LABJ FORUM: What Are You Buying for Christmas? ‘Tis the season to… spend countless hours at the malls shopping for the perfect gift! With that in mind, the San Fernando Valley Business Journal wants to know: What are the hottest gifts on your shopping list in 2002? And where do you go to find them? Myra Wolf Account Manager Royal Staffing Sherman Oaks If I had to list the hottest items for this holiday season they would be: the Tiffany’s Sterling Heart Bracelet, cookware, DVD players, digital cameras, CDs, Toys ‘R’ US gift certificates, cell phones and any and all Harry Potter items. As far as where I do my holiday shopping, I prefer large department stores and specific stores like Toys ‘R’ US, but online shopping goes a long way too. S. Marc Tapper President T/G Marketing Woodland Hills I hide from the malls during the holidays. Small specialty gift shops in a strip mall or remote location are much more convenient. Hot items will be anything wireless, like computers, telephone devices and such. Richard N. Tamoush Account Executive/Graphics Supervisor Trade Show Images Inc. Chatsworth The place: Big Five’s Day-After-Thanksgiving Sale. It was 6 a.m. and I was on a mission to find that bicycle that was discounted from $350 to $56. When I was standing in line, I saw at least 50 treadmills going out the door. These treadmills were probably going for about $300 or $400 each, but they were all over the place and people were even putting their names on boxes. I saw one guy walk out with four of them. All the treadmill boxes were blocking the cash register to the point that other customers could not walk down the aisle. It was insane. I did get my bargain bike, but I must say that the deal of the day was treadmills. Dennis G. Isleib Senior Vice President & Manager City National Bank Sherman Oaks First, my kids are in their 20s and they both like receiving work clothes. Second, I did not go shopping after Thanksgiving, and third, I like to go to large department stores to get all of my shopping done in one visit! In addition, I always go between 5 and 7 p.m. during the week before all of the crowds start arriving at the mall. Joel G. Block Consultant Growth-Logic Inc. Agoura Hills We took a family vote and GameCube was the clear winner for the kids although they also want Roxy items, CD players and CDs. My wife noticed that Bath & Bodyworks was bursting with buyers, but she prefers simpler stores such as TJ Maxx. As for me, a quiet afternoon at home beats shopping at the mall any day!
