrios, co-owner of online personalised accessories store Apatchy apatchy.com.au says Christmas is a peak trading time online. "People shop the most in the month and a half leading up to Christmas. We do 85 per cent of our sales over that period, and this year sales have been phenomenal."
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So just what are people buying, and what are the best sites out there?
"I have bought everything from tickets to Broadway shows to cooking class vouchers," says Yeh. With most of her family living in America, Yeh's go-to sites tend to be the larger one-stop shops like Amazon amazon.com or Barnes and Noble barnesandnoble.com For just books, it's hard to beat The Book Depository bookdepository.com where the selection is huge, prices are competitive and shipping to Hong Kong is free. Companies such as Lakeland lakeland.co.uk and The White Company thewhitecompany.com sell products for the home, alongside gifts of chocolates, linen, scented candles, towels, pyjamas and robes. For the sports-mad, try online giants such as Kitbag kitbag.com or Eastbay eastbay.com where you can choose from a vast array of products by sport, age and team. Kitbag specialises in official team strips which you can have personalised with player names or the name of the lucky recipient.
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If you are looking for something more unusual and unique, those in the know say the best place to start is online. "Shopping online allows you that wonderful sense of perusing small shops you don't see on the High Street - places where you can find something new and wonderful," says Verrios. Apatchy falls into this category with its personalised bags and accessories. The products are fun and functional - think backpacks, boot bags, wallets and more.
