Last Minute C-Store Xmas Gifts
Still Time for Business Travelers to Buy Those Holiday Presents
Dec 21, 2007
Out on another business trip and forgot to finish your Christmas shopping? Try these eleventh-hour tips so no one will worry you love your job more than your family.
Gas stations, truck stops and Circle Ks offer much more than gas and Slurpees...as a bonus, you get to avoid the crowds!
10 Tips for Last Minute Convenience Store Holiday Gift Shopping
- Look at the Gift Cards by the checkout counter. These gifts don't show much creativity, but at least no one will want to return them! There are gift cards in amounts from the easy $5 stocking stuffer to the nice $50 gift card, from companies like Best Buy, Target and Bed, Bath & Beyond. Refill cards for pay-as-you-go phones also make welcome presents.
- A roll of Lottery Tickets is another fun gift idea. Grab a holiday coffee mug and stick them in it.
- Circle K reloadable Gas Card, for the gift that keeps on giving. What says "I love You" more than spending the dough to fill up a tank of gas these days?
- Automotive Supplies. While you don't want to pull a Joey Tribiani and get your family exciting new windshield wipers or romantic quarts of oil, you can still find fun gems in the car parts aisle. How about a pair of luxurious driving gloves, or a leather steering wheel cover? Or buy a ton of small things like upper end car air spritzers (in a holiday scent), toy trucks, fuzzy dice and a pre-filled gas card. Package them all as a car care package.
- Music and Movies. Get a load of good deals on gas station CDs or DVDs and wrap those puppies up. Good to go.
- iPod Accessories are always great gifts for anyone with an iPod (which, granted, is most people by now). Get a cute sock or bling-bling sleeve, adding an iTunes gift card to the mix.
- Booze. Cigarette Cartons. Both are time-honored last minute gifts, if a tad sleazy. Get classier with higher end potables like a better wine or a fancy bottle of Amaretto. It's surprising how some very nice bottles of liquor can be found dusty on the backs of these shelves. Or try a gift of prestige cigarettes, like the elegant Black & Gold cigs or boxes of cocktail-flavored Dream brands.
- Chocolates. It's cliche but also true that everyone loves chocolate. Look for the gourmet chocolates, the extra-large bars, and other high end snacks to make a decadent gift basket.
- Simpsons Merchandise are big sellers at most 7-11s (AKA Kwik-E-Marts). Grab a copy of the Simpsons movie and Simpsons shirts and wrap them up with a big box of pink frosted, sprinkled Do-Nuts! Doh!
- Truck Stops are veritable department stores in their own right, without the crowds. Look for CDs, DVDs, books, magazines (get someone a subscription and place the latest copy under the tree), jewelry charms, toys, watches, luxury bath items, sports-branded hoodies and tees, sporting goods, hobby items, fine cigars in small humidors, Zippos lighters, Harley-Davidson merchandise or those highly decorative tow hitch covers for the weekend warriors on your list.
- All these places usually have a few Bouquets of Flowers, if you are really at a loss for ideas. Just be sure to tuck a spendy gift card, some CDs, a women's watch or some jewelry in the bouquet, so you don't get kicked out of the house come Christmas morning!
Need More Easy Gift Ideas?
Shopping in easy in-and-out places like your local supermarket, Starbucks, Home Depot or better liquor store can turn up a treasure trove of last minute holiday gifts. Think upscale coffee kits, gardening tools and seeds in a pretty garden tote, gourmet cooking tools or wine lover accoutrements.
The copyright of the article Last Minute C-Store Xmas Gifts in Business Road Travel is owned by Dan Florio. Permission to republish Last Minute C-Store Xmas Gifts in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.
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