Menu
Little boxes, big cartons
By Connie Jo Discoe
Regional Editor
Lots of Christmas surprises this year will come wrapped in either little tiny boxes or great big cartons.
Marilyn Leibbrandt of Fine Things Jewelry and Gifts in Imperial said "right-hand diamond rings" and sterling silver are selling very well for Christmas 2003. And Tim Lord at Lord's Hardware in Imperial and Linda Taylor at Video Kingdom in McCook report some of their best-selling items for Christmas have been big-screen televisions.
"Little boxes are popular here," Marilyn Leibbrandt laughed. She said the ever-popular diamond earrings and anything three-stone, whether they're diamonds or gem stones, are selling well. But it's the "right-hand diamond ring," that is gaining popularity.
"The right-hand diamond ring is specially designed for the woman of today, to be worn on the right hand," Leibbrandt said. "It's for the woman who buys her own jewelry, or for the man who knows she can wear diamonds on both hands."
Sterling silver from Fine Things, in chunky slides or cuffs, will be under many trees, as well as rhythm clocks with motion and music. "We can hardly keep the clocks on the shelves," Marilyn said.
At the other end of the spectrum -- requiring much more wrapping paper and larger ribbons, and maybe a weight-lifting Santa Claus -- are the big-screen TVs. "We've sold lots of big-screen TVs," said Linda Taylor of Video Kingdom.
Besides the size of the picture, the biggest drawing card is the quality of the picture, said Trevor Taylor. "High-definition pictures are absolutely breath-taking," he said.
VK has sold Christmas-gift big-screens from 42 inches to 65 inches; the model lugged onto the McCook High School's Weiland Field for a field goal contest during football season last fall was a 55-inch model, Trevor said, that weighed 278 pounds.
A second popular Christmas gift at VK has been automobile remote-start installations. "It not only makes the car more comfortable for us," Trevor said, "it prolongs the life of our cars."
VHS/DVD combination units are also selling like hotcakes, Linda said. "The combination unit means one box, not two, on top of the TV," she said, "and people can continue to view their VHS tapes," as well as the newer-technology DVDs.
"Bratz" dolls and "Hokey-Pokey Elmo" are popular gifts for the younger set. "Bratz" are dolls geared for preteen girls who like over-the-top hairstyles, make-up and clothing. Joy Vrbas at Alco Discount in McCook reported that the kids really seem to like the "Bratz," and Stephanie Davis at Wagner's Store in Arapahoe said her selection of Bratz sold out in September and October.
Bratz are popular at Wal-Mart in McCook, too. Erin Smotherman, in Wal-Mart's toy department, said the dolls' accessories -- the shoes and the clothes -- sell well too.
Many little girls will be getting the elegant "Swan Lake Barbie Doll," while the boys may find a remote-control Hummer under their trees. "Any remote-control is popular," Erin said, "but especially the Hummer, since," she laughed, "most of us will never own a real one,"
Selling out early were the larger-than-life inflatable Christmas decorations at Lord's Hardware in Indianola. "We sold Santa Claus, the Grinch, polar bears," Tim Lord said. "They're gone, and we couldn't get any more this year."
Snowmen of any kind seem to be the collectible of the day, and are leaping off the shelves at Wagner's in Arapahoe, Stephanie Davis said. "Plush, resin, whatever," she said, "snowmen are selling very well."
Denise Volquardsen at D&D Floral in McCook said decorative Mikasa Christmas dishes and snowmen, especially on ornaments, are popular at her store.
Laura Ford of Country Floral also said ornaments -- hand-painted and personalized -- are popular gifts. "And as always, poinsettias and fresh Christmas centerpieces," Laura said. "There's nothing like fresh greens."
Clothes are always a popular Christmas gift, and leather coats and a collection of designer-label neckties inspired by 1960's hippie-icon Jerry Garcia are selling well at Garrison's in McCook, according to owner Gary Wiemers. "The Jerry Garcia neckties are a real unique item," Wiemers said.
McCook Senior High Bison apparel is popular at Sports Shoppe in downtown McCook, as well as the ever-popular Husker sweatshirts and memorabilia, said Bob Elder. Another popular item has been sweatshirts for local schools, like Culbertson Bears and Lakeside Central Falcons. "We just didn't get enough of 'em," Elder said.
Keeping the reason for the season in mind, Bibles sell well at Christmas time at New Life Christian Books on main street in downtown McCook. Cindy Anderson said music has also been a very popular gift this year. "The Apologetics, who combine secular music with Christian lyrics, are popular," Cindy said, "as well as Mercy Me's (song) 'I Can Only Imagine.'"
Others frequently requested, said owner Cheryl Demilt, are "A Purpose-Driven Life" and 'Casting Crowns."
With less than a week to finish their holiday purchases, some shoppers may not find what they want. But their searches will continue.
According to the Associated Press, the nation's retailers appear to be at the same place they were a year ago, with shoppers again delaying holiday buying until the final stretch in hopes of snagging the deepest discounts.
Stores -- which have had modest sales gains so far this holiday season -- are hoping for a big surge between now and Christmas Eve.