GiftCards For Christmas
Do you hate standing in the lines on Dec. 26, waiting to return that yellow polka-doted sweater, or whatever, that just doesn't fit with your wardrobe? Just speak up. To avoid that unwanted "surprise" Christmas morning, more and more people are finding their voice and actually requesting gift cards, so they can browse and shop for what they truly want. Plus, you can get someone a gift card to a place they might not usually shop, but would like to. The National Retail Federation reports that gift cards are the most requested gift for the 2010 holiday season with 57 percent of survey respondents saying they are asking for them. In fact, gift cards beat out the No. 2 item, clothing and clothing accessories, by nearly 10 percentage points. Cheryl Graves, community relations manager with Barnes and Noble at the Mesilla Valley Mall, said gift cards become more popular each year. "People buy them because you don't know what title book to get somebody or what toy or game is a better gift to give," Graves said. "You give a gift card, it's not limited." She buys them herself. "I send them to all my grandkids in Alaska," she said. Las Cruces shopper Fran Rodriguez said she buys friends Starbucks gift cards. "I know they'll use them and they'll enjoy it," she said. "They never get tired of it." The benefit of mailing a small gift card as opposed to larger package has an appeal as well. 
| 
