Taking the stress out of holiday shopping with local gift ideas

LAKE CHARLES, La. (KPLC) – Many have already decked the halls and hung their lights, now it’s just time to find the perfect gifts to go under the tree. So, allow us to take some of the holiday stress off your plate by giving you some gift ideas that you can find here in the Lake Area, and that might even help you cut costs on your shopping plans.

Jennifer Brocato owns Yaya & Company and says, “Whenever I was opening the store my thing was I wanted everyone to be able to come into a nice boutique and to be able to purchase something.”

That convenience is one of the benefits of shopping locally.

Brittany DeRouen who owns Sway Boutique says while online shopping is huge these days, you’re at the whims of the busy holiday shipping season, “Especially this time of year we always see customers come in and they’re stressed out because they have ordered online and the gifts aren’t coming in. Or what’s coming in, they’re disappointed in.”

Jennifer agrees that it’s one of the biggest complaints she hears from shoppers, “Nine times out of ten, I hear them say, ‘You know what, I looked at this online but it wasn’t the right thing.’ So, coming in here touching and feeling it has really been helpful to everyone.”

On top of that, local shops have a flare that you just don’t get when popping onto a website and hitting a few buttons.

And Rhonda Kleckley who owns Accessory Zone, says seeing the item up close and in the light can make a huge difference when purchasing all kinds of things, “From glassware to jewelry to bowls, kitchen towels, platters, and plates.”

Brittany says it’s not just about shopping locally, but getting gifts that are sourced locally as well, “We do a lot of Louisiana-specific gifts and we do feature some local artists. So, being able to provide something that’s unique and different and specific to our area is really special.”

With the different price points, you can find something special for everyone on your gift list.

So what’s flying off the shelves?

“Our number one seller right now seems to be our de Marie drink mixes. And these are just something fun to give someone and what you do is, you just put your alcohol in it put it in the freezer and it makes eight 8-ounce drinks and it can last up to a year, says Jennifer. “This is a higher price point but it’s our amber perfume we sell out of this so much. It takes on the pheromones of your own body so it smells different on everyone. And so, people just love it.”

With that perfume priced at $65, Jennifer says she has a hard time keeping up with the demand.

You should also check out this hot item from Accessory Zone. Warmies look like your typical stuffed animal, but they actually have calming benefits.

Rhonda says, “They have a little bead in them. You put them in the microwave and heat them up for 30 seconds and then they smell lavender. So their price points are for $15, $30, and $35.”

They also come in slippers, eye masks, and wraps making them the perfect gift for any age, newborn to adult.

Next up is a line of jewelry that’s perfect for the water lovers in your life.

Rhonda explains that it’s, “Enewton, it’s a line you can wear day and night. You don’t have to take it off you can shower with it you can swim in it.”

They’re known for their water resistance and come in various sizes for the best style, comfort, and durability.

“I have pieces that I’ve had for like three or four years and they still look exactly the same.”

Next is a line we found at all three boutiques we visited.

Rhonda showed us, “Sweet Grace is from Bridgewater. It’s one of our number one candle lines that we have throughout the store. But it’s not just a candle line. Their newest thing is a foaming soap, detergents, room sprays, wrinkle release sprays which that’s another new release.”

And there’s also the ever-popular flower diffuser.

“These are great for the assisted living homes,” says Jennifer. “The ones that just don’t have that much room or space, or someone for their office or desk.”

And if all that sounds great but expensive…

“Something we like to do is a little small bundle package to keep the price point low. We can do a little car scent, just a small candle, a little sachet to throw in your closet and it’s a really great gift that somebody appreciates but you’re not really breaking the bank,” says Brittany. “So, another extremely popular gift to give and receive is glamour wash from Tyler Candle company. So, glamour wash comes in numerous scents however diva is the most popular, and as you can see we even have it in the stocking stuffer size.”

Each store also offers gifts for the men in your life as well.

Brittany says, “We do have a great men’s selection. Everything from turtle box speakers to fragrance items, to our very popular old-fashioned syrups and cherries.”

Again, each of those comes in at various price points. So here are a few extra tips to help you cut the cost.

YaYa & Company is doing their “12 days of Christmas” sale right now, which is a reminder that you can follow stores online, such as on Facebook and Instagram, to see what kinds of sales and discounts they’re offering.

Accessory Zone points out that many stores have loyalty points, which you can use when looking for those sales and specials.

And Sway Boutique reminds customers that just because online shopping may seem easy, many find it too much of a hassle to go through the process of returning an online order when it comes in damaged or broken. So, skip all that mess and simply shop locally.

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