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Holiday Wrap Up: Local Gifts and Alternative Packaging
Try the following creative ways to save money from the start of any gift season on through the rush and belated gifts period. By doing so, you will change those gift-shopping and gift-wrapping headaches into opportunities to demonstrate creative self-expression, as well as show your responsible local economics and eco-friendly awareness.
Here is one slant on gift shopping that is guaranteed to save not only your time, money and energy near the height of the holiday shopping frenzy, but will also help you save our local economy, as well.
We often consciously buy goods “made in the USA,” so why not bring that idea in closer: purchase gifts from merchants, manufacturers and direct sellers whose products are sourced from Southern Nevada. Local companies are our neighbors, friends, and they employ local workers.
Concentrate your gift-purchase dollars where they will do the most to help sustain local employment and support our area small business owners, as well as ensure faster product access.
If you need something unique and quick, skip the fuel-heavy, overnight, long-distance shipping, and buy it locally. Countless products are made right here in Las Vegas and offer creative, smart gift choices for discerning shoppers.
 Also advantageous is sales tax, which stays here for our benefit. I was surprised that more than two-thirds of taxes on locally purchased gifts stay in Clark County, according to a Made in Nevada program spokesperson.
In 2010, this column will highlight more local businesses to our VCO shoppers who want to support the Made in Nevada initiative and its advantages. Subscribe to VCO to find out more.
Buy Unique, Creative Local-source Gifts
For this holiday season and those to come, join the trend of buying locally produced products of all types. In the edible line, there are goodies such as custom cookies, carved fruit gift baskets and candy bouquets. Locally manufactured goods range from custom housewares, candles, hats and accessories to fun products for your pets, automobile and outdoor living. Many companies have retail sites and Web sites, too.
In addition to products, some gifts are services and intangible. Gift certificates are convenient and thoughtful, especially for the last-minute shopper. Think about local company services, such as day spas and special events as gifts, too. It all helps our economy.
 A favorite gift and snack of mine is Snowy Popcorn from Danielle’s Chocolates, located on West Sahara. Visit their Web site at www.snowypopcorn.com and the local retail store, which will stay open through Dec. 23 only. They manufacture and package the product near Las Vegas.
Other gifts readily available locally are personalized, custom items. Recently, I purchased hand-painted, holiday ornaments showing
family members as caricatures. The gifts were sold from a cart at a shopping mall. The recipient, a blended step family, had their first keepsake with all the siblings’ first names and the newlyweds’ last name. The local company was quick to fill the order, unlike waiting by mail.
 Of course, I have a leaning toward personalized gifts for all holidays, especially because my new, launching company can provide customized children’s books, with the child’s name throughout the story! (Hint: Send me an email for more information on Christmas, Kwanzaa and licensed titles for gift time or anytime.)
 Other customized products are produced locally. Try custom printed labels on traditional wine or non-alcoholic beverage bottles. VCO friend and supporter Arleen Gibson can help coordinate your family and corporate gift orders. Visit www.artinthecellar.com for a look at a great local gift item for any occasion.
 Get custom-crafted handbags by Phree. She will produce them to order for the fashionable woman in your life. Phree also provides Feng Shui interior design and personal energy-building consultations, and that’s a novel gift idea. Find Phree at www.borntofengshui.com.
Other gift certificate ideas include memberships to fabulous Las Vegas attractions. Las Vegas Springs Preserve has an affordably priced, family package. Go to www.springspreserve.org for more information.
There are other public and private sites in town that will gladly provide gift cards, subscriptions and annual passes for nontraditional, but entertaining, amusing and responsible holiday gifts. One that comes to mind is Krav Maga, a school for self-defense and fitness training. I attended an empowering demo class for women, which was advertised to the public. The staff is skilled and professional. Thanks, Donavin and Christian! It’s a gift every man, woman and child can use for life. See their YouTube demos and go to www.lasvegaskravmaga.com.
So, make new holiday traditions by committing to shop with merchants and manufacturers whose products and services are created here. The numbers are growing and the variety of products is expanding. Let me know if you find some terrific products and companies. There will be more to come about this initiative. And remember to cut down on waste by recycling paper, clothes and other items when packaging gifts.
Here are a few of my favorite tips:
Wrap Gifts Inside Gifts
Try using a gift as the wrapping. For example, for a newborn gift, use a new diaper bucket or a small, covered wastebasket as the wrapping, and fill the container with smaller items such as diapers, bottles, baby wipes, etc. Place a pretty bow on it and it’s ready to carry and deliver!
Use a single makeup pouch or a set of new cosmetic bags and enclose the gift perfume, jewelry or scarf. For fun, buy a new or used, clean, average-size fabric or leather-look purse from a thrift store for mere dimes to a dollar or two, and use that as a wrapping package with a gift card attached to the handle. The recipient will think for a moment that the gift is the quirky or gaudy purse, but, inside, the real gift is waiting for discovery! A surprise with a twist on fashion.
Wacky Wrappings
Household and office discards offer lots of ways to save money and the environment. Recycle newspaper to make an off-beat, ecologically sound gift wrap. The sales inserts and comic pages are colorful and work nicely for friendly gifting with a solid ribbon or bright bow tied on. Be aware that some poor quality newsprint and low-grade papers have a high ink-smear risk, which would be unsuitable; however, higher quality newspaper sheets that look whiter and brighter, set with less-oily, drier inks are terrific for wrapping some types of gifts.
Household items such as newspapers, shopping bags and storage containers make economical and eco-friendly wrapping materials. Recycle new colorful scarves, extra hair accessories, fabric ties, even cosmetic bags and near-vintage purses make wacky and surprising gift wrap.
When I bought a business book written by Las Vegas-based author Dr. Farrah Gray (the teenage millionaire, now turned author and entrepreneur extraordinaire) as a gift for two young budding entrepreneurial nephews, I wrapped it with pages from a local business newspaper. The ad of a local audio-visual company was the sheet I used, which worked great since the boys’ last name was the same as the successful company. They loved it.
Wrapping by Re-gifting
Did you ever get a print or colored scarf that just didn’t match your wardrobe or style? Well, rather than let it collect dust year after year back in your closet corner, re-gift it, but use it as a gift wrap instead of the gift itself! Fabric of any type makes a great outer cover for an unattractive box or even an odd-shaped gift. Set an unboxed gift (soft items such as towels or clothing work well) in the center of the scarf or fabric piece. Then, just pull it up around the item and tie on a festive ribbon, add a bow and name tag. Your gift will be unique and interesting. Who knows? Maybe the recipient will love the scarf and wear it proudly. (Don’t be surprised if she re-gifts it to someone else!) That’s recycling for you.
Happiest of Holidays to Everyone!
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Parker Philpot is a freelance journalist, editor, publisher and commentator based in Southern Nevada. With her love of information, detail and humor, From Parker’s Pen covers topics from laughter to tears, business to babies, A to Z! Send email to parker@columnist.com or call (702) 391-5399.
The above article is the opinion of the author and not necessarily the opinion of Vegas Community Online, its editors/publishers, and/or other Vegas Community Online columnists. VCO respects the right of each author to express their opinion. If you have an opposing viewpoint or would like to send feedback on any article, please send email to feedback@vegascommunityonline.com; state the title of the article and your comments. VCO reserves the right to add any submissions to its feedback page.
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